Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-28
HOW TO TAKE CAR
OUT Of STORAGE
Many Details to Be Attended
to After Machine Has Lain
Idle for Winter.
DRAIN GASOLINE
TANK

| these spring days ones fancy turns
to thoughts of motoring and the prob
lem arises of taking the car out of
storage and putting it in the best shape
for summer use." says William H.
Stewart, jr., president of the Stewart
Automobile School.
Every car should be thoroughly gone
over at least once a year, and the spring
seems to be the favorite ttne. But the
average motorist knows very little
about overhauling. He wants to put his
car in good shape with the least trouble
and expense. To him the following sug-
gestions may be of value:
Close the drain valve at the bottom Of
the radiator and all other drain valves
on the cooling system. Fill with water
to the top of radiator and look for leaks.
If you have overlooked any drain valves
you will soon know 1t. Let US hope there
are no leaks.
Drain all the old oil from the sys-
tenn and fill the oil base with kero-
sene to the usual level. After the en-
CINE has run few seconds remove all
this kerosene and fill with clean oil:
Crank the engine over by hand and
note If there is any loss of compress
sion. II the engine is too stiff remove
the valve caps or spark plugs and In
Ject oil around the edges of the piston.
by some cylinders being easier to crank
than the others. the trouble must be
found and removed.
Look for Bubbles.
AFTER the engine has started inject
some oil around the valve caps and
spark plugs and look for bubbles. II
hoo h
gasket should be tested in the same
way If no serious leak Is found by
this means try pouring half teacupfui
Of kerosene into each cylinder and
starter for few minutes. This is to
loosen the piston rings in case they be-
come stuck in the grooves. If compress.
sion is still weak the valves may need
grinding. 1t will be well to grind them
in any case. If they are ground now,
while there is not very much demand
for tho car, they will go . long tifae in
the busy season before they need grind
ing again.
less the valves are very badly pitted.
as It leaves deep ridges that must be
ground out. The fine compound will
ordinarily be found sharp enough. Be
extra careful not to leave any of the
emery in the engine, as 1t gets on the
piston and never stops grinding.
Lubricate Every Part.
'Lubricate every part as called for in
the instruction book. The axles, the
universal joints, the differential. ETC..
are difficult to get at. are dirty. and
90 are often neglected. But so much
simply must get the attention they re-
quire or the car will suffer. Remove
tho drain plug from the gearcase and
drain all the oil that will run out. Re
the bottom Of the shaft. Use long
handled paint brush and wash down the
dirty grease around the sides, along
the shafts and in between the teeth Of
the gears. Drain this out. refill with
with a light lubricant that will flow in
between the teeth, not one that will be
pushed aside. After the engine has
been started. note II the oil gauge on
the dash indicates that the oiling sys-
Clean Rims Of Tires.
Remove the tires and carefully clean
the rims. using a file to remove the
rust, and finish with sandpaper. The
rims should then be painted with spe-
cial rim paint or with a mixture Of
graphite and shellac. Inspect the cas-
which is frequently neglected. LoQk
for breaks in the fabric which Will
pinch the tube. and for the points of
nails. tacks or glass sticking through
the fabric. as they are frequently hid
den from the outside. Inject plenty Of
tire chalk. but not enough to accumu-
late in one spot and injure tho tube.
Inspect the tread and repair all small
cuts with tire repair gum. Large cuts,
loose tread. sand pockets, ETC.. should be
repaired by tho vulcanizer. Inspect the
tube and install a new valve, pump up
to full round, and lean tube up against
a smooth wall to see II it will hold air
II 1t slowly sinks the leak must be
found and repaired. If everything is
satisfactory place tires on wheels and
pump up to proper pressure, using a
pressure gauge.
VIII Be Useless for Power.
II the gasoline has been left in the
tank all winter it will be almost use.
less for power, 20 3t should be drained
u--