Evening star., 1937-04-11
YOUANDY0URCAR
A|DEDBY RUSSELL
Do Not Spare the Choke
When Attempting to Start
Your Engine.
BY FREDERICK C. RUSSELL.

|
choke, it may be we'll to recall an old
rule that is important to follow when
doing the job manually. The thing
to remember is that excessive chok-
ing is not prevented by not pulling
the choke button all the way out.
To start, always choke completely.
Then, the instant the engine starts,
press the choke button as far in as
you can without causing the engine
to sputter or threaten to STALL
Most drivers who try to spare the
choke make the mistake of trying to
start the engine by holding the but
ton half way out. This invariably
results in considerable delay and in
excessive dilution of crankcase oil.
And Still They Burn.
The popular idea that automobiles
are not so prone to catch fire does not
seem to be borne out by statistics. In
1896, for example, there were $4,000
motor car and garage fires in the
| United States alone. This repre-
| sented II per cent of all of the 100000
fires for the year. Of the grand total
of motor fires 32,l00 involved private
cars, trucks and buses outside of
buildings.
The remedy? First of all, greater
care of the electrical wiring Next,
avoidance of all conditions leading to
backfiring. Finally, better car keep
ing. A clean engine is less likely to
catch fire even though it may be sub
| jected to backfire Greater care in
smoking also should be observed.
Just when it seems as If all the
smart ideas in accessories have been
sprung on the gadget- minded public
along come number of new things
that are the last word in ingenuity.
One device that takes my fancy is a
| new addition to the instrument panel
which tells when a tire is danger
ously underinflated Another is
special control which enables to driver
to drain off a small portion of the
crankcase contents before starting up
the engine In the morning. This
automatically eliminates water, dirt
and dilutent.
Outstanding among the new things
is an entirely new application of the
speed governor. There are three speed
ranges, controlled by the driver under
lock and key, if preferred. One is for
city driving, another for suburban use
while the third is for the open coun-
try. When the car starts to exceed
the set speed for the particular zone
the control unit drops the throttle
back to the idling position. Three
colored lights, on the front and rear
OF the car, show to what speed zone
the car is adhering.
Mechanic Joe Speaking.
There is no need to be unduly
alarmed if the engine develops a
tendency to overhead some early
Spring day. This may be largely due
to the extremely light lubricants
through the chassis. Winter lubricants
in the gears and rear end especially
Will increase friction to point where
the engine has more work to do, par
ticularly on trip.
An engine that remains cool under
such adverse conditions will not need
more than superficial inspection of
It's cooling system in anticipation of
warmer weather"
Even If the car ahead is being
operated with its stop-light signal out
OF order there is no reason to be COM
pletely In the dark regarding the
course of action its driver will take.
lISlI9l1v if tho liol,t
car is one of those neglected affairs
which will have well-worn engine.
When the driver lifts his foot from
the exhaust the pistons of this engine
will likely draw oil into the cylinders.
causing a puff of smoke at the ex-
haust.
Because the stop light signal burns
steadily whether I am merely slowing
down or making quick stop I try
to remember to warn the fellow behind
by flashing the light internationally
when I am decelerating more sharply.
This helps to catch his eye, puts him
on his guard. An extra dividend Is
the fact that the brakes operate bet
ter when the pedal is dabbed a few
times before the final squirt.
Tipping Easily Controlled.
There seems to be a growing fear
on the part of users of cars with
hydraulic brakes that there will be a
dipping down at the front no matter
how gently the car is accelerated.
This is not grounded in fact It is true
that most cars with either hydraulic
or mechanical brakes are designed to
give more braking power on the front
than on the rear, in order to COM
pensate for the forward tipping of
car weight, but 1t does not mean that
because the hydraulic system is not
designed to give variation in braking
distribution at lower speeds the driver
has to accept the downward tipping
Of the cars front end as inescapable.
All he need do is apply the brakes
more gently. Weight does not tip for
ward until deceleration reaches the
point where momentum is checked
abruptly.
Having an accident is mean busi-
ness, but don't let it discourage you.
One of the leading exponents of prac-
tical safety awheel says that the ac-
cident-prone driver is not such seri-
GUS problem after all. 1t simply means
that people who have car accidents
are at least cautious enough not to be
caught in big smash
For time you may be little over
cautious. In fact, maybe that was why
you had your first accident. Keep
trying to play safe, but don't be dis
heartened. You have a better chance
Of avoiding real trouble than has the
driver who thinks he is immune.
Second Gear for Driver.
I like to think of second gear as
suggesting an idea in my efforts to
drive ssfely. We use second as the
gear for getting ready to go into our
stride. 1t is the gear for preparations.
1t helps to build up car speed without
straining the engine. That any one
knows. But it seems to me that If we
had second gear for our driving we
k4 oh L.