Hints for the Motorist

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14657, 28 April 1948, Page 4

Hints for the Motorist

SSii- ALBERT L. CLOUGH

Ingenious Device. Which Warns Car Owner That The Oil Heeds Changing

In an effort to prolong the life of the car an enthusiast motorist has invented an ingenious gadget to warn the car owner that his oil needs changing. Many cars,,he maintains, go to the scrap heap months or even years before they need, through' neglect, and particularly neglect to change the oil in their engines, gearboxes and back axles. The way this new " service indicator " functions is this: A trip mechanism is inserted in the speedometer, and goes into action when the car maker's recommended mileage is reached. New oil being required at different mileages for engine and other working parts, that was not enough. The instrument has two small windows. When the recommended mileage lias been reached, a red card drops into one window with the reminder "Change oil engine now." iAt another mileage a card drops into the second window with the message "Change oil, axle, gears now." Neither card will leave its window until the oil has been changed. How is this done? The cards will not disappear until a key is inserted into the speedometer. The keys are fixed to the drain plugs where the new oil is required, so the old oil must be drained before the keys can be used. Whether the new invention will become popular and be fitted to standard ears is a moot point, and motorists anxious to . test cut this new reminder gadget will have to wait and see.