COLD WEATHER STARTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 10 (Supplement)

COLD WEATHER STARTING.

PRECAUTIONS IN WINTER. The problems of cold weather starting are beginning to force themselves oil Auckland motorists. Some owners are so fortunate as to own damp-proof garages, but even Auckland's mild winters make many cars whimsical. There is a tendency to overload the self-starter and battery in winter. Sluggish starting, short running, and prolonged use of the lights does not give the battery a very good chance to keep fully charged. Any air leaks in the induction system may cause trouble at low temperatures.

Every large service station in Auckland can repot I instances of batteries being ruineu in six months. On the other hand there are drivers to-day getting prompt Starts and good performance ti'om three-year-old batteries. It will be found that the majority ol the lattei are cautious men, who east the engine with the crank, whon starting from cold in winter.

Diflicul* starting can still, even on modem engines, be traceable to the use of the wrong kind of oil. There are very ■few British cars now for which the use of a heavy oil is advocated by the makers, but (here are still some Continental milker's, who recommend an oil, which is associated with the lubrication of aircooled motor-cycle, power units. The great advance made during the post few years :n the refining and blending of automobile lubricants have resulted in oils being producer that, while maintaining their /viscosity , and lubricating properties for a long period, and even when exposed to great heat, do not gum up the pistons in their cylinders when cold. If starting trouble* is 'traceable to gummed-up pistons, therefore, a change to a more suitable grade of oil is indicated. The unavoidable use of the choke or strangier in cold weather allows quantities of unexploded fuel to leak past the piston rings into the crankcase. Oil dilution occurs to a very noticeable extent in wellworn/ cars. Li summer petrol may be present to the extent of perhaps one part in 20 in the sump, but the proportion may bb two or three times greater in winter Second grade petrols not only make starting more difficult, but they increase oil dilution. When a fuel of low volatility is being used a start can often be effected by warming the induction manifold with a cloth, which has been immersed in boiling water. An old trick, often tried on the roadside, is to remove two or three spark plugs and heat the points by burning a small quantity of petrol. . Motorists who have done considerable summer touring, and who l)3\e had tlio generator regulated down to perhaps 6 or 7 ampere? will find it wise to increase the output to 10 amperes during the winter. Large batteries may require a still higher rate, but in any case the rate, which proved suitable under extensive summer running is not likely to keep a battery in good condition under winter restrictions. A.A.A. ACTIVITIES. An inspection of motoring routes and points of interest in the Urewora country will be made by the touring manager ot the A.A.A. at the end of this month. Particular attention will be paid to the new route to Waikaremoana. Camping grounds will be selected and representations will be made to the Government to ensure the permanent preservation of these sites. Dr. De C'live Lowe, member of the council of the association, wi 1 accompany the touring manager and will address a* meeting at Putaruru on Wednesday, May 1. . The signposting patrol of the association is now away on the Hauraki Plains, posting the area between Kerepehi. Waitakaruru, Te Kauwhata, Ohinewai, Tahuna and Patetonga. The assistant service officer is also away visiting Taupo, Kotorua and the Bay of Plenty. Work is now starting in earnest on the revision of maps, guides and touring information, and the association would welcome suggestions from the country motorists indicating new places of interest and anv points connected with early Maori history.

THE SELF-STARTER. Few-motorists realise the huge momentary power supplied by the sell-starter. In the first rush of current before the engine is spinning steadily, a self-starter may be drawing over 200 amperes or 50 times as much as is required by the headlamps. A 12-volt system furnishing 200 amperes represents a power of 2400 watts, or more than three horsepower. Provided the engine is in good order this huge current is required for only a second or so. A test with a standard 12-voit system showed that when the switch was pressed a current of 154 amperes flowed until tlie Beudix pinion mc.shed and took up the load. There was then a sudden increase to 228 amperes and once the fly-wheel moved freely the current fluctuated at about 100 amperes.

VANDALS AT WORK. Everybody has met the traveller who endeavours to leave indelible proof of his movements on trig stations, trees or shelters built for his comfort. I'or such as these, visitors' books do not allow sufficient expression. Idle people have worked mischief with pocket knives on the direction table erected at Arapuni by the A.A.A. If some forbearance is not displayed this guide to tourists will be defaced beyond utility. Perhaps some of the names inscribed may provide a clue which will give the A.A.A. an opportunity to teach a few sharp lessons