HINTS FOR THE MOTORIST

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LIX, Issue 10615, 13 July 1931, Page 4

HINTS FOR THE MOTORIST

COMFORT IN’ THE NEW CAR

The increasingly high standard of comfort demanded by motorists has made necessary the production of cars which shall be warmer in winter and keep cooler longer in rery hot weather, this is. cars with heat insulated bodies.

It has also made necessary elimination of drumming sounds sot up in the body by car vibration. Fortunately, these requirements can all be met to some extent, at least, by the use of a heat confining and sound deadening material, used to line the enclosure ,and it is become ing common practice to insert a felt lining between the inside and outside sheets of all panels of the body which tends to reduce heat transfer and to cut down sound.

Safety and appearance are both improved by suspending car bodies low.

Until very recently, it was universal practice to mount the body sills on top of the chassis frame members, but in some recent models the sills are supported upon brackets, riveted to the sides of the frame, thus bringing the body several inches lower, without sacrifice of head room. The standard guage or tread of cars has, until recently, been about fifty-six inches, but this has lately been increased by many manufacturers to as much as 60 inchs at the rear axle, with the front tread slightly less in some instances.

This increase in chassis width has permitted the rear seat to be correspondingly widened, without adding to its overhang, which makes the rear compartment cnsiderably more commodious- than formerly. A great deal of attention is now being paid, especially by designers of British cars, to the comfort of passengers in the rear seats. Front seats have long since been adjustable, as also have the controls, but it is only recently—as far as cars in the moderate price-range are concerned —that we have seen the same consideration for passengers.

One new car has a simple and quick winder adjustment to tilt the rear seat. An arm rest in the middle can be folded out of the way. Wells in the rear seats in “baby” cars meet a reply in the bigger cars in the shape of footrests which can be folded back against the front seats as the passengers get in and out.

A simple idea —but one that adds vastly to comfort—is to have the windows beside the passengers open outwards, instead of downwards.

ALBERT L.CLOUGH

They can be fastened in a slightly open position, so that they admit air, but the passenger feels no draught. The opening, of course, is at the rearend of each window, so that the rush of air as the car travels is diverted away by the slanting glass and only ventilation is admitted. Arm-rests beneath the windows are provided.. Another idea is a rear seat with space beneath to take a suit case. The sunshine head continues to grow in favour. Great improvements have been made in the mechanism of these folding heads, making for rapid operation and complete freedom from rattle. In large chauffeurdriven cars that have occasional seats, it is now practicable to slide the partition window down at an angle, so that occupants of the occasional seats are given more leg room. Cushions of sponge rubber mounted on spring frames add greatly to comfort. One enclosed limousine has the dividing partition so arranged that, when raised, it is a chauffeur-driven car, but when lowered it is indistiiw guishablc from an owner-driven saloon.

LCIIRK'ATING DOOR LATCHES The lubrication of door-latches and striker-plates is a rather delicate matter.

They must be oiled to insure easy action and to prevent no excess of lubricant to soil clothing. Ordinary mineral oil does not last long. Some manufacturers recommend the use of linseed oil into which has been stirred a little very fine powdered graphite.

A small piece of cloth, soaked in this mixture, is rubbed over the parts to be lubricated, leaving a film which lasts fairly well. OIL LEVEL.

A. 11. asks: Does an engine function as well when the oil in its crankcase is carried at the “full” mark as when it is at this height? Answer; There is no difference in to ; mount oZ oil circulated ic ilio bearings and other wearing parts so long as the oil level is such as to cover the pump or its draft pipe but as a matter of prudence, there should always be enough oil in the pan to make the guage approach “full”. By so doing the greatest margin is allowed for loss of oil before lubrication ceases in case replenishment of the supply is neglected and, furthermore, if the amount of oil in the pan falls too low, it is likely to become too hot and thin to lubricate properly.