Ontario Community Newspapers

Whitby Free Press, 27 Sep 1978, p. 22

The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

£GE 12, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1978, WHITBY FREE PRESS, NEW CAR SUPPLEMENT WINTER DRIVING TIPS- Keep the Car in Shape A fi %A nàfla44m f k MIurfK o VY1l *Winter Is ice, snowdrifts, >lizzards and corrosive road .alts - a challenge to car ,wner and driver. As an aid to drivers, Ford of Canada has produced a report on ways to lessen winter driving strain, reduce wear on the car, improve the safety factor, and save drivers some money too. Infor- HAVE YOU CONSII LEASING! data produced by safety coun- cils, automobile associations, insurance companies and va- rious provincial transportation departments. MUI1L Under the hood and in the trunk - both areas deserve mation and driving guidelines attention as you take steps are based on tests of drivers tavo ewintertime troube sand and cars operating underwinteraI conditions, carried out by safe- a report in winter driving from ty councils and others, and on Ford of Canada. A well-tuned engine can save as much as 15 per cent on your feel bill. A "winter kit" of tools and supplies, packed in the trunk, can help you maintain your car in winter driving condition, help ydu get moving if stuck, help you start your car, let you warn other motor- ists' when you are stopped. It's important to have your car tuned or 4"winterizedl" - spark plugs and points, adjust- ed or replaced; oil and filter change (perhaps a new aii filtei); engine timing and car- buretor adjusted; radiator anti- freeze coolant and battery checked: a lubrication if neces- sary; brakes checked and ad- usted (important for even brak- ing and winter driving con- trol); headlights checked for adjustment to reduce visibility hazards in winter; shock absorb- ers checked, tires checked for wear and tread depth. With 231 V-6 Automatic Transmission, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Whitewalls, Rear Defroster, Floor Mats, Sport Mirrors, Side Moldings, A.M Radio and Deluxe Wheel Covers. 36 Month Net Lease * monthly charge of $153oe plus tax * 31 klometer, over 70,000 klometers e customer to provide insurance maintenance & replcement pintes * odr yours today CALL RUSS SLUGG We supply free courtesy cors-for all Ieesed cars. BLOCK HEATER In cold weather areas, ân engine block heater not only reduced warmup time but helps prolong battery life and reduce engine and starter wear. Winter conditions call for ongoing attention - don't re- ly completely on a tuneup carried out in the autumn. Critical areas to monitor through the winter: 1. The battçry - Make sure the fluid level is up to the mark in each cell. Have the battery charge checked often in cold weather. Make sure battery cables are tightly clamped to the terminal, the battery top clean and dry. Use a solution of baking soda and water to clean off any residue that de- velops on cables or terminal. Dab a bit of grease or petro- leum jelly' on each terminal to prevent it recurring. If the battery is old and weak. better think of replacing it. At minus 18 degrees Celsius (Zero Fahrenheit), even a good battery is less than 50 per cent efficient; a poor one per- forms even less well. You might well want to consider a heavy-duty battery for winter. 2. Anti freeze - Watch the level of the coolant in the radiator; check it, at least once a month in winter, keep- ing it up to, but no higher than, the "cold fill" mark. If you need to add coolant, use an anti-freeze product that meets your car's specifications (see your manual for details of mixture strength). 3. Exhaust - Gases are blown out the exhaust pipe, muffler and tail pipe. A leak in this system should always be repaired at once - but in win- ter it's all the more critical, since the car windows often ere closed. ROUTINE CHECKS A motorist should make many routing checks of the "small things" that are import- ant too. See that all lights, turn signals and emergency flashers are working properly, headlamps and other lights free of dirt, ice and snow for great- er visibility. Make certain wind- shield wiper blades are in work- ing order and use a cleaning fluid if they're dirty; look under the hood for a check of the windshield washer fluid container, and keep the level up (adding only an anti-freeze solution in winter). Ensure the heater and defroster are work- ing correctly - the latter is a necessity for keeping the wind- shield clear, so check the out- let vents for any obstructions. Keep the- gas tank as full as possible to avoid condensation and possible freezing of the gas line. You should assemble and carry a number of tools and supplies in your trunk during winter. Among the essentials is a shovel, or sturdy spade with a hard, sharp blade; you'Il need this tool, not only to shovel your wheels free of snow, but to chop and "corru- gate" ice under the wheels so they can obtain a grip. Carry a bag of dry sand or pieces of carpet (or similar fabric); sand sprinkled under and ahead of rear wheels, or carpet laid down in those areas, will provide a grip for wheels on ice of hard-packed wet snow. Battery jumper cables are useful, should you be unable to start and are offered help from a neighbour or passing motorisf. The cables boost your battery into action from the battery of the operating car. Be sure to read your own- er's manual for instructions on how to hook up to a booster battery. And be careful in connecting cables; sparks can be dangerous around batteries. What else for the trunk? A strong rope or chain will permit you to get a tow from another car. Carry flares (they're inexpensive) so that, if stopped on a roadway, you can light them and warn other motorists. A flashlight is handy too for this purpose (ideally, one with a red- flasher light). In assembling your kit, don't forget a sturdy ice scraper and snow brush, a dry cloth, extra supplies of wind-shield washer solution, perhaps a de-misting spray for windows and a spray can of de-icer solution for badly iced windows. Many drivers in areas of se- vere cold and snow will add several more items to the list: extra gloves, snow boots, a blanket, even candles and chocolate bars (for warmth and energy in a real emergency). KEEP SPEED CON- STANT. Driving at steady speeds helps to save gaso- Une. Unnecessary acceler- ation activates the accel- erator pump and power valve, thus injecting extra - and wagted - fuel into the systerr Welcome M M 1 qlllllllloooý ,

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