The Washington times., 1920-12-24
AUTOS IN STORAGE
NEED MUCH CARE
Suggestions OF Treatment to
Lower Cost Of Depreciation
In Winter.

age motOrist toward winter nus
changed from active dread TO passive
resignation there are Atill many who
cannot visualize a pleasing picture OF
themselves. bucking three-foot snow
drifts or skiddins beam on over Icy
roads. writes Walter NJ. Atlas, In De-
cember Motor. These unimaginative
souls see themselves much more com
fortably situated with the car in stor-
age and themselves at the mercy OF
taxi drivers. Let them derive tho ut
most of satisfaction from such
gloomy prospect by taking the proper
precautions for reducing depreciation
Preparing a car for winter storage
does not consist only or running II
into garage, lacking up the four
wheels, and draining the radiator
Unless tho whole mechanism IL given
an adequate amount OF attention de-
probation may be remarkably high,
AS \ nrst step IL Ia necessary 10 give
the car = thorough cleaning, for AZ
you permit dirt and mud To remain
In contact with painted or polished
surfaces you encourage corrosion and
rob the paint OF it's vitality. For
tho implanted and tarnishable metal
parts or the car no protective coating
Is better than ordinary grease or
vaseline. but IL Is essential to have
Amounting them, for otherwise rust
ing may occur beneath the grease
Lamps, instruments on the cowl board
your tools and jack, springs. steering
knuckles and the like should all be
given a generous coating OF the
greasy stun.
WATCH THE WHEELS.
II you have wire wheels and find
that some OF the spoke enamel has
Clipped on, grease the bare spots, and
observe the same procedure with the
car body and tenders whore tho metal
has been barred by scratches and blows
on the paint. 90 over the whole car
systematically, greasing even small
parts like lighting and ignition ter
minals that may rust. Clean the in
terror OF the car thoroughly. remov-
ing dust deposits from the upholstery
and corners. and brush the top care
fully. Leather upholstery as well as
the top and side curtains should be
painted lightly with linseed oil to
prevent rotting OF the material
with this preliminary work done.
jack up the four corners and remove
the tires and rims from the wheels.
II the rims are not rusty they may be
left on the tires. but they as well as
the castings should be thoroughly
cleaned with gasoline and wrapped
In cloth or hurlap store in room
which is not subject to extremes OF
cold or heat. and keep them out OF
direct light rays. The tubes may be
stored either fat or sufficiently in
Hated to make them round, the latter
being the better plan. When the
castings are not removed from the
rims, the tut-es should De partly
Debated.
OIL GENEROUSLY.
There Is little TO do to the mechani-
cal parts OF the car except see that
they are well covered with oil or
grease. Oil in the engine. rear axle
and transmission should be left there.
\ generous supply OF heavy oil should
be poured into each cylinder and the
engine crnnked few times to dis
tribute it thoroughly over the pistons
and the cylinder walls. Oil small
parts such as spark and throttle link
age, brake connection, etc, and if the
spark plugs have not been removed
through several weeks of operation,
back them out and set them not too
tightly against their seats so that
they may be easily removed for in
spection in the spring. Coat the plug
ends with grease.
An effort should BE- made to drain
completely the carbureter and vacuum
as many parts g are readily remov-
able. The needles or nozZles espe-
cially should be wiped dry, as the
slightest rust on these parts spells
inefficient operation. No matter what
the part. be sure to spread little oil
or grease over it after ii has been
cleaned. 1t Is easy to remove the
grease with gasoline when you put
your car back into commission. Parts,
such as steering knuckle pins, wheel
bearings, universals, etc, which nor
mally require fabrication, should be
well supplied.
DRAINAGE ESSENTIAL.
Drain all gasoline and water from
the car, and If this winters expert
cnce is your first with particular
make OF motor be careful not to over
look any draincock in either system.
The radiator should preferably be
drained when It's contents are hot. !
and the motor should be run a minute
or even two afterward to evaporate
moisture still clinging to the water
Jacket. Remove the radiator cap to
prevent the slight Ncondesation Of
steam which might take place were
II left in place. and as a final pre-
caution rock the car on it's springs to |
aid the last few drops in the bottom |
OF the system 10 Hnu tnelr way 10 the |
outlet. A little extra care taken in |
draining the circulating system may !
well be worth the time involved in so |
doing.
The final and perhaps the most |
vitality important part Of putting a |
car out OF commission for the winter |
relates to the storage battery. Unless |
the owner has a charging line he can
not give his battery proper attention |
and IL pays well to take II to n service |
station whore 1t will either be put |
on charge and occasionally discharged |
or else II will be dismantled and |
placed in dry storage. The condition |
of the battery and tho length Of stor- |
age are factors determining the |
method to be used. and on this point |
the manager is the authority to con-
suit.