Evening star., 1937-05-02
YOU AND YOURCAR
AIDED BY RUSSELL
Check Fuel Line and Car.
huretor When Gas Smell
Arises on Trip.
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

gine oil have one thing. at least, In
common. Both thin out with use.
Smell of gasoline when travelling
along in the car ought to be a tip
to check up the fuel line and car
buretor, but most motorists prefer to
take the detour Of thinking they are
picking up exhaust fumes. The ex-
haust always emits stencil, in addi-
ton to the odorless carbon monoxide.
1t is distinctly different from the IA
miliar smell of gasoline.
When the odor is definitely gasoline
/ the situation calls for an immediate
| halt. Switch off the engine, raise
the hood and look over the situation.
Follow the fuel line and the chances
are that there will be leakage either
| at the fuel pump or at the float
chamber of the carburetor.
Steering Clear of Trouble.
Recently mentioned the fact that
there are IL general causes for dis
turbance in cars steering. One Of
my readers has asked me to clarity
this by naming the II points so that
he can reach a decision as to why
his car does not steer properly.
First of all, there Is the steering
gear itself. Inspection of this part
should include consideration of its
fabrication, and check-up on the
entire steering assembly, including
the drag link, pitman arm and tie
rod. Then check for loose wheels.
Next test the wheels and tires for bal
ance. Follow this with an inspection
of the front springs to see that they
have not sagged Then the rear
springs should be checked for the
same condition. Tightening any loose
front shackles completes a half dozen
of the points.
Soft tires will affect steering ad-
versely. So will incorrect caster So
will incorrect Gambler. Inspection of
the shock absorbers should come next
Eleventh on the list is the matter
of the cars frame. This may be weak
or bent out of line. Finally, consider
the action Of the brakes. Much steer
ing is done with the car being slowed
down or kept in check.
Time for Spring Plugs.
For motorists who have used special
spark plugs for cold weather the re-
turn of Springtime should be Occa-
sion to consider using a shorter plug
that will conduct heat more rapidly
from the points to the cylinder head
Unless this change is made the
chances are that the engine will back
fire when the plugs are heated up, as
when hill climbing. Long plugs aid
starting in cold weather in engines
which do not run normally hot or
which are not used except for short
runs. This is because their points
are nearer to the piston tops and thus
do not carboniZe as readily But when
such engines start running hotter be-
cause of warm weather they are apt
to overhead the points of these longer
plugs.
Mechanic Joe Speaking:
"One of the best devices to use as
means of keeping the engines oil in
better condition is smile extra run
with the car just as often as you can
arrange it. This run should prefer
ably be where the car can be driven
at road speed and up stiff grade
The effect is to heat up the oil, thus
burning off diluent. Especially II the
car has been making short runs, this
extra smile spin will Offset the bad
effects of excessive choking and low
operating temperatures"
Danger in Slow Clutch.
One of the detailed dangers in
driving a car is failure to take ac-
ton against what is known as SLOW"
clutch. Such clutch is one that
fails to make a reasonably quick
coupling between engine and rear
end 1t is noticed when the clutch
is engaged. with engine well speeded
up, without prompt action at the rear
wheels A slow clutch Is quite as
bad as stalling engine because it
makes for delay in getting away.
Also it will be very slow in low
gear-the very gear combination in
which you naturally place the most
confidence.
The simplest test for slow clutch
40 WllSeAASA VA AAOo yoa Vail oPAll ollS
rear wheels. A gravel driveway is
ideal for this test Engage the clutch
faster than usual when the engine is
we'll speeded up and the transmits
sion in low gear. If the rear wheels
do not spin and the car lurches for
ward the clutch needs attention.
Watch This in Stopping.
It's a strange but true fact that
after making an abrupt stop many
drivers forget to set the hand brake,
This is particularly true if they are
parking in hurry. The result is
that the car may roll ahead after the
stop is made, possibly with serious
consequences. Nothing makes
driver more conscious of the hand
brake than lack of confidence in the
service brake. So too much confidence
in the latter naturally has tendency
to blind him to the need for the
former.
Save for Next Winter.
A sizeable patch of ice under =
bridge on one of the modern park
ways recently served as an interest,"
ing and helpful experiment. 1t was
found that many cars crossing this
patch of ice skidded. Some Of the
drivers made the mistake of giving
the engine too much gas so that
when the driving wheels struck the
ice they started to spin. Others
slowed down too rapidly, causing the
engine tn act as a brake Even those
who tried to apply just the right
amount of power to keep their cars
going at an even pace found it diff
cult to avoid a feeling of sliding.
The only ones who got across COM
Portable were those who declutched
and thus coasted.
Light Helps Fix Lights.