Modern Motoring

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 71, 29 March 1921, Page 8

Modern Motoring

(BY TORQUE.)

1 TOURING. The season is almost over when it is safe to tour over clay roada. Still, quite a number of motorists left the city during Easter, but mostly on short runs to such places as Rotorua, Hamilton, Whangarei, and other places that can be reached in one day's journey. It is not safe to journey far without the following equipment: '\Motor Guide Book," 1 set of good chains, 1 short handle spade and axe, about 15ft of lin rope, extra tyre and tube, 1 jrallon engine oil, small" coil of copper Mire, all tools, pump, jack and levers for removing tyres, several blowout pittches, and a pond outfit for mendpunctures, two extra spark plugs, a canvas folding bucket, 1 tin of cup grease, full set of electric lamp bulbs, and an extra fuse. An electric torch is also i handy. I ""do you want to be a millionaire. For the inventive mind, one of the greatest, if not tho most important, j invention is still waiting to be solved on ■the motor car engine. This is the carbon remover. Nome simpli- machine that can remove (he carbon quickly and without too mi',£U loss of timu to the car owner. All cars must lay up for this operation, some for at least two days, otuers for a cnuplo of hours. On the older type of car engine the cylinders had to be i removed from the base chamber to get at the carbon on the piston tops and

j inside the cylinders themselves. This was a long operation, and required the I paid mecnanic, but the modern car engine is so constructed that the head of the cylinder is removable, and almost every owner can do the job himself in a fewhours' time. Many so-called carbon removers are on the market, but so far they have failed to do~the job they were meant for. The burning-off process is a success, but still tnis costs as much as the mechanic would charge to do a better job, the one thing in its favour being the saving of time. The cause of carbon deposits is mostly due to over oiling, poor grades of oil, too much gas, and overheating. Badly fitted piston rings let too much oil up into the compression chamber, and a certain amount vnpourises, and causes carbon. As every car on the road must hare t'ne carbon removed at least once a year, and the job rarely costs less than a couple of pounds, it means a saving of many millions annually to the motorists. Strange to say, it is not always the man who knows the engine from A to Z that has invented most of the new ideas on the car, and one of the most important inventions on tho car is the differential arrangement on every car to-day. This was discovered by a boy of 16 years of age in Coventry. Whatever arrangement is invented to do the job of carbon remover, must be so made that it will pass into the compressor space through the spark plug hole, as every engine is fitted with these plugs for firing the charge. Jt is quite a simple thing. That's what you'll say nhen you see it, but it is going to make a millionaire of someone. CORRECT AND FAULTY DRIVING. Driving a motor-car ts' an art that cannot be learnt in the usual half a dozen lessons. Still, a fair amount of knowledge can be picked up and a driver's license secured. It is astonishing t>he liberties the driver will take once the required test is over, and the license duly paid for. Instead of getting on the open country road they drive straight into the heart of the traffic, being quite indifferent to the damage they can do to their own property and every other user of the 'highway, and in blissful ignorance they get thefr friends in the back seat, and all is well. There seems to be a special providence to look after bad drivers. To drive a car correctly it takes time and much patience. Some learn much quicker than others, and anyone with a little knowledge of the mechanism of the car will learn quickly and make a good driver. Therefore, to be an expert driver the engine and all driving mechanism must be understood and studied. The driver who takes no interest in such things will only make a fair driver, as he depends on other I motorists to help him out. A good deal depends on the way one is taught, in the I first place. If he gets taught the wrong way it is hard for him to change again to the right. For instance, during the week I eat next to an old driver, and he was actually using the left foot to operate th eaccelerator. I pointed out the mistake to him, and lie said it would be impossible for him to use the right foot as he had got so used to using the left. A good driver will study the machine all the time. Start tlhe car quietly, and use the clutch wijh greatest of care. A lot depends on the way the clutch is used. Be careful when coining to a stop and do i not tear up half the street. A good j driver -will observe the turning signs at jail times. Do not neglect this, as it is important. It should not require the presence of the man in blue to remind us; it is a safety sign, and always give plenty of warning when about to turn to the right, as it is a good habit to get into. In the hands of a bad driver a big powerful machine is about as pleasant to see as watching a child playing with dynamite near an open fire. He expects a" small car owner to give him all the road, and he delights in throwing a cloud of dust and small stones in his eyes every opportunity lie gets. A motorist who is worthy of the name will always stop and render any help he can to a fellowmotorist in distress. Do not be looking in the opposite direction when passing a car that is broken down. A test was taken a few weeks ago or. the Mange re road. A car was stopped on the roadside with the bonnet open, and as every car approached the driver of the car looked serious and in trouble. Car after car went by without offering assistance, and one or two as they passed called out, "Can I help you?" The latter before receiving an answer were out of hearing. Others only laughed, and a few passed rude remarks, such as, "Why don't you get a motor-car 1" A FEW DON'TB. Don't try to crowd in between tlie passengers and the tram car, when the passengers are trying to get in. Don't start racing when you hear a horn sounded from behind, let the other car pass. Don't continue on when there has been an accident; stop and render any assistance possible. Don't let everyone know you have just learned to drive by excessive honking. j Don't expect the pedestrian to make lup his mind at 30 per hour; the road is free to all and the other man might be iin a bigger hurry than you. I Don't forget there is a by-law about bright head-lights; head-light courtesy ( is always eppreriaied.

IT IS HUMOURED— '. That there Sβ only one good car, and every owner has dt. That the 'Police Court will be busy soon; some fast times were recorded to Ellerslie. That it is not necessary to go to Muriwai to «cc speed; the South Road is pretty good now. That the iCJorernment is negotiating for the purchase of a motor house just completed in Stanley Street. That the taxi meters will he fitted before the. next Ellerslie meeting. That a motor show in -June is almost a certainty. That several absent minded passengers on Good Friday offered the conductor jtram concession tickets on the buses, j That the taxis reaped their auto harvest in fine weather. That all items of interest to motorists will be gladly accepted by "Torque." That it is safe to switch on the lights not later than 0 p.m. this week. That it is not safe to leave a car standing without the hand brake hard on. That all the 1922 Ford cars are to be painted yellow so that they can be sold in Imiiohes like bananas. Address letters to "Torque," "Star" Office. Name and address of sender in full.