A FORTNIGHTLY RUN OVER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 12

A FORTNIGHTLY RUN OVER

WHY—WHERE—AND HOW

ODD HOURS THAT SAVE POUNDS (By “Autoscribe'’) (All Rights Reserved) A few weeks ago one of my friends bought a new car, and in talking about it with him I strongly advised him to have a fortnightly run over, to keep it in perfect order. “Your idea is all right in theory,” he replied, “but what is there to do'? As far as 1 can sec the thing is running as well at the end of one fortnight as another, and fiddling around won’t make it go any better.” That probably represents the viewpoint of a good many motorists other than those fortunutos with mechanical inclinations. Until such time as the engine runs out of oil and the battery runs dry, they find the car “going well.’’ Unfortunately though, when batteries or engines run dry they cost a lot of money for repairs, and so do lots of the minor mishaps due to constant neglect or abuse. There are certain things which should be done at least once a fortnight to any car, and there are others which should receive occasional attention. It is a splendid idea to set aside a definite time for running over the car, and to stick religiously to it.

What Needs Doing? There arc at least half a dozen things that can usefully be attended to, once a fortnight, and others that can be done once a month. The writer has a car three and a half years old which is in perfect running order. It has been in every nook and corner of both islands, over all sorts and conditions of roads, and he attributes its present state mainly to the fact that it has always been well oiled with the best quality oil, and adjustments made regularly. Perhaps the best way will be to outline the things that need doing, and as they should all be done regularly there is no need to give an order of importance. The four-wheeled brakes on most cars arc operated by steel wire hawsers to which are fitted ball joints, where the coupling meets the axle. These ball joints should be oiled, regularly, but seldom are. Occasionally the brakes need tightening, but of course that doesn’t need doing every fortnight. When you drive a car over rough roads, loosening of nuts is unavoidable; in any case even where good roads only are traversed, there will be a certain amount of loosening, and it is a good plan to run over these. Only one or two will need tightening each time, but ’'y doing it at once, you may save yourself a lor of trouble later.

Lift the bonnet of nine cars out of ten and you will find the engine is dusty and oily. It may be clean on top, but near the oil filler, there will be dirty oil in abundance. This applies particularly to t.he small car which is set nearer the road, and which consequently picks up more dust. If your car is used solely in town on good bitumen roads you may not pick up much dust, but once you take it out over macadam roads in the country, it will get dirty. Generally speaking this dirt on the engine does little harm, but sometimes a speck gets into the carburettor or the bearings. It is an easy matter to keep it clean. A cheap brush and kerosene will do the trick, and if kerosene isn’t available, benzine will do almost as well. Battery Tyres and Rattles The efficiency of a battery depends on the state of the electrolyte. If this is not kept at the -proper density, charging will be erratic, and the life of the battery will be reduced- Attention to the water level should be given during the run over, and at the same time it will be wise to check the terminals and see that they are clean. "When they become badly corroded they can be cleaned with ammonia, and they should be greased with vaseline before they are replaced. Nowadays when balloon tyres are universal there is need to keep the pressures right, and the tyres should really be checked for pressure once a week, or oftener if on tour and making long distances daily. It is absolutely certain that if they are not checked at least once a fortnight, they will not last as they would were greater care taken. When under inflated too great a pressure is put on the cords of which the inner canvas is composed, and these break, causing gashes in the canvas which pinch and ruin the tubes. By inspecting the tyres regularly any small gashes in the rubber can be filled with rubber stopper which will prevent water and grit getting through the cover and hastening the end. When there are rattles or squeaks about a car, something is wrong. Glimpses of the obvious? How many cars a year old or more are there without them? They can be obviated or reduced by attention regularly. Mudguards are probably the worst offenders, but a drop of oil on the bolts that hold them to the chassis, and the use of a spanner occasionally, will keep them from rattling. Always try and trace a squeak or rattle to its source; it is usually easy to remedy it once you have found the cause. Periodical Adjustments It is important that the proper oil level be maintained in the engine, and that the oil be drained off every 1000 miles. Cars will keep running, often without apparent damage when the engine oil has not been cleaned right out for many thousands of miles, but you may be certain that the gritty matter in that oil is doing damage that will later cost money for repairs. If you buy oil by the gallon sec that you keep the tin well stoppered. Oil, plus the dust of your garage is not an efficient lubricant.

There are two or three other things worth mentioning as they all make for more pleasant running. If you paint your springs with a mixture of kerosene and oil, it will work in and keep them well lubricated. Your plugs need cleaning occasionally, and if your carburettor floods continually, take out the needle and clean it and the float Attention to all these minor points makes for more efficient running, and keeps your car out of the garage for the longest possible time.