The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-03-04
RADIATORS NEED
CARE IN WINTER
Batteries and Carburetors Also
Must Be Given Attention
in Cold Weather.
LIGHTER OILS ARE FAVORED
Storage Battery Is Rather Expensive
Piece of Equipment and Reason
able Amount of Care Will
Keep 1t in Good Condition.

Freezing weather brings many
things that the mOtorist must remem-
Der and take care of If he wishes to
avoid trouble and keep his car going
without undue expense.
The danger of freezing the cylin-
ders, or causing the radiator to leak
is so well understood that the precau-
lions are scarcely needed that anti
freeze should be put in the water or
that a hood or radiator cover should
be provided to retain the heat.
Some people forget that even the
radiator cover will not keep the water
warm indefinitely. This will be eff
fective only so long as sufficient heat
is retained to keep the water tempera-
ture above 80 degrees, which will de-
pend on the exposure of the car and
the severity of the weather.
In any event not more than two or
three hours protection should be ex-
pected of a radiator cover, in the cold
est weather, and If the car must be
left for a longer time without anti
freeze In the radiator, the engine
should be run for few minutes at
intervals of two or three hours. Much
less trouble, of course, results from
putting alcohol and sodium chloride
or some such solution in the radiator.
Very many people do not realize
that lighter grade of oil is necessary
in most engines in the winter, the
heavier oils tending to flow so slowly
that the bearings may be burned be-
fore the viscous oil gets into circula-
ton. To be on the safe side one should
put in the lighter oil that the car
manufacturer recommends for winter
before the cold weather sets In.
Watch Batteries.
Another thing to be borne In mind
Is that the storage battery is a rela-
lively expensive piece of equipment
and If reasonable care will prevent its
coming to an untimely end it is worth
while taking the trouble to keep watch
of the gravity of the electrolyte.
II it gets too low, as indicated by
test with a hydrometer, have the bat
terry removed and charged, but the
chances are that the external charg-
ing will not be necessary If the bat
terry is not. run down by unnecessary
cranking.
If 1t does become necessary to take
the battery out of the car be sure that
another battery is put in its place or
else that the proper thing is done to
keep the generator from being burned
out. Your instruction book gives the
proper directions for grounding or
short circuiting the brushes so that
damage will not result to the genera
tor. Failure to do this will almost
certainly be followed BY burning out
the windings of the armature or field,
or even both. The safest course is
never to drive the car without a bat
terry on the line from the generator.
Don't Crank Continuously.
These cold mornings cars are lit
tie hard to start, but instead of stand
ing on the button and keeping the
motor turning over. it is much better
to crank second or two at time,
stopping between to change the posi-
ton Of the choke or the spark or gas
levers. then crank again, remembering
that the engine will not start with too
much gas any better than with too lit
tie. Several attempts at starting of a
few seconds duration each do not so
seriously drain the battery as crank
ing for long period continuously.
Whatever happens that indicates
something unusual about the car, If
you cannot understand it yourself,
drop into service station. "a stitch
in time saves nine" and large repair
bills are avoided by early attention to
small signs of trouble.