New-York tribune., 1918-11-17
By II. Clifford Brokaw
Supervisor West Side Y. NJ. c. A
Automobile School

Supervisor West SIDE Y. NJ. {. A.
Automobile School
With the coming of very cold wealth
er and snow there will be many who
will lay up their cars until spring.
A large percentage of them will be
stored in unheatcd garages. The ques-
ton, therefore, arises as to the care
necessary when laying up the car to
prevent damage.
First of all, the water should be
drained out of the cooling system,
great care being taken to get all the
water out. There is drain cock un-
derneath the radiator so that it may
be emptied easily, but that does not
always drain all of the water out of
the entire system. Thus there may
be rise in the line between the radi-
ator and the lowest point in the water
jacket of the engine. Often special
drain cocks to take care of this are
placed at the bottom of the water
Jackets.
Where there is any doubt about this
it will be we'll to disconnect the pipes
at the bottom to make sure that there
Is not enough water left in the Jacket
TO freeze and crack the cylinders.
Many carburetors have water jacket.
inns is quite often the lowest point
IN the system, and is usually supplied
with drain cock. Where this is not
1ound 1T is simple matter to discon
meet the pipes and drain out the water
IL very small amount of water is left
In the Jacket it will do no harm if il
IS at point where it has room to ex-
pand when it freezes.
The car should be lacked up and
set on skids to take the weight off the
slres; enough air should be left in the
tires to keep them in shape. Extra
tubes should be unfolded and Inflated
slightly and should be laid fiat in the
tonneau, or some other place where
they Will keep their shape.
The top should be extended as
keeping it fiat for any length of time
tends to make the creases and crac],s
permanent. Tightly woven muslin o.,
a rubberized sheet to cover the entire
car Will keep out dust and paw for
itsel1 IN preserving the polished sur
faces and fabric tops,
Ventilate the Garage
Where there is no heat there is
bound to be considerable dampness,
and provision should be made for
thoroughly ventilating the garage
sweating IS very hard to overcome
but this damaging feature might he
q
ing al OF the vanished surfaces thick
~ with polishing oil. Piano manu-
facturers smear the entire piano with
vasellne, and one cannot 90 wrong bv
initiating their method. 1t may be q
question whether this will do any good
IN the case of enameled surfaces. which
are prone to check and crackle in cold
weather, but for varnish it is all right
1t might be we'll to consult the manu-.
facturer as to the treatment of enam.
eled surfaces.
1t would be we'll to apply a thick
coating of dressing to the leather or
imitation leather upholstery. For tex
tile upholstery, slip covers are desir.
able.
Vaseline applied to all unpainted
metal surfaces will prevent corror ion
This includes the engine, spark plugs
electric; system terminals, horn, clock
lamp pezels and every other place
where corrosion might occur. Keer
an oil and vaseline away from the
tires and tubes.
The battery will need to be charged
once month, and where convenient il
J should be removed from the car anc
be left at a garage or service station
where provision is made for taking
care of it through the winter. If left
in the car there is danger of freezing
unless it be kept fully charged all ths
, time, and this would mean that !,
. should be charged at least once s
month. Frequent inspection is also
necessary to see that it is holding it.
( charge
I, Battery Treatment
Where there is no battery exper
convenient the battery may be laid u,
for the winter by charging it fully ant
testing it with the hydrometer to max,
sure that it is so charged. Then re
l move the liquid, or electrolite, replac
, ing it with distilled wnter Charge tn,
battery again; this will use up all tn,
acid remaining IN thu nj 10 arI -, ~.