Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-24
AUTOMOBILE OWNERS
SHOULD KNOW THEIR CARS

Every owner will find it to his adj
vantage 20 thoroughly know his car.
the inside workings the proper care
Of it's under-thc-surface parts. as we'll
os to familiarize himself with what il
will do under AZ driving conditions"
says !. T.. Finncv. Of the Lininger-
AlsuD Co.
''To great extent n cars efficient
performance and economy of operation
depends on the owners technical and
driving ability. You hear Of this car
making AN endurance record. or that
car an economy record and another car
getting through where others have
failed. Pretty often such performance
Is due 10 tho man or woman Knowing
the car. what it will do and what il
VIII not do.
Right now the public press IL full
OF ar;icIcs and editorials telling how
Uncle Sam is badly in need OF men,
anu womcn. too. who know how to
dive and properly care for automo-
hilcs, commercial cars. motor ambu-
!Inc,s. etc.
Fhat is another reason why ] think
u you'd b" y splendid idea for every
automobile owner to pass a strict eN-
animation as to ability TO properly
handle and take care OF "A car. The
United states would ihcn have an in
'Ahhusiihlc army Of experienced and
trained motor drivers, not only more
than sufficient TO meet ali needs OF the
government over there but in the
great Industrial army over here
Another important matter every
owner should pay attention to is that
OF developing motor ieNibiiity. Much
mas been said relative to the throttl!ng
down o! an automobile engine. 10 the
e"aus! observer the ability OF a motor
10 run smoothly at two miles an hour
i nigh gear. without Knocking or
Joy KING of lit,ln
put III reality II means reducing TO
a minimum The necessity OF shifting
gears. thereby reducing wear and
strain on il.
Through the constant shifting OF
gears the mechanism receives unncccs-
-hFy nard usage. Thus, IL the motor
can he throtticd down to the po!nt
where u - almost Unnecessary TO suir.
gears unless steep hill! is encountered
,, VIII stand up much longer and run
much qu!eter. Noisy motors and rum
bling timing gears can usually he
traced :" the habit OF improper and
unnecessary shifting.
Another important result OF owners
showing their cars is the ability 10
stop sliding or skldding. affecting A
great saving IN gasoline consumption
aHl tire wear. Is wei! as eliminating
. cause Of trouble.
II the tires lack n sldewIse grin
ak.di.ng results. 1t sometimes hap
pens on "a dry road, but that Is gen
crazy due 10 excessive speed. espc-
ciI!IY In rounding corners. Usually II
- most hotherSOme on q wet pavement
~ asphalt or other smooth material.
often owners find that their cars
SKID nearly every time ,acy put the
brakes on, especially on a wet pave
m"nt The cause OF This is usually both
brakes not being adjusted TO the same
tension, one taking hold sooner than
The other, causing retardation of.
one wheel, which naturally wears off
the tread, and tends 10 cause the car
20 swing around because of the one
sided resistance
Sometimes however, the same thing
happens whcl. the brakes are adjusted
"hke. IN this ease, two things may be
wrong. The driver may be anplying
me brakes too suddenly. or the brakes
may hc locked
owners VIII be surprised how much
easier they VIII be able TO handle their
cars how much more proficient at
driving they Will become. as well as
get much more efficiency and economy
out OF their cars, II they are on speak
ing terms with such driving pointers
aS limited above"