The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-10
r COSTS
CRANK AUTO
Electrical Current Is One of
Definite Costs In Opera
ton Of Motor Despite In.
clinati0n to Disregard It.

| One Of the very definite costs in the
operation of an automobile, according
to the proprietor Of the Willard Serv-
lee station is electrical current.
Most motorists" says Mr.. Rugh,
ARE inclined to regard the electrical
current with which they crank their
engine and light their road at night,
as a free gift of the manufacturer.
Something which, like the frame or
wheels of their car. is part of the car
and needs no attention whatever.
To certain degree, ii n motorist
| is careful, the electric current con-
sumed is almost a gift. 1t Is a by prod
nct OF the motor. But. the battery
which holds the energy in readiness
for instant use will not last forever
1t is going to wear out in time. The
price OF a battery then. spread over
the length of time that the battery
lasts. might be called the cost of the
electric current.
added to this are other necessary
costs. For instance. the wise motor
list has his battery taken down and
thoroughly inspected. and perhaps the
insulation renewed every season. This
adds to the cost of electric cranking
and lighting. In winter. il he stores
his car, he will see that his battery
is left in safe hands. This means stor-
ing at the Willard Service station or
in similar place In charge OF a bat
terry expert. This again adds to the
cost Of electricity on the automobile.
NJ 1r 1,o i'm,
portance Of his storage battery has no
further cost than this. Care is neces-
sary, however, If he is to keep his bat
terry cost at this minimum. He must
see to 1t that his battery Is filled reg
ularly with distilled water. He must
have his battery tested regularly with
the hydrometer syringe. either doing
this himself or letting the Serice sta
ton do it. He should take advantage
of all the battery service that is Of
fcred by battery manufacturers, for, by
keeping in touch with service stations
and letting the expert look the battery
over, he Is very frequently able to
forestall battery trouble. lie should
sec that his battery is neither starved
nor overheated. In short, he should
keep an eye on his battery and give
the same attention that he does to the
other parts of his machine.
or course, the cost of the electric
conveniences on an automobile varies
with the car-owner. A doctor, for in
stance. who makes short runs and
many stops, naturally involving great
deal OF cranking. must assuredly have
his battery charged occasionally ut the
service station; for the machine has
not run far enough to allow the gen.
orator to restore the energy to the
battery that Is used after cranking. The
man who does a lot of driving at night
and practically none in the day time
will find frequently that 1t is necessary
to have his battery charged.
The cost of this charging outside
the car must again be added to the
maintenance cost of the car and to
the cost OF operating electric convent
ences.
The point is this. To keep the cost
Of electricity at the lowest possible
point, the owner must take care of tho
battery. He must not expect the bat
terry to last as long as the mechanical
parts of his car; and just as regularly
as he has the engine torn down to insure
! its perfect running. SO he should have
his battery torn down to insure perfect
efficiency. By these means alone can
| he keep his cost at the minimum"