FROST PROTECTION

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1935, Page 13

FROST PROTECTION

DAMAGE FROM FREEZING.

SAFEGUARDS FOR COLD DISTRICTS.

(By

“Spotlight.”)

Motor vehicles that 3re difficult to start on a frosty morning or evening are not as rare as one might imagine, and delay and discomfort to owners is far too frequent. During periods of frost motorists run the risk of serious damage to the radiator, cylinder block and other important parts of their cars. For dis-, tricts where severe freezing occurs the Automobile Association suggests the following safeguards:— ; If the car is not in use, drain. the radiator, cylinder jackets and water pump casing. On many cars it is insufficient to open the radiator drain tap, and additional means will be found for draining the cylinder block and the pump. If the car is being used frequently, one of two courses should be adopted. .An anti-freezjng mixture may be poured into the radiator to lower the freezing point of' the water in the cooling, system. This is a certain precaution against damage and is essential where a thermostatic device which controls the water circulation is incorporated. Such devices short-circuit the water in the cylinder jackets, and until sufficient temperature is reached no circulation through the radiator takes place. The water in the radiator is consequently stagnant, and if the car is then run on the road before the whole of the water has warmed up the stagnant water in the radiator may, in extremely cold weather, freeze, due to the added cooling effect of the car’s motion, and so damage the radiator. Where no adequate heating system for the motor house exists a safety heater should be placed under the bonnet beside the engine. The bonnet and radiator should then be covered with rugs. A radiator muff is a desirable fitting for the purpose of reducing. the effect of the radiator and maintaining the engine at a reasonable working temperature when in operation. It also prevents too rapid dissipation of the heat during stops and thus saves engine wear and starting difficulty. In no sense, however, does a muff provide a substitute for a heater or render other precautions unnecessary, and by itself is of no tervice,when tl •: car is standing in the garage, without such other precautions in addition.

DRIVING TESTS NEW ERA FOR BRITAIN. PROVISIONAL REQUIREMENTS. Driving tests are now being made at Home. All motorists who have taken out their first driving licenses since April 1 last year have to undergo a test. At present it is a voluntary duty, but will become compusory some time next month or in June. _ A fairly high proportion of failures is expected. In France 32 per cent, of candidates failed last year. A candidate who fails may appeal or wait a month and then be tested again, paying another 7s 6d fee. The test will take, on' the average, half an hour. It will - include oral examination on the Highway Code, the eyesight test (reading a number plate at 25 yards), and a practical test of driving in traffic. The Transport Minister, Mr. HoreBelisha, in some remarks regarding the testing of drivers, said recently that Britain could now look forward to a time when every motorist would be a driver of proved skill, as an. engine driver is now. But it would be a long time before the results of compulsory driving tests became apparent. For many years the vast majority of drivers would be persons who had not undergone the test. The Road Traffic Act, however, provides. that anyone charged with careless or dangerous driving, whether convicted or not, may be required by the magistrate to submit himself to the test, and Mr. Hore-Belisha hoped that magistrates would make use of this power. A FAIR TEST. There was bound to be criticism, especially if the percentage of failures was high, the Minister said. The test had to be fair both to the would-be driver and tc the public. He had just finished a three-days‘ conference with the 12 supervising examiners, impressing on them the vital necessity of guarding against “palm oil,” which, it was notorious, had been rife abroad at one time in a similar connection, and in the settling cf a standard to which examiners should work. That there is real need for testing drivers may be gathered from happenings at the examination of applicants for the position of examiners. Bad signalling, bad positioning of the car on the road in traffic, and bad reversing were the chief faults of applicants for appointment as examiners. Only six out of 120 were 100 per cent, right about traffic light signals. Ignorance of the Highway Code was appalling. Very many applicants had never heard of the Highway Code at all. One man said, Oh, yes; he knew it well. It was a little green booklet published by the Daily — (a booklet entitled the Good Driver’s Code). Provisional regulations issued for the driver’s test require that the applicant must satisfy the examiner: That he is fully conversant with the Highway Code. Is able to read at a distance of 25 yards (with glasses if worn) a number plate with six letters and figures. Is able unaided to start the engine. Move away straight ahead or at an angle. Overtake, meet, or cross the path of other vehicles. Turn right and lefthand comers correctly. Stop the vehicle both in an emergency and normally. Reverse into a limited opening. Turn round by the use of forward and reverse gea V. Give by hand and by mechanical means in a clear and unmistakable manner appropriate Signals at appropriate times. Act correctly and promptly on all signals and signs. Prove generally that he is competent to drive a motor vehicle withcut danger to and with due consideration for other users of the road.

WARMING THE ENGINE SLOW IDLING NOT ADVISED. A motoring hint that has received wide publicity is that when a cold engine is first started it should be allowed to idle for a minute or two so that the cylinders warm up and the oil circulates fully before the engine has to provide a big power output. In a sense that advice is accurate, but according to many dependable experts one should avoid allowing the engine to tick over slowly, but should set it to run at say six or eight hundred revolutions a minute. The explanation is that it is most desirable to hasten the circulation of the oil, since it has been found that, most cylinder wear takes place just

after a cold engine fires. Furthennore, one of the products of combustion in the cylinders is water, and many motorists will have observed that when the car is first started steam may be emitted from the exhaust pipe, or drops of water fall from the outlet. That water comes from the cylmdeis, and unless promptly expelled will combine with the cylinder gases and form carbonic acid, which is known to be very destructive of the metal surfaces.