MOTORING IN ACTION

Press, 17 February 1978, Page 8

MOTORING IN ACTION

Extra-cold starts, slower warmups, quicker cooling-downs — you're bound to use more fuel in winter.

But there’s no need to let economy fly out the window. We often forget that efficient choke operation demands that the integral fast-idle mechanism should also operate correctly.

Briefly, it should be adjusted so that the first, say, quarter-inch or so of choke knob movement opens the throttle a bit without actually moving the choke flap.

Very often at traffic halts soon after a cold start, this faster tick-

over is all that’s needed to stop you stalling. It has the benefit of keeping the twin evils at bay—less fuel wastage, less engine wear through neat petrol washing lubrication oil from the bores and diluting the sump oil. Don’t give up on the warm-up problem either. Thermostatic fan or radiator blind kits are available for most cars.

Or you can experiment with a DIY blind, using maybe a piece of hardboard to blank off the lower section of the radiator. Of course, the car must be in

tip-top tune, too, not forgetting simple things like ensuring the brakes aren’t binding, or the tyre pressures too low. Both are fuel wasters.

Finally, driving is all-important in fuel economy. Don’t try to beat other cars away from the lights. Do think ahead.

This way maybe you won’t have to stop at the next traffic hold-up, where you’ll catch up with the cars that beat you away from the lights and where fuel has to be wasted in getting going again.