Too Old At 30,000

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13770, 13 October 1942, Page 3

Too Old At 30,000

FADING QUESTION-HOW LONG SHOULD 11 A CAR LAST?

Harrison. A.M.I.Mech.E., M.I.A.E. in "The Autocar" BJ ' torists who, like the writer, used to buy a new car each Th ° Se . und that depreciation was the heaviest item in motoring. year ys , the tra( j e based their part-payment allowances, when ■■ appeaie id car for a new one, on the assumption that the average iradln&" ln a gmall car> even if it were well cared for, would he com--!,lllal"P,''neout in three years, or 30,000 miles'. pletely w 0 most of ug thought that the trade's attitude was a little e hut'now that we have had to use our cars continuously for B ngeneroU , conclusion is gradually being reached that the liree ° r 'frnate was based on sound judgment. This conclusion will, I '' 3lerS fluence post-war design, for while, in the past, manufacturers ' 3 " CI '• • towards petrol economy and a large body capacity in relation W ~ gjze pointing out how these matters affected our pockets, the **l2 of longevity have been overlooked. ' how it appears that manufacturers have got it fixed in their °1 t 20 000 to 30,000 miles represents the period for which oriiponents of a popular-priced small car should last, and that, when '" a •) sre lias been passed, extensive overhauls are desirable. |M inl ea Tyres, and Brakes, Too Ti life of tyres, once given as about 5,000 miles, has been stepped t'l it has reached the 25,000- to 30,000-mile mark. Brakes, too, "' ■ ndergone the same process of development. The motorist who buys i for keeps knows that at somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 "m , he is faced with the replacement of five tyres and four sets of 'l k shoes and drums. It is curious that, in nearly every .make of car, h drums last no longer than the linings. By the time that the latter worn out the drums are so badly scored and out of true that they cost also usually be replaced. Two other items of equipment, too, usually give up the ghost at this and they are the exhaust system and the battery. Exhaust pipes -ad silencers are now made of such thin gauge material that they rust through in three years, and no amount of care can prevent this happening. It is useless to attempt to repair them, for the whole unit is so badly corroded that ,'if one does weld up one hole another forms in a different place within a few days. In three years the exhaust system is definitely irom out. Batteries seem to have the same. limitation of life. The neglectful owner who never fills a battery and abuses it in every way somehow cannot reduce it to scrap in much under two years, and the most careful motorist cannot extend its life much over three years, which, on the average peace-time mileage, represents 30,000 miles. Shock absorbers have also lost their efficiency in this distance. Steering swivels, even if greased and serviced every 1,500 to 2,000 miles, are so badly worn in 30,000 miles that there is noticeable shake in them, and steering is bound to be adversely affected; but in this Connecticut is my experience, observing the performance of many cars of from S to 12 h.p., that those fitted with normal axles fare better than those with independent suspension. When slackness develops 'in the joints of an independent suspension linkage, tyre wear may go up so rapidly that it is' no longer an economic proposition to run the car. Engine life also seems governed by this 30,000-mile complex. The type of owner who never changes his oil and neglects the engine may find his oil consumpton reach abnormal limits in 15,000 miles; but no matter il you change your oil every 1,000 miles or fit a patent by-pass filter, you are extremely fortunate if your oil consumption is better than 800 miles Per gallon at 30,000 miles. Back Axle Trouble Observed at 30,000

I do not know if it is just coincidence or part of a definite policy, but tn the cars that I have observed a surprisingly large percentage have lequlred a new crown wheel and pinion at this mileage. In every case a "ton tooth has broken, and this has resulted in the crown wheel being chewed up.

We now reach the conclusion that.if the car owner is desirous of restoring his? car to some semblance of safety and efficiency at the end of 'MOO miles he needs new pistons and rings, a rebore, and refaced valves n the engine. As the running with badly worn pistons and rings has resulted in his sparking plugs having to be cleaned on several occasions a «ew set will certainly be necessary, as will a new fan belt, new dynamo brU3hes an d a new petrol pump. If he has bought one of those makes of " rs in wnJ ch the bonnet sides are a bolted-in part of the car's structure, 18 repairer will add a charge for the difficult job of removing the many rusted-up bolts and nuts that position these panels. «ew brakes, new brake drums, new tyres, new shock absorbers, new °nt-axle swivel pins, new battery, new crown wheel and pinion and a •J silencer must be added to the list. A body tuch-up will also be as modern pressed-steel bodies rust rapidly, particularly along e "! edges of the doors and the valances. Bearing in mind the , . erence in between a new vehicle and the parts from which it is as Be t out in the parts list, the bill will be so little short of the cost with 5T Car that *' WiU be chea P er totrade in the remnants of the car WOO miles to its credit and buy a new one.