MAKING MOTORS MIND.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3278, 12 March 1931, Page 2

MAKING MOTORS MIND.

Helpful hints for the motorist who wants to get the most service and enjoyment out of his automobile, by Mr. W. B. Franklin, Service Manager, General Motors, N.Z. Limited.

Distilled water should be added to the battery at such intervals as will ensure the plates being covered at all times. Usually, the wator should be added once a week in summer and Iwieo monthly in winter.

To prevent corrosion of battery terminals and connections apply a coating of vaseline jolly over the battery posts and strap terminals, making sure that connections are properly tightened. If corrosion occurs, clean posts and terminals with a strong soda solution before applying vaseline jelly.

See that the filler plugs are tight and the top of the battery is kept dry. An occasional inspection should be made of the ground strap connec-

tion between the battery and th.2 frame of transmission as looseness in this connection is a frequent cause of burning out of head lamp bulbs.

A battery in good condition should register an hydrometer reading of not less than 1.250 in climates where freezing of water occurs, or 1.180 in climates where this does not occur. If the reading falls below 1.250 and 1.180 in such climates, it indicates complete discharge and the battery should be taken to a battery station for charge.

It is not necessary to add acid to the battery. Except in cases of broken jar or deterioration of the sealing compound, loss of acid does not occur. It is inadvisable for car owners to experiment with so-called quick electrolytes for the purpose of keeping the battery fully charged.

The front wheels of the automobile are set so that they do not stand exactly parallel, the purpose of such design being to provide easy handling of the car. The wheels have “toe-in” or are closer at the front than at the rear and also “camber” or are closer at the bottom than at the top. The king bolts are also set at an angle, inclined to the rear from a perpendicular and this is called the “castor angle.” The wheels are set correctly at the factory but the alignment should be checked occasionally and in the event of collision or accident, the car should he taken to a service station for proper alignment and adjustment of the wheels.

Driving with the foot continuously on the clutch is commonly described as “riding the clutch.” This practice will result in excessive wear of the clutch plate facings and a slipping clutch, as well as a noisy hearing.