El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-06-19
HOW To PILOT 4 MOTOR CAR
OVER THE DESERT REGIONS
Some Interesting Advice by Los Angeles Man on How
to Get Out Of Sand, How to Avoid Damage to Cars
Machinery From Sand, and What Is Best to Take
On Trip in This art of the Country
BY HARRIS NJ. HANsHUE.

: than the axles. The carburetor and
[ magnetic should be protected. both
7 above and below. from the dust and
! sand which is thrown against the hood
I and pan by the front wheels All
: grease cups should be filled and
/ screwed down often, SO that the grease
J sQueezes out of them, for when tho
bearings are full of grease no dust nor
/ grit can get in.
Grease Keeps Out Dust.
This is also true Of the differential.
transmission and crank case. II the oil
IS running out OF every joint, you are
sure no sand is going in to destroy the
gears and bearings. The oil In the
crank case should be drawn off and
. fresh oil substituted every 500 miles of
desert driven. on account OF the dust
winch enters the motor through the
carburetor and breather tube.
Now, having the car ready for the
grind, we will consider some sugges-
tons touching on the actual work OF
handling II on desert roads When you
come 70 the point where your road map
tells you that YOU will encounter sew
eral miles of deep. fine said. Won should
debate your tires to from Is to 25
pounds pressure, according to your load
and tire size -Four and one-half inch
tires should carry 20 pounds; five inch
% pounds; anything over five inch
10 pounds. for the reason that the
larger the tire the thicker and SITTER
the sides, so IL is necessary to let out
more air TO get the width of contact on
the face OF the tire This allows the
tire 70 flatten out and hold the car on
top Of the sand instead Of sinking in
over the felloes.
In the Ruts.
On a Travelled sandy road. ALWAYS
keep in the tracks, but II YOU get off
the road, try TO get back on gradually
and do not turn your front wheel sharp
ly, as you cannot make any progress /
whatever in sand with the front wheels !
cramped- In soft drift sand or wash !
gravel, slow down from four to eight J
miles per hour, using the low or in /
termediate gear and maintaining an 4
eVens steady, constant torQue on the
rear wheels TO Keep the axle from
jumping, and using the power sparingIy l
to prevent the wheels from burning
themselves On sandy grades or any
where you stall. it is a good plan TO I
back up and start again IN the tracks
you have made and when you have 4
advanced as far as you can, repeat the
operation until you have traversed the
difficult area.
Getting Out Of sand.
If you find you can neither retreat
nor advance, do not make the mistake
made by all novices and most profess
sional drivers and punish ~our motor I
and car by trying to buck through by
main strength and awbwardness, but
get out and shovel the sand from in
front OF the wheels, especially the
-ront, and cut some brush and throw
p the path Of the rear wheels to give
hem traction. and YOU viii he sur
'rIsed how easily the car viii move
However, on approaching q question J
-bIe place, it saves time and wear and I
ear on car and nerves to get out and
nroW the brush in and make a road
'efOre attempting to drive through. ]
n starting from a standstiu in a Diff
lcult position, it Is necessary to take /
are that the ear starts gradually, so [
s not TO put sudden strain on any
u the driving parts This is a very
ifficult thing TO do with clutch which
s very severe and engages without any
Ippage.
Avoid Boys
Where the road approaches a spring /
T alkaH fiat try the surface before J ,
ntering- II it is moist, make a detour
o avoid it because there is no worse
oil in the world TO bog in than desert Z !
r alkaH mud \
Speaking Of springs, do not drink
rom them at all, but especially II
here are no animal or bird tracks !
round them, as this is sign that the I
-ater contains arsenic or some other I
oisonous ingredient ;
When driving on a road with a high I 5
enter and rutS on each side IT is well {
3 take no chances, but to straddle one 3 :
the ruts by putting one wheel on Z
he center and the other on the high
round outside the rut and proceed /
cry slowly, in order not to slip hack c
Ito the read and damage oil reservoir z
r differential case. /
Going For Help.
In case OF accident which would I ,
lake it necessary for one of the party :
, go for help, do not let him walk on
he desert in the heat OF the day He
ill make better time travelling in the /
Dol Of the morning and evening and Z
esting in THE middle of the day. Many ! !
man has lost his life attempting
; mile walk in a very high tempera- Z 7
ire. But to be sure to avoid any such
acessity, the idea YOU must carry with I :
on when driving in the desert is that / I
on cannot gain anything by hurry
ig; that conservative driving always =
ms over alternate speed and break :
owns. and that the surest and quick 4 I
Il way 70 arrive at your destination is -
} keep your car going at a safe, steady =