Evening star., 1935-02-24
EXPERT COUNSELS
M|LADY MOTOR|ST
Points Out That Stopping
Ability Should Be Test of
New Cars.
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

One CeSL OI eApeTleIlCc Ill IlOtoIlIiS
Is the sort of questioning prospec-
tive buyer indulges in when she is
shopping for a new car. If she asks
how fast the car can go, without
ascertaining certain preliminary facts,
she is quite likely to be among those
who have yet to learn the essentials
of driving. OF primary Importance in
performance is the question how fast
a car can stop. Asking for details
about speed-ability is merely putting
the cart before the horse. An engi-
neer first ascertains the braking
horsepower the Car will stand and
then does not exceed the safe pro-
| portion of motor power. Some be-
! lieve the ratio should be such that
an SO-horsepower motor calls for
brakes of 500 horsepower.
AS one woman driver puts it. the
question is not merely matter of
safety. A car, she finds, is never
| performance.
When the car presents problem
in steering, remember that the manu-
! facturer's original specifications as to
| front-wheel alignment may be incor-
rect. Recently three manufacturers
have revised their original specifica-
tions for Gambler, caster and toe-in.
The way cars are used-and abused
royyicinpc
preston of one inch in the rear
springs of one late model, for in
stance, was found to change the cas-
ter angle about one-half inch.
Service men continue to wonder
why it is that so many motorists
resent being asked if the engine needs
oil. 1t is not unusual to have an
owner declare the crankcase needs no
additional oil when an actual inspec-
ton shows the oil level dangerously
low. But it is the matter of quality
of the oil in the engine that worries
most women. They seem to feel
that they have no convenient way of
determining for themselves if an oil
| change really is needed. To Danish
this doubt merely take look at the
oil as it dripS from the bayonet of
the oil level indicator. It should be
simple enough matter to note dirt,
discoloration, the thinned-out condi-
ton of the oil and any smell Of
gasoline that may indicate dilution.
Now that vacuum booster brakes
are an important factor in the driv-
ing picture it is important to con-
slider the relation between the motor
and the efficiency of the brakes.
Switch off the ignition, shift to neu-
trail and you will find that the brakes
! become surprisingly harder to operate
This is simply due to the fact that
vacuum power is temporarily released
The first time the brake pedal goes
down stored-up vacuum will permit
atmospheric pressure to help apply
the brakes, but as soon as the pedal
is let up this effect vanisheS. Should
the gears slip into neutral on a down
grade. and the motor stall, remember
to hold your foot on the pedal and
not go up and down on the pedal.
The weeks safety sermonette con-
Germs the problem Of trying to get out
Of an ice rut. It may seem contra
dictory to say that the front wheels
must be cut sharply in order to pull
out and then to follow this with the
statement that most of the difficulty
is due to cutting the wheels too sharp
", but that Is Just the situation. If
the front wheels are cut too much
the rear ones have too great job in
propelling the car, the result being
that they start spinning. Often the
best way out is to back up cutting
the front wheels first one way and
then tho other. If the trouble is in
your own driveway try sprinkling
some ashes on the ice.
x X X
Women have been quick to note the
trend toward making the interior of
the new cars harmonize with the ex-
terror. Often color contrasts, rather
than matching, have proved more de-
sirable. but the harmony extends to
the interior trim and the instrument
panel as we'll. There is also trend
toward seat cushions minus those un-
comfortable dust-catching pleats and
buttons.
"Is there any way to be sure that
the oil filter really needs replacing?"
asks woman motorist, who questions
her service man on this point. This
seems to be one of the points in car
care where a woman has no way of
checking up"
No. you're wrong. First there is
the odometer which tells you when
your car has Travelled the 5000 to
10000 miles which constitute the use
ful life of filter cartridge. Then
you can take a look at the oil when
pulling out the bayonet gauge to read
the level in the crankcase. Unfiltered
oil will be much darker in color and
dirty looking.
If the car won't go and the starter
seems dead the first step is to switch
on the lights and try the horn. If
lights and horn are active enough,
you will know that the battery is not
at fault. Most service men check to
see what does work when trying to
track down trouble.
---s-----
Gunman Regrets Shooting.
CHICAGO R.-The gunman who
robbed DR.. Waddell Hunter was polite
about it anyway.
When his pistol was accidentally