The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-11-04
KEEPING YOUR
BUICK CAR
in TRIM
Suggestions About Giving
the Storage Battery the
Care 1t Deserves

The storage battery has been de-
veloped to such a high state of per-
lection that many Buick owners are
unconscious of the presence OF a bat
terry in their cars. Considering the
abuse and neglect that battery Of
ten receives, it is remarkable that it
continues to function properly.
When trouble results, it is usually
due to the forgetfulness of The driver
in attending to the simple things nee
essary to the life of the battery.
Should the owner neglect to keep the
motor supplied with sufficient oil, he
is not surprised if it fails to run
smoothly He knows that lack of
water in the radiator, for instance,
means an overheated motor.
And, yet, there are owners who,
particularly careful about motor lub-
rication, abuse their batteries.
Storage batteries after all, are like
human beings. They are chemical
not mechanical. Their elements un-
dergo constant change. They can
suffer from neglect, starvation, over
work, overheating and overlooking.
The crucial period of their lives is in
early life.
The storage battery is the heart Of
the electric system. 1t is the reser-
voir into which the electrical energy
made by the generator is stored for
ignition, lighting and cranking the
motor
And, as its life depends on the care
it receives, it should be the duty OF
every owner to see that his storage
battery is in the best Of condition at
all times. BY observing simple rules,
he can assure himself that his battery
is seviceable and dependable.
+. Always keep the battery cells filled
with distilled water to a level one-half
inch above the top of the plates.
Never fill the cells full Look into all
cells frequently, just as you do your
radiator. A battery cannot be filled
and then expected to function indcti-
nitely without further attention. The
filing should be done frequently lath-
er than on specific dates because the
evaporation of the liquid is affected
both by atmospheric conditions and
driving.
Without water the plates become
hard and are rapidly overheatcd by
the charging current. Filling the
battery too full, however, is as I'M
warranted as not filling it full
enough. Too much water makes the
acid overflow and eat away the wood
case. Always be sure that the dis
titled water is pure. Never allow it
to come in contact with metal. Dis
titled water may be obtained at the
service station or at any drug store.
1t is never necessary to add acid
to your battery when it is function
ing properly. While discharging, the
acid is absorbed by the plates; while
recharging forces the acid out of the
plates into the solution again. Only
the water is evaporated.
The battery and battery compart-
ment should always be kept clean and
dry and the terminals clean, bright
and we'll covered with vaseline to pre-
vent corrosion.
A fully charged battery will not
freeze at any ordinary winter tenn
pcraturc, but discharged battery
will freeze at little below 80 de-
grees r Re sure to take hydrometer
readings regularly. The gravity
should always be up to at least
1875. If you lay your car, the battery
should be removed and placed in sto-
rage where it may be kept charged.
Another precaution in battery care
is to be certain that there are no
leaky cells in your battery When
filling, if one cell takes considerable
more water than others, this indicat-
es that jar leaks. Unless repaired
Immediately, the battery may be ruin
ed
1t is advisable to keep in touch with
the nearest battery service station,
1t is naturally to the best interest Of
the battery manufacturer to sec that
the battery is working as it should
The service station man will make an
examination of the battery and tell
you its exact condition. He will eX-
plain its relation to the rest OF the
electrical system and how your dr1v-
ing in summer and winter affects the
battery.
You cannot expect too much OF
him, however, if you neglect to show
the respect your battery deserves.
Watch the water in your battery as
carefully as you do the oil in your
engine or the water in your radiator.
Attending to the simple things viii
prevent much Inconvenience and
trouble later,