WINTER DRIVING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20315, 14 August 1931, Page 7

WINTER DRIVING.

CLEAR VISION ESSENTIAL, j There are two accessories which is- , pity special care during the wintci the lighting system and the screen wiper. If tho bulbs have had a years: service, a great improvement will l"J j noticed if they are replaced with now cues. Tho lamps, of course will then havo to bo focused again. This i& cion quite simply by first setting a slraig ■■ edge across their fronts to bring facing exactly to tho front, and 1111 taking the car out to a quiet road ana varying the focusing adjustment urn, tin) best lighting is obtained. should bo done on a dry night, usti „ a light-coloured road surface. I*'"lamps should bo adjusted to poiuj slightly downwards. Wire 3 to Lamps, On tho majority of cars only a singte wire runs to eacli lamp filament, tie return circuit being through the frame. Lights often burn dim because of poor contact between lamp brackets ami frame, and it is a good plan to tighten these parts down thoroughly or even to remove them, and polish trio contact surfaces with emery cloth, smearing lightly with _ oil before replacing, to check rusting. Lamp reflectors should be cleaned with a pau of cotton wool soaked in methylated spirit, and if further polishing is needed, nothing more abrasive than jeweller's rouge should be used, or the delicate silver surface will be destroyed. Lamp glasses should be kept clean. As far wind screen wipers are concerned, tho electric type is far better than the commoner suction variety, since its efficiency remains the same under nil conditions of_ throttle opening. This is true especially of small cars, on which a suction wiper will probably spend a good deal of its time stationary. Efficiency of Wiper. The efficiency of a suction wiper will usually be much tiigher if it is occOrsioiiiilly given a dose of castor oil, as this, unlike mineral oil, keeps the leather washers very soft. On Gomo types tbir- can be done very simply by immersing a short length of tubing in oil, attaching its other end to the | wiper, and working it a few times by | hand. Whatever tho type of wiper used, a great deal depends on the condition and adjustment of tho blade. This should press lirrnly on the glass, and preferably should b« of the type made up of several layers of thin rubber rather than 0110 thick strip. While it is quite possible to fit new rubber, it is far better to spend a shilling on a new blade of the type described. The provision of a second wiper will render winter driving much more pleasant for the passenger, and will aid the driver. Tandern blades are not alwavs satisfactory, and a second automatic wiper is expensive, but quite a satisfactory substitute is a cheap handoperated wiper for the passenger.