PRIDE IN THE CARS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 March 1928, Page 14

PRIDE IN THE CARS

TAKING CARE OF IT. Almost every motorist takes a pride in the ownership of his new car, especially when it is the first he has had. It is well that this should be so, lor it leads him to take care of it, and thus prolong its useful life.

His pride in his new possession should not, however, lead him to make premature tests of its utmost speed and power. The parts of a new car, and especially the engine parts, are inclined to be a little tight at first, hut as the car becomes “run in” these parts begin to bed correctly upon one another and move with freedom. The car then improves with every mile of its running, until it is in the pink of condition. This may mean 2CO to 300 miles on the road at a gentle pace, say, about 2<> milets an hour on the lev el or 30 miles an hour on a down grade. Hut it is not much use being moderate on the level if one opens the throttle fully on a. hill in an endeavour to maintain the same speed.

Some expensive cars are fully “run in” by being driven a considerable mileage in road tests before being deli, ere J to the purchaser, but in the case of moderate-priced cars this is not usual, owing to the fact that the expense involved would immediately send up the price. It is therefore necessary to resist the temptation to drive the car all out lor the first few hundred miles; otherwise the engine will be likely to' suffer. Advice to this effect is olten printed on strips of paper and stuck to the wind-screen as a gentle reminder. On some cars, instead of leaving this to the judgment of the purchaser, a washer is placed in the induction pipe, which restricts its available diameter, so that if the accelerator pedal lie pmssed down as far as possible the effect is only that of a half-open throttle. This, of course, keeps down the. possible speed, even when the driver is forgetful It also limits the hill-climbing powers of the car and makes an early change necessary, and if the driver learns in consequence to change clown early when climbing hills it does good in this way also. After a certain number of miles the washer can be removed and the car will be in firstrate condition.

In the early periods of a car’s life the lubrication should also he caretiillv watched. It is desirable to go gently when first taking the ear out, so that the engine may have time to warm and the oil to How nicely before any hard work is attempted. The pinions in the gearbox also move with more freedom after the car has run a mile or two.

Every adjustment on a new car must be checked more frequently; this applies specially to the brakes, and upon this the safety of the car depends.