Your Overland Whippet Its Care and Maintenance

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 178, 18 October 1927, Page 7

Your Overland Whippet Its Care and Maintenance

A SUN special feature to assist the owner-driver or rider to obtain the maximum results in performance by the proper care and treatment of his car or motor-cycle.

Most owners, in studying the maintenance of their cars, deal only with the mechanical portions—engine, clutch, and gearbox—which mak e up the transmission. In the following hints, various important items of car maintenance which are usually overlooked are dealt with. Like any other piece of machinery, to maintain it in first-class condition, the Whippet should be lubricated at the regular set intervals with the proper grades of oil and grease, and all working parts and oil holes should be kept clean and free from dirt and grit. The engine bearings are oiled by a pressure sy stem from the engine sump, and it is advisable to drain this oil once every 500 miles, and refill with fresh oil. Do not mix different brands of oil, as each brand is made up of different ingredients which will not blend. Remember also that a cheap oil may be dearest in the long run. Th e gear-box and differential must be kept up to a proper level with any good grade of gear-case oil, and should be drained approximately every 5000 miles, and the instructions regarding the mixing of engine oils also applies to the gear-box and differential. The most abused parts of a motor car are the two universal joints—one of which is situated immediately behind the gear-box, while the other joins the tail shaft to the pinion shaft. These parts on the Whippet only require lubricating about once every 5000 miles; blit should be checked occasionally to ensure the lubricant is reaching them. Another part very often missed is the oiler which lubricates the distributor shaft. This should be oiled with an oil can at least every 250 miles. The radiator should be drained occasionally—say once every 5000 miles, and thoroughly washed out with clean MOTORS IN THE WORLD TOTALS AND PROPORTIONS People who are mathematically inclined will be interested in the latest figures available showing the number of motor vehicles in the world and the countries in which there are most m proportion to the population. The figures given below have been taken from the 1927 publication of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce for America (the N.A.C.C.) and are the latest comprehensive figures available. Examination of these figures will reveal the fact that New Zealand rank.s very high in the list. There are two conclusions from this—either we are exceptionally wealthy and can afford it. or we can’t afford it but carry on all the same.

The total number of motor vehicles in the world, including passenger cars, buses and trucks, is estimated at 27,646,000, of which 80 per cent, are in the United States.

The ten countries which have the greatest number of passenger cars are:

water. This can be done by draining the radiator, placing a hose in the filler cap, and letting the clean water run through the cooling system for a few minutes. It has been found by experience that the most economical tyre pressure on th e 4.40 tyres supplied with the Whippet is 321 b. This will give the best results for all conditions—otherwise excessive tyre wear is apt to occur. The air pressure in the tryes should be checked at least once a week with a balloon tyre gauge. Another condition that should be carefully observed is front wheel aligns ment, as more tyres are worn out by improper wheel alignment than by any other cause. A driver in pulling in to a service station or stopping in a street will frequently bump the kerb, and this may bend one of the steering arms slights, thus causing excessive front tyre wear. It is advisable, therefore, to have your wheel alignment tested periodically at a reliable service station. Neglect or abuse will shorten the normal life of a battery, and the care of same is best summed up in the following rules:— Keep the plates in each cell covered by pure distilled water. Keep filling plugs tight, and the top of the battery clean. Keep all battery connections tight and covered with vaseline to prevent corrosion. If the car is going to be laid up for any length of time—that is any period over two or three months—it would be advisable to have the battery from the car and drained, dried, and left in the care of a battery service station, who, if notified when the battery is required, will fill it with acid and charge again ready for use. If the battery is left over a long period with the acid in it will set up corrosion.

U.S.A ,. 19,293,112 Great Britain 754,284 Canada .. .. 733,764 France . . .. 585,000 Australia 310,547 Germany .. ., 218,000 Argentine . . 205,000 Spain 121,500 New Zealand 101,462 Italy 95,000 As regards the proportion of vehicles to the population, America again leads with an average of one vehicle to every 5.3 persons. California has an even higher proportion of one to 3.1. New Zealand leads the rest of the world with one vehicle to every 10.5 persons. The 10 countries having the highest proportions are: — IJ.S.A 5.3 New Zealand .. .. 10.5 Canada . . .. 10.7 Australia Argentine . . France . . . . 43 Great Britain 44 Denmark . Belgium Uruguay 59 China comes last \ vith one vehicle to every 25,500 of the population.