Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-26
ADVISED
BEFORE AUTO TOUR
Motor Company Says Task
Can Be Done Best at Shop
by Trained Men.

Have you ever started on long trip
and found various little things going
wrong with your car-Just enough to
make the trip a nightmare instead OF
the pleasant jaunt through strange
country that you expected 1t to be?
Here are few hints that may help
you in stopping trouble before 1t starts,
contributed by the tourist bureau OF one
OF the large automobile companies.
Probably the first item 70 be inspected
by the tourist is his tires. The castings
should be inspected carefully for cuts.
blisters and weak spots. Spare tubes
should be checked for weakness. II
necessary, tubes and castings should be
replaced. The spare tire or tires should
be available at = minutes notice and
should therefore be in good condition.
All wheel Tugs should be cleaned, oiled
and properly frightened. II the wheel
rims have been sprung or bent in strik-
ing curbS or ether objects. these parts
should be either conditioned or re-
placed.
Battery Easy to Check.
Overheating should be avoided in long
drives. Therefore, the tourist should
first check the radiator n-se and its
connection. These parts ordinarily
should be replaced at least twice each
year. Connections should be water
tight. The radiator itself should be
drained, flushed and filled with clean
water. The radiator core should be free
CT bugs, dust and leaves by using an
air or water hose from the interior
of the hood. II water Is used, the en-
CINE and wiring should be covered to
prevent shorting Of the electrical Sys-
TEN.
The owner easily may check the
battery condition with a hydrometer.
Any garage and most filling stations
will do this for him. The water should
be up to the proper level and the
specific gravity at the right proper
ton. We recommend that the au-
thorized service station for the car
check the generator output to con-
form to the type Of driving expected.
They should also check the adjust
ment Of the steering mechanism and
the braking system for safe driving
All lights should be checked for local
adjustment and 1t is a good plan to
include at lesst one spare bulb for the
head, tail and stop lights.
Wires May Be Broken.
While the owner may check ignition
wires and battery terminals fer break
ages and bad connections. the au-
thorized service station usually has an
expert for this type Of work who also
will check distributor and spark plug
points. The engine should be inspected
and reconditioned, II necessary, by me-
chanicS thoroughly experienced with
perfectly operating engine ordinarily
will run hot and develop insufficient
power. To obtain the most satisfac-
ton from your motor vacation get the
advice of competent service men.
Among the other jobs which the
owner may do himself are lubricatine
Of door bumpers and hinges to pro-
vide easy opening and closing, check
ing OF license plates and brackets fol
proper attachment and the proper
packing Of luggage and other vacation
equipment. In this connection it Is
unwise to place heavy luggage on tops
and tenders, because of the unneces-
sary strain on these parts. Trunk
racks arS obtainable for most cars, and
certain types Of luggage can be fastened
securely at the rear. Grips and suit
cases can be carried on the running
boards II properly attached.
fabrication Important.
Two more items remain to be checked
before the tour. Both are connected
with fabrication. II the Winter lubri-
cant In the transmission and differen-
tial has not been changed. 1t should
be taken care Of before starting the
vacation trip. The engine oil. Of proper
grade for Summer use. should be fresh
for the trip, while the entire chasSi;
should be fabricated thoroughly and
the snubbers or shock absorbers In
spected and oiled.
With these precautions. which should
be done regularly in ordinary driving
and by competent mechanics, the Sum
mer motor vacationists should have
little or no trouble on their trips.