The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-07
PREPARING CAR
| FOR WINTER USE
Hardy All-Year Drivers Are
Increasing in Num-
Der.
BysH. A. TARANTOUs.
Member s. A. e.


Every year that passes increases the
humber of those hardy souls who defy
The cold and storms of winter, driving
their cars in defiance of Jack Frost.
Add to these the car owners whose We
hicles are more than mere instruments
OF pleasure, in whose service utility
rules the roost, and we get majority
of American motorists driving all win
ter long.
Even the motoring tyro knows that
cold weather Is not conducive to favor
able operation of a car. The gasolene
vapor which drives the ordinary auto
mobile Is prone to turn back into liquid
when it comes In contact with intense
cold. Oil becomes thick and sluggish in
cold weather. There are other consid-
erations to be taken into account, and a
few suggestions for the care and equip
ment of the car in cold weather probably
will prove helpful
To begin with it Is almost essential
that the garage be heated If the car Is
70 be used regularly during the winter.
While no actual damage may result In
The mechanism from standing overnight
in the cold. provided. OF course, an anti
freeze solution is used, the whole respi-
ratory system is so thoroughly chilled
through that IL may take half an hours
running to get the metal sufficiently
warmed up TO allow of really efficient
operation. Finally, the average car own
er used his garage also as a workshop.
If the room is unheated in winter 1t is
not going to be pleasant TO work there.
and many needfui jobs will be sighted
Or entirely neglected
First thing of all, then, have heat In
the garage. This may be accomplished
by extending the steam or hot water sys-
tenn from the house or by installing
coal stove in q leanto against the ga
rage itself, with a fire wall between.
Also there are a number OF types OF
garage heaters on the market some en-
pioying gas. others kerosene or coal.
For the car itself the first precaution
must be to get some sort of anti-freeze
solution in the radiator. There are now
number OF admirable anti-freeze mix
lures on the market. which are claimed
to protect the water system in any
weather we have in this country, and,
furthermore, to be proof against rapid
evaporation, which is one of the main
troubles with any compound containing
alcohol. On the other hand, the car own
er may very well mix his own anti
freeze solution. A solution containing
is per cent. alcohol, Is per cent. glyce-
zine and 20 per cent. water will not freeze
until the thermometer reaches degrees
below zero, which will serve all purposes
IN most parts of the country. Any reader
desiring further formula for mixing
anti-freeZe solutions will receive the in
formation on receipt of a stamped and
self-addressed envelope.
Not the least of winter driving
troubles is the difficulty of starting the
engine. This applies to the morning
start or after the car has been standing
FOR some time. The best plan is to in
stall a printing device, which consists of
a small tank on the dash and piping to
the inlet manifold. BY this means some
highly volatile fuid high test gasolene
or better petroleum ether, which may
generally be secured from your local oil
company, is injected into the combustion
chamber. This light fluid vaporizes in
spite of the cold. and the result Is i'm
mediate firing. These printing outfits
may be had for IS. or a little more. and
the owner may install them.
Most motorists know that the storage
battery loses much of its effectiveness in
cold weather. Double cause then is to
keep tlE battery fully charged so that
1t will be able to cope with it's increased
burden. Moreover. IL the battery is al
lowed to run down until the electrolyte
IS little more than plain water. there is
danger Of Il freeze that will put the
unit out of commission permanently.
AS q matter OF safety first. the car
owner who purposes driving through the
snow and sleet storms of winter should
certainly provide himself with a cleaner
for the Windshield. Snowflakes mottle
the glass and rain drops spot it, so that
the driver does not get n clear view
ahead. Obviously this may lead to acci-
dents OF any degree of seriousness.
The operation of the cars mechanism
is facilitated by thermostatic control OF
> the cooling system, which shuts off the
circulation of the water after 1t drops
below ~ certain degree OF temperature.
All cars cannot be so equipped. and lack
ing this sort OF device. the driver should
use a radiator and hood cover. These
ere made of leather or oil cloth or some
similar impervious material. warmly
lined, and they do much TO keep the
temporal re of the engine up to point
where efficient operation Is possible.
No prudent driver will leave the gar
age in wet or snowy weather without
having put on set OF chains. Life is
short enough in all conscience. without
deliberately rislsing Che little span that
IS granted to us. The covers that arc
commonly known as tire overshoes, are
also worth considerion as promoters
of safety in winter driving.
Winter work calls for the use OF light
oils In the transmission and rear axle
In place ot the heavy oils used in the
warm weather. Tires viii need more at
tention. and the slightest cut should be
plugged Immediately so as to prevent
water and mud from entering and rotting
the fabric underneath.
U. S. RACE RULES FOR FRANCE.