New-York tribune., 1921-03-27
Spring Cleaning
Something g For
Motor Cars. Also
Starting at the Bottom and
Working Up Is a Plan To
BE Recommended: Some
Points 10 Be Sure Of
5y H. Clifford Brokaw

q erff1tcut D&'eE{0F " est S1Ue I. W
C. 4. automobile Schools
Has the auto spring fever hit you
vets 1t is not at all like the regular
spring fever, which brings lassituae
and love, and such things The auto
sprlns fever produces Just the reverse
"a superabundance oil energy along
some lines. eager TO be doing things TO
the car In other words, YOU are lust
warming TO give her an overhauing
Preparatory TO the fine spring days.
when the country roads allure one.
Well. probably the old boat does need
sprinr tonic. If she has been laid up
In the garage all winter. certainly she
needs something to tone her up, ard If
vou have been driving her throurh mud
and slush and over frozen Snow and
frozen ruts it is sure thing that
something is needed. But do not wait
rntii the warm spring DAYS come to dc
h. Get busy now. when here is not so
much to attract you in the open and
the March winds make you hug the
steam radiator or fireside.
Perhaps you know that the car does
need something. but do not know Just
what to do If you SO to the garage
man he will tell you it wants gen
ersl overhauiing" If YOU have a few
snare hours time you can DO all the
sverhauling that is necessary, but don't
lot the general get on the job If you
want the car to be the same after
ward.
Probably the cylinders will need the
carbon scrsped out or burned out. be-
rsuse YOU have used an extra amount
~ gas every time the csr was started
and there is bound TO be deposit in
.he combustion chamber.
Clean Up Underneath
OF course, every working part OF the
car should be thoroughly cleaned in
the spring time, particularly the parts
underneath the car, which are out of
sight and which accumulate mud and
dust readily. A recent article told how
to do all this. There are many other
things, however, to be done when
freezing days are over and the sun be-
gins to get high in the heavens. One
thing is to adjust the carburetor to a
slightly leaner mixture by opening the
low speed air adjustment while the
car is running until the mixture is so
lean that the motor pops back Then
turn it the other way until there is no
pop. This gives the leanest mixture
without backfire, which is the ideal for
spring and summer driving. This may
usually be done by means of the dash
adjustment.
Then, of course, the radiator may
be emptied of the anti-freeze mixture
and filed with fresh water. Before
filing it put in a solution of soda.
One-half pound of ordinary washing
soda, dissolved in pail of water,
should be put in the radiator with
enough more water to bring the level
TO the proper height. Let this stay in
the engine with the car running for a
day, and then drain 1t all out, turn a
hose into the filler opening and flush
the whole system, finally filling with
fresh water.
Also clean the openings in the radi-
ator, using a brush like revolver
cleaner, and finish by turning a hose
through from the inside While you
are at it, tighten the fan belt. because
you will need all the benefit of cooling
before long. If the car has been stand
ing al winter, the oil and, grease will
need to be renewed and particular at
tention paid to cleaning odt the small
tube. or opening from grease cup to
bearing.
Get Rid of Old Stuff
Drain out the crank case, transmits
non and the differential, and wash them
all out with kerosene. If you com
mence at the crank case and save the
Kerosene you use there it will do to
clean the transmission and differential
and then save what is left when this is
finished. Fresh oil and grease should
be used IN accordance with the manu-
!acturer's instruction after this clean
ing. Do not put the old oil or grease
back in. 1t is cheaper to throw it away
than to try to use it over
The springs undoubtedly will need
attention after a winter either on the
road or in the garage. Kerosene used
In cleaning the three cases may be
used on the springs. First. with soft |
brush remove all mud or other accumu-
Isfions' then with a rag or sponge or
brush paint the sides of the springs /
we'll with the combination of kerosene
and oil that you have left over Leave
this on until the car has been run fifty
miles and then very carefully wipe off
aii surplus from the springs Enough
should work in to keep the springs lu-
oricated for a long time, particularly
Z you aid them by putting Jack under
nl me spring clip before applying the oil.
rms allows the leaves to open up
lightly.
Tires need pretty careful attention
liter a winter, whether they have been
'un over the rough roads or have been
handing In the garage They should
70 gone over very carefully for cuts
= punctures of any kind. Small cuts
mould be thoroughly cleaned and then
!. solution of rubber cemant and ben
ihe should be squirted in while the
ire Is turned so that the cut is upper
most, in order that it may work down
n as far as the fabric If the rubber
las "a begun to loosen from the fabric
ne cement will harden and hold it,
After this dries the cut may be filled
.itn . cement or tire putty, according to !
ne directions given with the prepara- {
Ion. Larger cuts should be taken to ,
ne vuicanlzer, particularly if the rub
er mas separated very much from the I
aoric. Don't wait. for if water once S
'orks IN so that it gets to the fabric u