New-York tribune., 1921-11-27
Special Care of
Car Necessary
In Zero Weather
Anti-Freezing Solution for
the Cooling System and a
Device for Warming the
Mixture Are Requisites
BY H. Clifford Brokaw
n n:xn T1yr,rl NJ

Dy II. AIlHOT0 DfokdW
Technical Director West Side Y. M.
G. a. Automobile Schools
Even in these parts of the country
where snow and ice often clutter up
things in general during few months
of the year the automobile is becoming
increasingly an all-year-round vehicle.
The Improvement in devices for clean
irg the streets of snow after storm
makes the continuous use of car more
nearly possible. The improvement in
carburetors and the adoption Of heat
ing devices help to keep the machines
IN commission during the zero weather
season.
There are two things necessary if
the car is to be operated in winter, the
first of which is some antiifreezing
solution for the cooling system; the
mixture before admission to the cylin-
Gers.
Many things have been tried for max
ing the cooling system freeze-proof
The most common are salt, glycerine
and alcohol. Any one of these in the
proper proportion will insure against
freezing. They are not equally de-
sirable, however. Salt has a tendency
to set up electrolitic action where
iron and brass parts are combined in
the cooling system, but four pounds of
salt to the gallon will give a solution
which will not freeze until seventeen
degrees below zero Fahrenheit is
reached. Glycerine will keep the water
from freezing, but it is expensive, and
If rubber hose is used to connect radi-
ator and the cylinder pipes glycerine
will cause it to decompose rapidly.
Denatured Alcohol Best
Denatured alcohol probably is the
best to use, mixed with water in pro-
portion as the cold to be expected may,
demand. Twenty per cent of alcohol
will give protection to five degrees
above zero; 80 per cent to nine degrees
beloW zero, and 35 per cent to sixteen
degrees below. The owner must not
make the error of using mixture
which will protect him only for the
average low temperature of his local
ity. For thirty years the average mini
mum for the vicinity of New York City
was twelve degrees above zero. But it
may drop to twenty degrees below,
GENTLY strong solution is used or the
water is drained out of the cooling
system, burst radiator or a cracked
cylinder casting is likely to result.
Probably combination of alcohol
and glycerine will suit the particular
owner little better than alcohol alone,
since there is less evaporation, and
single dose of -glycerine will last the
entire season, only alcohol and water
needing to be added to replace that
bolled awav or evaporated. Half alco-
hol and half glycerine is the proper
proportion to be added to the water.
I hoc I1xa
quite bit lower than the alcohol
alone.
Another thing which must be. taken
into account in winter is the warming
of the mixture for starting so that it
does not condense the moment it
strikes the cold cylinder walls. Modern
cars are provided with means for ac-
complishing this when the engine has
started, but the hot water jacket and
the hot air furnace depend upon a
warmed-up engine for their available
llty, and for starting other means must
be devised. There also are various de-
vices for heating the carburetor and
intake manifold while the engine is
warming up. There is an electric
heater, where one has current in the
garage, and other ways of accomplish
ing the same thing. Ii no better means
is at hand hot-water bottle about half
full, so that 1T can be wrapped about
the manifold, may do all right; or a
clo$n wrapped about the manifold and
carburetor, or a kettle of hot water,
may do it satisfactorily
Wise to Carry Squirt Can
Most cars are equipped with prim-
ing or choking device operated from
the dash, but where this is not pro-
vided it is wise to carry squirt can
for the purpose of introducing small
quantities OF gasoline into the cylin-
ders, though piece of waste saturated
with gasoline from the carburctor
drain cock and squeezed over the prim-
ing cup will do the trick. If there are
no printing cups it means taking out
the spark plugs.
When it becomes very cold, radiator
covers are convenience. These may
be procured at any supply house, fitted
to any car. There are in various forms,
usually with a curtain which NAV be
lifted for moderate temperatures and
closed when extremes are reached.
Anything which will cover the air
spaces of the lower portion Of the radi-
ator may be used in an emergency, if
one is caught by a sudden drop in the
temperature.