AUTO SUGGESTIONS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 March 1937, Page 3

AUTO SUGGESTIONS.

'Glean Out the Silencer. If you are using your car the second or third season, it is an excellent plan to clean out the silencer, which may have become slightly choked with the deposit of carbon. The restriction caused by the deposit can considerably increase the bade pressure and be the cause of trouble with spark ing plugs and valves. Gleaning a Choked Jet. When stopped on the road with a choked jet, motorists either blow through it or use a fine wire. The latter method is unwise, as wire may easily injure such a finely drilled passage, while blowing through it is not always effective. The best way is to use u length of fishing gut, which is stiff

enough to clear away any obstruction without doubling- up, and yet will not injure the passage. The gut can easily be carried in an envelope in the pocket of the ear.

More Care with'Ground. In the race for new developments not enough consideration lias been eiven to the common but essential feature of: the electrical system known as the “ground. ” Mechanics arc finding- that the more flexible engine mountings are, the more important it is to. check ground connections carefully. It is not generally known that if the motor is not grounded properly it will affect the lights as well as the generator. Not even the older motors are immune. Loose engine bolts should be tightened whenever discovered. Cure It At Once.

It doesn’t often happen that you;' ear is at a convenient place for service when it is cutting up capers, hut should the motor happen to over-heat some time when you can drive into the service station you will find it practical to have a mechanic disconnect the lower water hose. This will provide a handy exit for the expulsion of rust and sediment that have been stirred up by the boiling water. Often this is sufficient to prevent a repetition • of the over-heating. Washing the ’Bus.

Essentially a home job, the washing of the car is often done faultily through lack of knowledge of a few simple rules. The washing should be done before the mud has time to dry, as dry mud is apt to leave stains on the surface that are not easy to remove and will dull the finish. The body should first be thoroughly saturated with running water, then rubbed with a sponge. The rubbing should always be done in one direction. When the dirt is removed the body should be dried off with a chamois. Squirting with water at high pressure drives the dirt into the surface, and hot wafer must never be used, as it will dull the paint or varnish. Cleaning the car In the sun will do harm in the same way. Lamp Bulb Failures. Sometimes a driver is troubled with the continual failure of the bulb of one particular lampi Tins' may be caused, in many cases, by a loose connection — probably somewhere in the lead to that lamp. Such slackness may cause the lights to “flicker” and if neglected may eventually cause the filament to fail. Valve Clearance.

It is almost as important periodically to check the valve clearances of the engine, as it is to check the air pressures of the tyres or the oil level; badly adjusted valves greatly impair the efficiency of the power unit and produce considerable noise. Do not be over-zealous, however, in the search for quietness and allow too little clearance, especially if the adjustment be done when the engine is cold, as this may result in the valves not seating properly after a short period of running and generally upsetting the smooth running of the engine. The valve faces, moreover, will become badly burned pitted. Exhaust Indications.

Black, foul-smelling exhaust smoke indicates “too rich a mixture.” Remedy: Qarburettor adjustment. White or blue smoke indicates excess supply of oil in crankcase or worn rings, while grey smoke indicates too much oil as well as fuel. Remedy: Drain oil and refill to proper level, check carburettor adjustment. Easier Tyre Changing.

If you are in the habit of removing your own tyres from the rims,- try coating the rims with a thin coat of graphite next time they are off, and observe how much easier they come olf the next time.

When Painting. Remember when painting any portion of the ear that cleaning the part thoroughly is most important, particularly if rust or grease is present. Tuning Up.

A tune up job of the motor should Include the following: Cleaning the engine, vacuum tank, carburettor and spark plugs and adjusting the gaps of the plugs. The tappets and the valves are adjusted, distributor cleaned, contact points adjusted and cleaned, timing checked. Removing Rust.

Never use paint to cover the rust on mud-guards. The best way is to first remove rust spots with sandpaper, then give the surface a thorough dusting followed by several coats of paint.

Pill Cuts in Tyres. The small stone cuts in the casing should be kept tilled with some good tyre filler. This will keep out water and oil, two of the worst enemies to tyre fabric, and put hundreds of extra miles on every casing. Oil "will ruin an inner tube in a week. Never throw the extra inner tubes in promiscuously With the spare tools and oil can. Wrap them carefully in cloth, or better still, get a couple of good strong cloth bags for them.