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USE OF
,
L OW GEARS-At one time or another, you 've ridden with
drivers who took a couple of blocks to get their cars into high after
starting.
Low and second gears use far more gas than high gear. The
owner who drives in first only long enough to get started and shifts
\
into high at 20 to 25 mph, saves on both gasoline and service expense.
HANDLING THE CAR-It's easy to see how varying skill in handling
a car brings about different service needs. The car owner who bumps
into curbs or scrapes fenders when parking, naturally requires more
'
service than the motorist who drives carefully.
WARM-UP-Racing the motor or driving at high speeds before the
car is warmed up causes unnecessary
wear,
since the cold oil needs
time to circulate
fully
and efficiently between moving parts. It's a
good idea to let the engine run a moment after starting and to drive
at moderate speeds for at least ten minutes. This is particularly true
in cold weather.
DRIVING CONDITIONS
ROADS- The type of roads over which you drive can make a sur-
prising difference in the service needs of your
car.
A car driven on
rough or stone-surfaced
highways,
will need tire replacement and steer-
ing and wheel adjustment more often than under ordinary conditions.
CLIMATE-Owners living in hot climates may need to replace tires
somewhat sooner than those who live in the north, since heat is one
of the determining factors in tire life. Conversely, those living in
cooler areas may find they need more ignition, carburetor, and bat-
tery service to maintain good gall mileage and quick, easy starting.
"LAY -OF -THE-LAND" -Lay-of-the-land (scientists call it "topog-
raphy"
) also causes vllriations in service needs. Altitude and the num-
ber of hills or mountains your car has to climb make a difference in
the up-keep required.
CITY vs. COUNTRY -It would be hard to say whether country or
city driving is "healthier" for your
car.
Open highways may lead to
engine wear from driving long
distan,
c es at sustained high speeds,
while the heavier traffic of city areas causes more stop-and-go
driving,
with accompanying wear on such items as brakes and
tires.
SEASHORE vs. DESERT -A driver
who~e
car is subjected to
damp, salt air near the ocean might have to give more than average
attention to body and appearance services. On the other hand,
motorists driving in desert country have to contend with problems
of avoiding engine overheating and excessive wear from dust and
sand particles.
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