Notes for Motor Owners

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 126, 29 October 1930, Page 7

Notes for Motor Owners

HOW TO GET MORE MILEAGE « THIRTEEN SUGGESTIONS. Thousands of pounds could be saved I annually by the motor-owning public ' through a more strict observance of 1 the factors that control the benzine mileage offered by the average automobile. This is revealed in a survey on fuel economy recently completed by a well-known company. A gain of from two to five miles on the gallon of petrol could be effected, on the average, it xvas shoxvn, if the motorist paid strict to the j elements that govern fuel consumption. ; The majority opf items to be watched I arc rather obvious to the average owner but through an inadequate appreciation of their importance are commonly over-looked. The survey sets down specifically a number of factors which if observed, should materially increase your mile- ! age. j They arc: — 1. When standing or waiting for the • light to change, don ’t race your motor. 2. When you are to make a stop ot ; more than a minute, turn off your motor. | 3. Don’t drive at excessive speeds unless the occasion demands. High speed travelling burns more petrol. 4. Remember that the faster you drive the more benzine you consume. So when you find that you are about out of petrol, and arc heading for a station take it slowly, and your chances for negotiating the distance will be greater. ■5. When starting, watch the choke. Don’t drive xvith the choke out a moment more than necessary. fi. Be sure that your brakes are not dragging. This cuts down your mileage. Get your brakes inspected frequently. 7. Have your valves ground when they need it. 8. See that the idling .adjustment on your carburettor is set at the proper point, so that the mixture is not too rich. If it is not at the proper point, it gives you inefficient idling performance, and wastes benzine. 9. Don’t fill your benzine tank full to the cap; some will escape through the vent in the cap. 10. Don’t 44 ride the clutch.’’ .11. Watch petrol line for leaks at joints. Cheek it periodically to see that fittings are tight. 12. Be sure that spark is in fully advanced position. 13. Avoid excessive use of brakes in traffic. Observance of these suggestions, the •survey points out, will save money for the motorist, and add considerable mileage to your driving, and reduce the number of unnecessary stops at the bowser station.

SPARKS. The motto about too many cooks spoiling the broth never meant that one hand is good enough on the steering wheel. “The motoring beginner dislikes rain,” says a writer. But w’hen a lady driver puts out her hand it does not necessarily mean that she is ascertaining if it has stopped raining. She may be thinking of going to the right, the left, forward, or even backwards. A judge says that his only acquaintance with motor cars is through dodging them, One does not learn a great deal about them by this method, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. “Fill her up,” said the absentminded motorist to the waiter as ho parked his fiancee in the restaurant. BLACKENED OIL. Blackening of the oil after short use should not be cause for alarm, if the oil was of high quality in the first place. Tests show that as little as one hundredth part of one per cent, of carbon will turn an oil black in colour w 7 hile not affecting its lubricating value in the slightest. If a car is equipped with an oil purifier and the cartridge in that purified is less than 8000 miles “old” the colour of the oil should not worry you. Just follow the regular rule of changing oil at the intervals previously noted. When changing the oil do not have the crank case flushed out with kerosv" . It is not necessary and some of the kerosene might get into the oil lino and do some damage, for kerosene is a poor lubricant. If the motor is warm the oil will drain out satisfactorily. But be sure to let it drain out completely. Remember it is the last quart that is usually the dirtiest.

NOT SPECTACULAR. DRIVERS WITH EXPERIENCE The experienced driver is seldom spectacular, while the one with a newly acquired sense of control believes for a xvhile that his lessons are at an end, and forgets that a car provides us xvith all innumerable opportunities of making fools of ourselves and being a menace to others (xvrites an English motorist). I It is not xvise to assume that the driving of a car is a type of activity limited in its scope to the actual manipulation of. its mechanism; it encompasses a much wider Held of thought and responsibility. In its deeper analysis it is a progressive accomplishment which, if thoughtfully carried out, forms-an exercising ground for the practice of consideration, calmness, alertness, and rapid decisions. A FEW HINTS. When there is a rapping noise as the car coasts with clutch disengaged it may indicate that the universals are badly xvorn. The mileage of tyres can be greatly lengthened by changing them about. Tests have proved that the-left rear tyre gets the most wear of all on the car, with the wear on the others going down the scale in this order: Right rear, left front, right front. Oil consumption increases proportionately with the rate of engine speed. At high speeds it disappears at a rate almost amazing. It is worth bearing in mind when on a. long tour. In order to give the cooling system proper care, once each week is not too often completely to drain the radiator and refill with fresh water.

Chromium plating xvill not 4 :arnish, but it does need a mild cleaning noxv and then. A quick, easy method is to rub it lightly with a damp chamois and dry it xvith a piece of the same material., Small stone cuts in the tyres should be kept well filled with some good tyre filler. This will keep out water and oil, which are injurious to tyre fabric and xvill add many miles to the life of every casing. Oil is very injurious to rubber. Inner tubes should never he thrown carelessly among greasy tools or oil cans. Wrap them carefully in cloth and keep them in a strong cloth bag. A battery’s efficiency and life depend upon the care it receives. Thousands of batteries die of thirst. A storage battery should be examined every week in summer and more frequently on extended tours, and every two weeks in winter. The solution should never be allowed to get below the top of the battery plates. When replenishing the solution always use distilled water or in emergency, clean rain water.

TOO MUCH OIL. In making up oil level in the sump one sometimes adds too much, so that the level is well above that which is necessary. If the excess be not removed it results in wastage of the lubricant, and possibly the plugs may be fouled, while it would show itself in various other ways. The surplus could be removed through the drain plug, but this involves crawling under the car and is none too easy a job. A simple way of removing the excess is to disconnect the union on the oil pipe, behind the pressure gauge on the dash, and run the engine, when the oil will be pumped through the pipe and it can be caught in a tin. JACKING ON SOFT GROUND It is surprising how many motorists have found themselves in difficulties through jacking-up their cars on soft ground. The best counsel is, of course, never to use the jack except on firm ground, but those who are fond of camping and picnicking cannot always follow this advice -without driving for an uncomfortably long distance with a flat tyre. It should be remembered that ground is often deceptive, and although it may be possible to raise the car and remove a wheel it may be found that the spare cannot be fitted owing to the jack having sunk in the meantime. When the need arises for jaeking-up on anything but a metalled road, therefore, the precaution should always be taken of placing something under the jack which offers a large, flat surface to the ground. A floor board will be found admirable for the purpose.