Cadillac 1933 V8 Operator's Manual page 36

CHAPTER VI
G E N E R A L C A R E
N
o A T T E M P T has been made to include in this manual directions
for making adjustments and repairs to the car. Most
Cadillac owners prefer to depend on authorized Cadillac-La Salle
service stations for such work as these stations can invariably
perform the work more conveniently and economically.
Every owner should, however, know how to perform the few
simple operations of general care described in this chapter. These
operations are not difficult
enough to necessitate a visit
to the service station,
although this work also
can be done in the service
station if desired.
S t o r a g e B a t t e r y
The Delco Storage battery
is carried in a compartment
in the right-hand front
fender. The battery may be
reached after removing the
four screws and taking off
the cover shown in figure 25.
The battery is filled with an acid solution from which the
water slowly evaporates and fresh distilled water must be added
to each of the three cells at regular intervals to bring the level up
to the bottom of the filling tubes. Distilled water should be
added at least every 1000 miles and, in warm weather, every 500
miles or at least every two weeks. Hydrant water or water that
has been in contact with metallic surfaces is not satisfactory.
Fig. 25. The cover of the battery com-
partment is held by four screws.
142]
After adding water to the storage battery in freezing weather,
the car should immediately be run far enough to thoroughly mix
the water with the acid solution. If the car is parked immediately
after water is added, the water is likely to stay on top of the acid
solution and may freeze, thus causing extensive damage to the
battery.
No attempt should be made to add acid or any so-called "re-
juvenator solution" to the battery. Adding anything other than
distilled water will materially shorten the life of the battery.
The specific gravity of the acid solution changes as the battery
is charged and discharged. The state of charge of the battery can
thus be determined by measuring the specific gravity of the
solution with a hydrometer. As the battery is charged, the
specific gravity of the solution increases, reaching 1.270 to 1.285
when the battery is fully charged. A fully discharged battery has
a specific gravity of 1.150 to 1.165-
An accurate test cannot be made immediately after adding
distilled water. The hydrometer reading should be taken before
water is added, or, if the solution is so low that it cannot be
reached, distilled water should be added to bring the solution up
to the proper level and the car run for several hours until the
solution is properly mixed before the test is made.
G e n e r a t o r C h a r g i n g R a t e
Current is supplied to the battery from a generator driven by
the engine and the generator charging rate must be high enough
to keep the battery charged. Under normal operating conditions,
if a hydrometer test shows the battery is low the charging rate
should be checked and adjusted at a service station. If the test
shows the battery is extremely low, the battery should be re-
charged from an outside source before continuing to drive the car.
Winter driving places greater strains on the battery than
summer driving and the generator charging rate should be ad-
justed to take care of the increased demands. If the maximum
charging rate is not sufficient to take care of this extra load,
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