Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-23
MILADY'S MOTORING
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

Conceit may be defined as the offer Of
husband to teach the wife to be an
expert driver.
I am indebted to an experienced
woman driver for the thought that
women have taught motordom it isn't
necessary to climb under the car to
know what's wrong with 1t. You're
chanic who wanted to get under the car
when she told him a shock absorber
had broken OF. Just ride around the
block with me and I'll show you how to
diagnose trouble the modern way"
Unaccustomed to being invited for
drive so early in the day the speech
less repairman followed instructions and
soon was being given a demonstration
in moderniZed trouble shooting. He
had not gone very far before he noticed
that the car bobbed very badly, demon
strating that one of the shock absorbers
wasn't working. BY running the car
showed him that the trouble was at the
rear since the rebound of the front
springs was checked instantly when the
front wheels hit an obstruction.
Invention Of new bumper that
makes 1t possible for a driver to head
straight into tree at 80 miles an hour,
without serious consequences, is inter-
esttng If only because its operation calls
for striking unavoidable objects head
on rather than through a glancing blow.
Women especially are urged to digest
the theory of this device because of the
feminine tendency to make sudden
changes in the position of the steering
wheel.
When a collision seems unavoidable
try to keep a straight course and hit the
center of the front bumper. Even with
| the conventional bumper this method
invariably results in less damage-and
less shock to the driver-than striking
at the bumper ends or directly in front
of the points where it attaches to the
| frame.
Speaking of safety brings to mind the
importance of keeping the windows Of
the closed car timber by operating them
frequently. When it Is a matter OF
utter necessity to lower window in an
emergency a sticking window litter is a
serious matter. Looking over a num-
Der Of cars in a public garage found
that with most of them only two Of the
windows operated easily.
Another thing that will make for
easier operating windows Is to have the
service man put little graphite along
the window guides. Ask him to do this
the day he presses out the rubber blocks
on the door jams to stop the doors from
rafting.
A current report has it that there are
aIao NV,
than by men. There are various ways
of interpreting this, but my personal
guess Is that the women folk who can
not master the art of driving pocket
their pride rather than miss any of the
benefits of car ownership. 1t is sur
prisinp. too, how many women who
drive very skillfully employ chauffeurs
in the large cities. 1t solves their park
ing problem.
Women who experience difficulty back
ing out the driveway should bear In
mind that the job Is best accomplished
by looking ahead instead of back. After
backing a little and starting to get rat
tied, drive straight ahead for about 10
feet. Then when you back up keep the
steering wheel just as you had it for
going forward. Some women vary this
little by looking down at the edge OF
the driveway, making the car parallel
this. Whenever ratified, stop and &c
forward a little. They try backing
again.
will you kindly enlighten me or
this matter of piston pins?" writes q
woman who has just been to the service
station to learn that the knocking she
hears In the engine originates from
these parts. IT have been hearing about
| rf, q
family. Now, what are they?"
Each piston is joined to its respective
connecting rod by means OF steel pin
about an inch in diameter and about
the diameter of the piston In length
1t fits tightly, yet must be loose enough
to allow the upper end of the rod tc
hinge" on 1t freely. And therein lies
part of the trouble.
Two other difficHlties should be ap-
parent. In such position the pins be-
come quite hot as the engine operates
Added to this is the fact that they
operate at more difficult point to lu-
or1cate. Formerly the pins had to rely
on OIL spray for what little fabrication
they received, but in modern engines
the pins are oiled by pressure through
long holes drilled through the connect
ing RODS. Pins are giving less trouble
now.
Just little wear on a pin will result
IN sharp, knocking noise, usually OF
light nature, at various times and under
different driving conditions.
Always read the level of the oil In
the crankcase when the car is standing
on level ground and with the engine
switched of.
When worrying over a knock in the
engine, always remember that a change
IN the speed OF the car or the tempera-
ture Of the air may eliminate the an
| noyance. Piston pins NAV be very
troublesome one day and peaceful as
one could wish the next. THE pressure
mbricatton Of the pins In newer engines
bpArtE accounts for this. on acts Is .