Evening star., 1936-02-02
USEFUL AUTO TIPS
G|VENFOR WOMEN
Cold Air Blowing on Thermo-
stats Causes Higher En-
gine Temperature.
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.
All men are equal, until you get
ticket for parking too long.

BY FREDERICK c. RUSSELL.
All men are equal, until you get
ticket for parking too long.
You may be puzzled to note higher
reading Of the engine temperature
indicator during the first few miles
Of travel on a cold day, but don't
let it bother you. This is strictly
according to motoring Hoyle. 1t is
due to the effect of cold air blowing
on the thermostats which control the
flow OF water to the radiator, and
also to the action of the automatic
radiator shutters If the car is equipped
with them. Since cold air blowing
on the radiator is keeping these
thermostats closed longer the water
circulating around the engine block
naturally reaches higher tempera-
ture than would be expected In cold
weather.
Also, during the warming-up period
the ammeter will show a higher
charging rate. This is due to the
fact that the output of generator
when cold is greater than for this
same unit when warmed up. The
difference Is usually around amperes,
but may be even greater.
Better results could be had when
using tire chains if motorists knew
more about how to handle the car
when the tires are so equipped. One
OF the basic rules is to place less
confidence in the chains. If owners
would drive as cautiously with chains
as they do without them it would
not be likely that so many drivers
would be caught exceeding the safety
limit of their chains. Another i'm
portant point is to dab the brake
pedal when bringing the car to stop.
That is, apply the brakes intermit-
tently. This prevents the wheels from
locking and the tires from sliding at
some point where the cross-chains
are spread apart. Add to this the
Importance of watching out for "side
Slip on turns. Chains sometimes
have rudder effect when the car is
taken into sharp and slippery turn.
Have the carburetor adjusted when
the engine is hot. but reverse this rule
when having the brakes attended to.
When the engine is well heated up the
car is likely to have been il. hard
service and the brakes are heated up,
too. Brakes should be adjusted when
cold except in case where the latest
brake machines are used and where
mechanics can make allowances for
expansion of the brake drums. II a
normal clearance between brake shoes
and the drums is allowed when brakes
are hot there may not be enough
clearance when the drums cool and
contract. This means dragging brakes.
Recent reports that premium fuel
Is not always best has left many au-
tomobile owenrs confused about SUBJ
ject upon which there is little avail
able information anyway. What such
reports intended to convey was the
thought that due to the use of
greater amour. of anti-knock fluid in
premium fuels it would be possible to
make a comparatively poor fuel seem
to be more desirable The average
driver judges the quality of fuel by
Its freedom from knocking. But det-
onation is not the only test A doped
fuel can have fairly high "octane
rating Ohe name given to rating of
knocking), but at the same time may
give poor mileage, may have fewer
heat units and may not be volatile
enough for good start.
What owners should look for is good
'uel made still better by the addition
IT more anti-knock fluid. This is
premium fuel we'll worth buying. IT
S the fuel you invariably get when |
'ou ask for 1t.