1,000,000 MILES OF TESTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 226, 13 December 1927, Page 7

1,000,000 MILES OF TESTS

CHEVROLETS’ BIG GRUELLING To undergo successfully three million miles of testing provides a good reason for the outstanding success of Chevrolet. The chief engineer of the Chevrolet Motor Company (U.S.), makes an interesting announcement regarding this testing on General Motors Proving Ground of Chevrolet cars. He says: “An average of 12 Chevrolet test cars are constantly on view at the ground, purring up the steep incline, ploughing through deep sand or mud roads, testing speed and endurance on the track, or undergoing any one of many severe trials that a car is put through at this veritable “sweat shop for automobiles.” Each test car is driven about three months, and in that time totals from 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Many cars are driven further, but that distance is sufficient to prove any new mechanical feature or reveal any fault that may require correction. Skilled engineers then dismantle the car and every part is tested and inspected. Before a new feature is built in every detail must be up to the highest standard of proving ground and laboratory. Highway tests as well as “torture” tests are put on each car at the ground to bring out any fault that might develop at the hands of an inexperienced or careless motorist. Abuses like riding the clutch, tramping on the brake, racing a cold motor. ..straining the engine in high gear, all must be taken into consideration. The goal is that the car shall stand up under the most severe strain. Since September, 1924, when the Chevrolet Motor Company first began to use facilities at General Motors Proving Ground, an average of one million miles a year has been put on test cars there. Failure of ligats to function may be due to a disconnected or broken wire, which can be found by tracing the circuits of the electrical system. It may be due to a short circuit, also found by tracing the circuit for a bare spot on the wires. If a bare spot is found, wind insulating tape around it. Short circuits are very liable to be found at the ends of wires, or at terminals.