New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-09-02
MOTORS FRIEND
IS BIG OIL CAN
Auto Owner Should Have Well
Filled Squirter and Squirt
Lubricant Frequently.
AVOID OVERHEATNG ENGINE
Make Careful Study Of Lubrieating
Chart Which Goes With Car and
Become Acquainted With Mech
anism-Oil All Bearings.

Some day l am going to write an es-
say about the 'oil can" 1t will con-
tain such phrases as The Motorists
Best Friend"-"King of the Medicine
Chest'-"A Friend in Need" etc, and
every word will be true because the
oil can ranks high among automobile
accessories and is used only too sell
dom, says u writer in an exchange.
Recently a friend who l had always
considered IA careful driver, invited me
for q short run. He suddenly seemed
to have changed from a careful driver
to one of the most reckless. If any
car happened to cross the street he
would almost drive into it and then
jam on the brakes. | noticed his
strained expression, and asked him
what was the trouble. The throttle
will insist on staying open," he re-
piled. land l have to hook my toe
under the accelerator pedal to close
it,"
Visions of broken tell-cranks, bent
rods, a broken spring or a tight bear
ing flashed through my mind. He
stopped the engine and worked the
accelerator while | traced the throttle
action. The spring which operated
the pedal raj along a guide and this
part looked particularly dry. A few
drops Of oil from Our faithful old
friend, "the oil can" loosened the ac-
ton so that the pedal worked freely
once more. A few more drops on the
bell-cranks and other joints and a
complete cure was effected.
Sometimes an engine o%verheats and
the owner is %perpleYed. He is OBJ
serving all the rules to prevent over
heating-running with spark advanced,
keeping on high gear, not letting the
engine race and taking proper care of
the pump and the rest of the cooling
system. investigation In one case dis
closed that the fan belt was broken,
In another that 1t was slipping. A
seized fan bearing was found to be
the cause-and an expensive replace
ment might have been avoided by
timely to our little friend
the oil can.
Study Lubricatino Chart.
Such incidents could be multiplied
almost indefinitely. Study the lubri-
eating chart which goes with your car.
Take up floor boards and become ac-
quainted with the mechanism. Trace
out the operating rods and connec-
lions and put oil wherever metal is
In contact. Some bearings may be
found to be inaccessible. In n car,
which shall he nameless, the brake
equalizing tubes under the body can
not be oiled from below except by an
oil gun with n curved tip.
Economy Not Worth While.
l am sometimes asked If 1t will pay
to use a cheaper oil In the oil can, in
stead of the expensive cylinder oil.
Unquestlonably a good lubricating oil
for such purpose can he obtained for
less money, one that will meet ordinary
requirements. But economy in this
respect Is hardly worth while.
If you have no chart with your ma
chine. put oil on every bearing where
there Is no grease cup. Trace out the
connections for clutch. brakes. accel-
l~erator, spark and throttle lever, and
oil them frequently. DO not overlook
fan bearings, Starter and generator,
magnetic. or any other part of the
mechanism. 1t will be time well spent.
Replacement will be lessened and your
maintenance expense reduced accord
ing1y.