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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1970-12-03, Page 2••• If your car's engine is run- ning hot, or if your auto- matic transmission seems to be sluggish—have your ther- mostat checked, Thermostats open and close to regulate coolant flowing through the cooling system to maintain proper engine temperatures: Functioning correctly, thermostats should open to allow coolant to pass through the system when . the coolant reaches the ex- act temperature level for which its engine was de- signed. If the thermostat opens , before the coolant reaches this desirable temperature, the engine will run too cool, This will result in excess wear on moving parts, accu- mulations of sludge in the ' crank case and decreased The vital little gadget — the thermostat—that keeps engine temperatures at the correct op- erating level. ruei economy, among other things, However, should the ther- mostat fail to open when the proper temperature is reach- ed, the engine Is subjected to overheating. With the ther- mostat closed, coolant flow is blocked off from the radiator. Until the stat opens, the coolant becomes hotter and hotter. When this occurs, the engine will deteriorate rapid- ly as metal parts are tortured by extreme temperatures. In addition to costly dam- age done to metal, parts, overheating also results in loss of engine power, in- creased off consumption, ab- normal combustion and pre- ignition. And, because transmission fluid is cooled in the radiator, transmission failure becomes a serious possibility. A great .percentage of all automatic transmission failures can be traced to engines running too hot! It's a good idea to have your car's cooling system tuned up before cold weather sets in. In addition to inspecting the operation of the thermo- stat, careful attention should be paid to radiator and heater hoses, hose clamps, fan belts, and safety pres- sure caps. should they fail, any of wlese key cooling compo- nents can lead to serious, and costly, engine troubles. Keeping Warm... With winter on. its way, bet- ter make sure your car heat- er is functioning properly. Often passengers in the front seat are comfortable but those in the back seat are cold. You turn up the heat, but it doesn't seem to make it to the back. The hot gets hotter and the cold stay cold. One reason for this may be a clutter under-seat. Gener- ally, the heat flow is designed to travel under the front seat to the rear compartment. If there are rags, papers, tools and other things in the way the heat will be prevented from reaching the back. Short Takes . . . A tune-up improves gaso- line mileage, and engine per- formance. Planning a trip? Consult your local service station for the best routes. Check your windshield wipers and cleaning fluid often. The N ews-Record , December 3, 1970 — Car CareSupplement-- Page 2B How's Thermostat Operating? Check Before Winter Arrives The More Modern the Car, the More Care Needed Importance of Service Will Grow As Manufacturers Produce More Sophisticated Automobiles By DOUGLAS W. TOMS Director, National Highway Safety Bureau Not long ago we heard a prediction that the next few Years would find the U.S. auto industry building ears that will be totally garage-proof — serving out their useful life from assembly line to junk heap without need for servicing. The prediction made no mention of "Car-Care"--that essential responsibility of the owner, spelling the difference between risk of life and investment and the security of both during the life of the vehicle. Most of us remember when a good garage mechanic could tell by the sound and feel by the seat of his pants as the saying goes — what ailed the family car. Matter of fact, most of us kids could take down an engine and do our own valve and ring job if we had to. But it isn't true any more. Few would try it on a modern automobile. Few of us would relish the job of stripping air- conditioning, power-assist systems and a dozen other modern extras — let alone try our do- er's line on the other. it-yourself skills on those But no matter which you temperamental "horses" un- buy you will drive in a world, der the block. Yet Car-Care— even if it's passed beyond the average owner's home grown skills — is more important than ever. And predictions notwith- standing, it's going to be more and more important as' the automobile takes on a degree of sophistication far beyond today's level. Maximum Power Response In the first place, many experts question what kind of power plant will be doing the job in "tomorrow's" autos. Whatever it is, we know that future energy conver- sions will answer to a series of computers; insuring fuel consumption without 'pollu- tion to atmosphere, without waste, and with maximum response in power and ma- neuverability, We are looking at drawing board ideas and devices near- ing production status which will need—forproper servic- ing and tune-up — advanced and specialized equipment. The future probably holds some form of radar brake control, guided highway lanes and a whole family of integrated, automatic safety devices. The goal will be maximum' crash-avoidance and maxi- mum crash-survivability; and not the least of the ideas under serious consideration are devices capable of "sniff- ing" or screening out the Douglas W. Toms irresponsible driver — the , drunk or the addict — who becomes a killer, behind the I wheel. Both Kinds of Cars So vital will the role of profesSiOnal Car-Care be- tome, Many expertS believe, ' that the auto Showrooms of tomorrow will featUre both kinds of autos — the sOphis- ticated "automatics" on One side, and the do-it4-yoUr-self- and at speeds, demanding better Car-Care more of it and more often to insure the safety and satisfaCtion tomorrow's driver not only ought to have, but will be required to guarantee for others on the highway.