High Road and By-Road A COLUMN FOR MOTORISTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18229, 17 January 1931, Page 20 (Supplement)

High Road and By-Road A COLUMN FOR MOTORISTS.

OIL AND SPIRIT. TASMAN FLYER’S TRIBUTE. Among the careful preparations made by long distance flyers, the choice ofmotor oil and spirit stands out as one of the must important. The oil must have proved its ability to stand up under the stress of long distance flying, and the spirit must give the verybest of mileage and dependability. As a tribute to the oil and spirit he chose, Guy Menzies sent the following telegram to the Atlantic Union Oil Go., Ltd.: “Union Super Spirit and Atlantic Motor Oil performed perfectly throughout. Have nothing but praise for excellent products.” TOO MUCH WATER WITH IT. WHY CARS STOP. AFTER WET WEATHER. Motor breakdowns in the summer usually occur after a rainstorm, when the ignition system is put out of action by the presence of water. To enable motorists to guard against the possibility of this interference with smooth running, Mr R. 11. Brinkman (an expert) offers the following suggestions: — Care should be taken to see that the whole of the wiring system is protected. The distributor and ignition coil should be protected by a covering of canvas or rubber. A section cut from an old tube can be placed over the distributor, and the top tied tightly. The high tension coil 'can be treated in the same way. Frequently water enters through the louvres of the bonnet, and is blown by the fan into the ignition system. It is -possible to fit a plate inside the bonnet to prevent any trouble from this source. High tension wires should be kept dry, and dampness will cause a leakage of current. Starting Difficulty. Should an engine fall to start, the plug wires, distributor, and coil should be inspected. If any trace of dampness is present on any of these parts, they should be dried and replaced. Water will sometimes find its way down the plug wires and collect on top of the distributor and on the plug wire sockets, where they enter the distributor. If the car will not start, and the presence of water is suspected as the cause the wires should be pulled out of their sockets, one at a time, thoroughly dried and replaced after making sure that no dampness exists in the holes into which the wires are fitted in the distributor. The high tension /wire leading from Hie coil to the distributor .should be kept dry. Stoppages are sometimes caused through water in the petrol. Usually during wet weather water enters through the vent hole in the tiller

cap at tlie main petrol tank and'is drawn into the vacuum tank and carburetter. Failure to start or backliring through the carburetter is an indication of the presence of water in the carburetter. Attend to Jets. If the failure is due to the presence of water in the carburetter tiie supply of petrol turned off and the vacuum tank and carburetter drained and thoroughly cleaned. The jets should be taken out and blown through before replacing. The presence of a small drop of water in the jet will prevent the engine from being started. Even though no trouble has been experienced on the road the vacuum lank and carburetter should be drained and cleaned. It is preferable to do this at regular intervals, as a certain quantity of water is always present in petrol, and if allowed to collect trouble on the road can be expected. VALUE OF SIGNALS. Many motorists appear to overlook the fact that the sole purpose of hand signals is to indicate to others their own intentions, and that the driving of other cars behind is no concern oi theirs whatsoever. The only signals really called for are those which indicate that the driver is Agoing to do something which may not be expected by those who are following. _ ( In other words, the only signal • which appears to be really needed is j to hold out the hand in the proper, manner, not just dangle the hand over the side of-the car or out the window, when it is intended to pull out to the , right, either with the object of passing something or turning down a side road, j There is quite a large number of motorists who respond to the sound of j the horn, by a sweep of the hand. This, 1 in itself, is a laudable action as an indication that the warning has. been . heard, but how much better it would • be to keep the hand on the steering , wheel and pull to the left so as to give . room for the other car to pass. Theoretically, a driver is supposed to move his hand up and down when traffic in front compels him to slow up, and to hold his hand up when forced to stop. If all drivers would realise that the object of hand signals is to indicate their own intentions, and , give those signals correctly, the handl- j ing of their cars, as well as general i safety, would be improved. j DOMINION RACING DRIVER. | i One of New Zealand’s foremost j motor-racing drivers, Mr C. W. F. | Hamilton, of Tekapo, South Island, , has for many years been in close touch . with Mr .Malcolm Campbell, the famous British driver, regarding his Sunbeam. J Mr Campbell made many inquiries i concerning the Ninety-Mile Beach, and j Mr Hamilton was able to convince him I of its merit. Mr Campbell was great- 1 [y- interested in the possibility of the ; beach, the main drawback from his j point of view being the distance. -