The Washington times., 1927-11-16

operating AT the right speed. Many
windshields become iCe-coVered he
cause drivers do not adjust the
wiper for higher speed.
The springs of the car are worthy
Of special consideration IT iq we'll
TO take the precaution Of having he
springs covered, hut one should h.
careful to avoid the mistake of Gov
erin% them directly after a wetting
MANY springs are ruined by an own.
er's sudden decision that they should
- covered. He does not realize tha'
he may he combining water. dirt. ana
rust even though he may he prevent
ing any additional foreign matter
from getting into the springs.
II it becomes necessary to cover
the springs in midwinter it is inn
pOrtant to have them thoroughly
washed. then dried out. then cleaned
OF all rust. and finally fabricated.
The last mentioned operation should
he omitted if the units are built to
operate dry.
Spring control devices and shock
ahsoIbers will need special care in
winter A special fluid should he
used in some Of these devices. al
though it is becoming customary to
operate the hydraulic type alto
cether on a fluid similar to that
used on hydraulic brakinG systems.
This consists of a combination Of
alcohol and castor oil, which is
good for all seasons OF the year.
Cold weather causes some of the
mechanical devices To contract.
which means that they have a ten
denCN to adjustment. This, in
all probability, will not he con
ducive to good riding. 1t easily
can be corrected, however.
Lighter Lubricant
In general, winter rules for the
care Of the car call for the use of
lighter lubricant. Motorists who
have been using cup grease in the
| spring shackles, spring bolts. and
the steering connections, should
consider the advisa bility of using
heavy oil. Not only will this luhri-
cate to better advantage, but, be
cause the work is easier to perform
| and winter is a season when work.
! ing on the car is less pleasure BILE.
| fabrication is likely to be more reg
| ular.
Lighter oil should be used in
the engine and heavy engine oil
may he used successfully in the
transmission. Many drivers max e
the mistake Of using lighter lu-
/ hriCants in the trans mission and
rear axle Just because winter az
proaches or because soma other
driver recommends it, The de,
cision should be made solely on
the feel OF car If shifting is diff
fiCuIt after standing all night in
cold garage or after being parked
on the street, the grade of lu-
bricant in the transmission should
be changed.
A test for the consistency of the
lubricant in the rear axle is made
by lacking up the rear wheels
and turning it. If it can be
rotated only with effort, and there
is assurance that tha brake band
is not dragging the wheel, the
lubricant is too heavy for the
sea son and should De replaced with
something thinner.
a rule that must he observed is
that of replacing lubricants with A
lighter kind rather than thinning
what is already in service. Thin
nlng oil which has done duty may
he counting unnecessary wear on
the parts involved
While majority of car owners
take the precaution TO protect he
cooling system and the radia tor
against the rigOrs of the cold
weather season, comparatively few
appreciate the importance of pro
tecting the engine itself against the
low temperatures and the chilly
blasts Of air which come in through
the core of the radiator. For many
years 1t was customary to cover the
hood and the radiator with heavily
padded contraptions which were as
unslghtlY as they We're unnecessary.
Only recently has the progressive
motorist learned the value of regu-
lating the temperature of the air
which blows over the engine.
He prefers to do this with an
automatic radiator core covering
but good results are obtained when
careful drivers control the shutter
devices by hand from the instrl.
ment hoard. In addition to con.
trolling the temperature Of the en-
Nlronment in which the engine
operates, these devices also raise