CARE OF THE CAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22004, 10 January 1935, Page 14

CARE OF THE CAR

MAINTAINING APPEARANCE

HINTS FOR KEEN OWNERS

• Shining new cars, without a single scratch anywhere to mar their truly fine appearance, are on the road in their hundreds at present, and for the moment they make a brave procession. It is a little depressing, therefore, to realise that within a year many will have dull bodies, with only their modern lines to prove them 1935 models, and that this change will bo due in nearly every case solely to the neglect of the owner. Even a seasoned motorist, to whom the delivery of a new car has long ceased to be a great event, vows when he first takes over a shining model from the show-room that this time, at least, he will take due care to preserve the brilliant polish that adorns the body, and the spotless appearance of- the upholstery. Before very long, however, enthusiasm wanes, and the rttr becomes just another unkemptlooking vehicle among the thousands of similar machines on the streets. "Little and often" is the golden rule with regard to maintaining the good appearance of a car. While it is manifestly impossible for the average man to dust his car daily, it should be .well within his ability to perform this simple" task say twice a week. Light rain works havoc with the appearance of a dusty car, forming mudspots, which, if allowed to become dry, are quite difficult to remove. When washing the car ample water should be used, and any rubbing to remove mud should be done with a sponge or a piece of very soft cloth, liberally soaked. Water may be removed with a clean sponge, and the surface finally dried off with a_ leather that has had no contact with any greasy substance. If desired, the car may then be given a coat of any reliable brand of polish, the final rub-bing-up being done with soft cheesecloth or similar material. If a good polish is used the resultant shine will last through several washings. A light rub with a leather is sufficient to revive chromium-plating; it is not generally advisable to use metal-polish, although there are one or two special preparations which are claimed to have no ill-effects on a chromium finish. If the car has leather upholstery, wax polish will improve it, and in the case of cloth, a good brushing will remove dust. Petrol, sparingly used, is a reliable method of disposing • of grease-spots.

HAPHAZARD PARKING

PREVALENCE IN AUCKLAND

Haphazard parking in the city is again becoming noticeable, and many complaints have been heard recently concerning the inconvenience caused»in this way by careless or incapable drivers. In spite of the fact that each year ingenious designers make their products easier to drive, many motorists are still incapable of parking properly. Quite apart from the selfish driver who stops his car two or three feet from the kerb, and so creates an obstruction to passing traffic, and the even more foolish owner who parks "two deep," there are dozens of motorists who cannot be persuaded that reversing into a restricted parking space is the best and often the only practical method. Provided that the car does not suffer from the unfortunate disability of a poor lock, even a big machine can easily be reversed into a confined space after very little practice.

When a suitable parking spot is selected, between two cars at the kerb and well spaced, the driver should run his machine close alongside the foremost of the two parked vehicles. From that position it is possible to back neatly into the space, and to finish with both near-side wheels equidistant from the kerb, and with the front wheels on full right lock, ready to drive away into the traffic stream.

DRY SUMP LUBRICATION

Dry sump lubrication is an efficient system which is employed extensively in aeroplanes and certain large types of motor vehicles, but is seldom met with in light cars. In some circumstances it has special merits, and is, of course, essential in aeroplane practice, since the very steep angles at which the engine runs would interfere seriously with the usual form of "wet'' sump, in which the bottom of the crankcase forms the oil reservoir. With the dry sump installation, the reserve of lubricant is carried in a separate tank, and on cars tho tank is ordinarily mounted well forward at some suitable point where the air stream while the car is in motion will help to cool its contents. The arrangement of the oilways is similar to that adopted for conventional pressure lubrication. But it is necessary to have two lubricating pumps. One draws tho oil from the reserve tank and forces it to the frictional parts of tho engine, while the other draws off the oil after it has passed through the engine and returns it from the crankcase to the tank. It will bo seen, therefore, that the lubricant is constantly circulated, but since it is not carried in the crankcase, there is less risk of dilution and contamination.

For racing cars such a lay-out has definite potential advantages, in that tho tank can bo so designed and placed 1 that a much better cooling effect is procurable.