Evening star., 1933-11-05
Milady's Motoring
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL,

Some Of us are still hopefully look
ing for the innovation that isn't the
greatest improvement since the self
starter.
One Of the special thrills at fair
car that drove through solid board
wall at 65 miles per hour-with
woman at the wheel. I didn't happen
to see this particular stunt, but one
quite similar, engineered. by a man,
taught me little lesson that might well
be passed along for what it's worth.
The real trick of doing a thing like
this successfully lies in ones ability
to steer the car to a straight line stop
after the impact. It emphasizes the
fact that in many cases cars upset
lision just because the driver loses
control.
One of the fallacies Of the day in
car ownership is the belief that II
springs are covered or incaSed they
cannot develop squeaks. In the case
of cars where the drive" or forward
push of the chassis to the body, is
through the rear springs there will be
sufficient friction between the leaves
to burn up any lubricant that is there.
Most of this friction develops at the
front end of each rear spring. To
compensate for this 1t is necessary to
have penetrating oil sprayed over the
spring ends, allowing this to work in
as the car stands.
The owner Of new car was startled
to note that when she merely touched
the brake pedal the brakes applied
violently. Each time she complained
of the trouble mechanic took the
car and pronounced the brakes per-
fectly normal. After a number of
complaints the service manager de-
cided to watch the owner while she
herself drove He was quick to note
that she had failed to release the
hand brake lever fully. Since the
braking systems were interconnected,
the manager explained that with the
hand lever not fully released the
brakes were half applied when the
driver started to press the pedal. The
vigorous application naturally followed.
hope some of the women who read
these weekly chats on cars won't make
the mistake Of certain woman who
thought that because she had the oil
changed in the motor it wouldn't be
necessary to add any further oil on
q trip After driving 500 miles the
crankcase nearly went dry. much to
the discomfort of the abused motor.
There was not only the usual con-
sumption Of oil in a motor that had
given good deal OF service. but the
of oil, which naturally burned OIL
faster.
The idea that new oil won't be con-
sumed as rapidly is based on the belief
that Old oil usually has high per-
centage of diiuent. This, however. is
no. necessarily true. If your motor
customarily uses a quart Of oil every
time you take long drive, an examin-
alton Of the oil will show that there
is little diluent in it. This is because
you keep adding fresh oil and also be-
cause the diluent burns of.
The woman who whizzed past me
yesterday. only to go bouncing over the
roughest stretch Of road I have en-
countered In some time, has yet to
learn the simple rule that the other
fellow may not be driving slowly Just
because he's in a fog. Sometimes it
takes quite lot Of common sense to
realize that If the driver ahead Is pro-
ceeding cautiously you could benefit by
doing the same.
Ask any engineer why it is that cars
HGt e caee sEs better ssa hs es 9r You i
largely because tne motoring pubic still
Is apathetic. am beginning to agree.
Yesterday I was followed into a filling
esaer sy Sedan. %ne 1aisans for The
attendant she allowed the motor to rum
OF course, It Is quite possible that she
hasn't as yet learned that an idling
motor is not economical, but extremely
waSteful.'
Under no circumstances let the en-
gine idle when having the tank filled
with gas. There is always the danger
of fuel spilling on the heated tail pipe.
1t is advisable not to smoke during the
f1lling-up process. Reach for an ash
receiver instead of a fire extinguisher.
A reader has asked if it Is all right |
TO depress the clutch pedal when coast. |
Ing to IN intersection and then engage |
The clutch to nroceed In diGd gear.