Medford mail tribune., October 16, 1960, Image 49

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ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOHN HUEHNERGARTH
Family Weekly Auto Show
Service Tips
for the
Car Owner
Give today 's auto proper
care, and it will give youjears of
economical performance and
safety plus a big trade-in bonus
By DONALD MacDONALD
The new cars are born long live the new cars!
And they will, for many years and miles, if
they are cared for properly and professionally.
How can you get the most out of your new auto
mobile) in service, safety, longevity, and bonus
trade-in value without racking up big maintenance
bills? Well, start now to learn what your auto
needs and how to satisfy it
Here is a practical check list:
Gasoline
Gasoline is by far your most important purchase,
in terms of both dollars and frequency; yet it is a
widely misunderstood commodity. What do octane,
TCP, MCP, 5D, Boron, Super Premium, and the
like mean more to the point, what do they really
do for your car? '
The most important feature of a gasoline is its
octane number. Yet octane is not an ingredient;
it is simply a measure of the gasoline's ability to
resist pinging and, therefore, it's wasteful to use
more octane than you need. High octane also is the
basic feature that distinguishes premium from the
less costly regular grades of fuel.
Determining the requirement of your car is easy:
when the tank is nearly empty, buy a small quan
tity of less costly gasoline, and floorboard the
throttle, preferably on a hill, at 20 mph in high
Family Weekly. October 10. 1960
gear or drive range. If you hear more than a trace
of ping or knock, switch to, a higher grade or try
another brand of gasoline.
The causes of ping (the audible indication of ex
plosive burning of the gasoline) can seriously dam
age valves and pistons in a short period of time.
Ping is usually caused by carbon accumulation or a
too advanced spark setting, and it is cheaper in
the long run to correct these than to rely on higher
grades of gasoline.
Of the additives, tetraethyl lead or "Ethyl" is the
most common. It boosts the octane number. TCP
and MCP are both phosphorus-based ingredients
that soften up engine deposits and prolong spark
plug life. They are a definite plus, especially when
used regularly. Boron also modifies combustion
chamber deposits and increases the octane rating.
Other additives, found mostly in premium gaso
line, include a touch of oil that helps lubricate the
engine during cold starts; some form of alcohol to
prevent carburetor icing in the winter; and an
antirust additive. The new "super premiums"
usually contain all of these features, and, in addi
tion, are "tailored" to climate and geography.
Lubricating Oils -
Here is a case where the best is not good enough,
regardless of the make or year of your car. In a
sense, oil does wear out, -although the "wear"
comes mostly from deterioration of the additives
needed to prevent damage by acid. The engine in
your car is literally a chemical factory; it produces
great quantities of water vapor that combine with
the sulfur, and other substances in oil and gasoline
to form acids. Fresh oil is needed at all times to
curb this accumulation. To determine how often
to change oil, rely on the car maker's recommen
dation. This will be found in the owner's handbook
and varies widely.
Rather than try to determine whether your type
of driving is ML, MM, or MS, ignore these mean
ingless initials and buy the highest price variety
of any reputable brand. The right viscosity for the
climate is printed on the can. If you need more oil
before your regular change, avoid mixing brands.
Also, an oil is no better than its filter; change this
faithfully at the recommended interval.
Tires
Tires, too, are surrounded by a trade jargon that
can be confusing. When you buy a . new car, it
comes equipped with so-called "100-level" tires.
These tires, representing most major brands, are
redesigned every year to meet the exacting tests
of auto makers. Nowadays they are made from
"superstrength" rayon which is sometimes referred
("Continued)