WINTER OIL A NECESSITY

Southland Times, Issue 23828, 27 May 1939, Page 20

WINTER OIL A NECESSITY

POWER OUTPUT AND FUEL ECONOMY

WISE PRECAUTIONS FOR COLD WEATHER

The use of heavy summer oils in winter causes cars to be sluggish and much of this sluggish running is frequently put down to bad carburation, faulty fuel, over-cooled engines and similar reasons. It is quite definite, however, and it can be demonstrated by any motorist with his own car, that the use of winter oil in cold weather as compared with a summer oil, enables his engine to respond much more quickly on the road during the warm-ing-up period. Many motorists think that the warm-ing-up of the engine is merely the time taken for the cooling water to reach its working temperature. The truth is that the lubricating oil in the oil sump warms up much more slowly, and until it is thoroughly warm the engine cannot possibly produce its normal working efficiency due to excessive oil drag, because the lower the temperature of the oil, the greater the drag, due to its thicker condition. This has an important effect on both power output and fuel economy, while there is also a difference in regard to maximum speed in favour of the winter oil. However, perhaps one of the most important features for the town motorist is quick acceleration, due to traffic control and general road conditions, and it is here that the winter oil shows a definite advantage, which is immediately obvious to a motorist , without recourse to stop watches, accelerometers, and the like.

Quick engine response from cold is one of the most satisfactory features of motoring during winter. Quick starting means less battery drain in winter, when it is essential to conserve the battery power to the utmost degree, owing to frequent use of such accessories as fog lamps, windscreen wipers, cigarette lighters, engine starters, car heaters and similar units. Engine starting causes the greatest drain on the battery, hence the less the drain due to use of the proper engine oil, the greater the safety during winter driving, due to proper operation of auxiliary units.

The question of oil drag, moreover, is not confined to the engine. It is equally important in regard to the transmission, where the most important lubricated Darts are the gearbox and rear axle.

As these units are out of sight, they are frequently neglected from a lubrication standpoint, and the draining out of the old lubricant in. the gearbox and rear axle, the cleaning out of any impurities that may be present, with a suitable flushing oil, and refilling with the correct grade of gearbox and back axle oil do effect a definite improvement.

All oils tend to thicken up in use in transmissions; consequently the cleaning out of the old oils and elimination of particles of metal worn off the various moving parts, helps to keep the gearing in first-class condition and improves the life of the bearing surfaces. At the same time, it is advisable to have the wheel bearings lubricated. In some cars only the front wheel bearings require separate lubrication, and in others both front and rear hubs require attention. These details can be readily ascertained from oiling charts. Sluggishly running cars, due to faulty engine and transmission lubrication, spell inconvenience and waste of fuel.

Winter motoring can be rendered enjoyable by attention to these simple details.