The Colorado statesman., 1921-02-05
GIVE YOUR AUTO
SOME ATTENTION
Few Hours Spent in Going Over
Motors Will Keep Them in
Good Condition.
BOLTS NEED TIGHTENING UP
Good Point to Thoroughly Clean the
Cooling System Before Warm
Weather-EIiminate squeaks
and Look After Springs.

Keeping a motorcar in excellent
working order is a simple matter when
a regular schedule of fabrication ana
adjustments is followed. Most drivers
are quite conscientious In attending to
the minor details during warm and
fair weather because they realize that
all of the little things go TO rounding
out more perfect operation.
All-year driving has become the Gus
tom rather than the exception. Dur
ing the winter there seems to be
tendency on the part of some to neg
lect the usual routine and to let slip
such matters as attending to grease
cups, spring clips, drip pan. etc.
Should Tighten Bolts.
Should squenks of any kind develop
in the body they may be eliminated
by simply Tightening the body bolts
with a good-sized wrench, which Will
draw the body down firmly In position
again.
1t is advisable, whether or not
squeaks are apparent, to inspect the
bolts after winter driving to see that
they are drawn up good and snug
against the lock washers.
Another simple matter is the proper
care of springs. Springs do an ex-
traordinary amount of work and when
the ground is frozen the shocks they
meet are greatly multiplied. The
slight effort involved in caring for
them will be repaid many times by the
added comfort derived and the added
protection afforded all working parts
of the car.
1t is essential that the spring clips
be kept tight at all times in order that
the spring leaves will be held firmly
together. AS spring leaves generally
break on the rebound, IT is necessary
that the leaves hold together In order
to divide up the shock.
At this time of the year 1t is also
advisable to jack up the car, loosen
the spring clips and spread the leaves
apart, and with a thin, fiat instrument
literally smear the surfaces OF the
spring leaves with a mixture of flake
graphite and motor oil. This lubri-
cant will permit the leaves to slip over
each other with very little friction,
thus giving the same smoothness OF
action as when the car was new.
Clean Cooling System.
1t is also q good point, after driving
the car all winter to thoroughly clean
the cooling system before warm
weather comes on. No matter what
kind of antifreeze mixture is used
certain amount of sediment is bound
to settle in parts of the system or ad-
here to the cylinder and radiator
walls.
A simple method OF cleaning the
system is to drain off the water ana
then turn a hose in The filler cap OF
the radiator to admit moderate
stream of water. Let the motor run
at a low speed, leaving open the pet
cock Mt the bottom of the radiator
Another good point is to check up
the brakes to see that they are proper
ly adjusted.
If the car has been in use all dur
ing the winter thorough washlhs
and cleaning is also advisable. 1t is
especially important to clean the
chassis where dirt and ice accumu-
lated in driving over slusby and wet
roads.
few hours spent In a spring
housekeeping" will put the car In
good shape and insure greater COM
fort and satisfaction on invigoraung
spring drives.