The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-07-06

in this careless manner. the driver
finds that he must use his emery
ency or holding brake" If this
operates on the propeller shaft just
back of the transmission, an inter-
esting thing happens. Strained, the
brake overh eats, with the result
that heat is conducted to the trans
mission and front universal. Much
of the thinning Of lubricant ut these
| points, and consequent wear in hot
weather, can be traced to excessive
use OF the drive shaft brake.
Many drivers think that If the
clutch is pressed out and the en-
| CINE allowed to idle going down
hill, the power plant will have an
excellent opportunity to cool. This
il true, but more experienced car
owners know that an engine can be
cooled rapidly by going downhil in
! second gear with the throttle open
only far enough TO keep the car
moving at fairly good spec j.
| Such an arrangement keeps the
fan moving at high rate and the
water circulating fast. The car
is really driving the engine, fore
ing it to breathe a large quantity
OF cooler gas vapor
A very satisfactory compromise
Is to go downhil1 with the car IN
high gear and the throttle closed
as far as it will go. Descending
hills with the ignition switched
of is to be avoided because too
many forget to clear the cylin.
ders' before switching on the liz.
milton again, and a backfire in the
muffler may be the result.
Clearing the cylinders" means
getting the excess gas out Of them,
In descending the hill with ignition
| off there Is the likelihood of the
driver forgetting to keep the throt.
tie closed. Gas may accumulate
in the exhaust and muffIer. The
safer plan is to let the car turn
over the engine a number of times
with the throttle closed before
switching on the ignition, and
with the speed of the car greatly
reduced. But by far the wisest
pan Is to refrain from switching
OF the ignition on the downgrades.
Gas Vapor rs Cooler
The matter of clearing cylinders
y mentioned because it should sug.
Eest to the clear thinking driver the
VaIue OF gas vapor itself as a
cooiing agent. Thousands of cubic
Ieet OF air and gas passing through
the lntake and by the valves play
engine. II this vapor is moving at
a good velocity it win keen the
engine more efficient and. because
1t does not get preheated to too
high a point, it enables the en-.
CINE to develop more power. This
may obviate a number of hot
weather problems in hill climbing.
II there is long wait in traffic.
Tor instance. with no opportunity
20 switch off the engine while be-
ing delayed, the engine will run
cooler II 1t is accelerated from time
TO time rather than allowed to idle.
lt VIII have more power for the
getaway because the carburetor and
intake Will be cooler and the gas
VIII not be SO loggy.
moderate engine speeds which
neither are draggy nor speedy also
assist in engine fabrication. If the
engine oil Is kept freely in circu-
lation less of 1t will overhead at
points of maximum strain.
Cool drivers select roads with
plenty of trees and vegetation il
they have their choice of routes.
Unless they cannot possibly avoid
1t they keep in the lead, and do
not ask the engine to beathe the
not ask the engine to breathe the
ahead.
In your driving itself lies the
secret Of freedom from hot weather
overheating Of the car. Keep cool
and your engine will follow.
Copyrighted. 1921