HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-04-15, Page 21THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1987. PAGE 21.
Warm weather warnings designed to prevent troubie
Now is the time to make sure
your car’s cooling system will
withstand the summer driving
strains of higher speeds, heavier
loads and extended hot-tempera-
ture idling.
To prepare yourself mentally,
here is a list of warm weather
warnings that will help keep you
out of trouble.
1) Don’t worry about the engine
running hotfor a short period of
time, as long as the liquid coolant in
the radiator does not boil. If it boil s,
the radiator will lose this fluid, and
you will have to stop, let the system
cool and then add water before
moving on.
2) Don’t stop and turn off the
engine when the dashboard light
Electronic 'Proxima' is
high-tech masterpiece
If you have ever wondered what
you will be driving in 1997 or 2020,
take a look at Peugeot’s crystal ball
on wheels, the Proxima. This
futuristic vehicle was built using
technology that will be progres
sively introduced into the cars of
tomorrow.
JeanDerampe, aseniorengi-
neer at the automaker’s Le-
Garenne research center in
France, explains the idea behind
the Proxima: “We call it ‘peugeo-
technology.’ Instead of a wild
dream, the Proxima is a synthesis
of systems that are already being
proven in our laboratories.”
Their vision is a fully functional
prototype unveiled in Los Angeles:
The roof is a glass bubbles with
ventilation of the four-passenger
cockpit provided by solar-cell
power. The electronic pilot and
navigation system includesfive
color video display units, managed
by two central computers with 40
megabytes of memory.
An anti-collision radar continu
ously scanstheroad ahead. The
radar image is displayed on a
screen together with the stopping
distance at the speed of travel and
current road conditions. Television
qameras replace rearview mirrors.
Other safety features include
M Safety Glass
(por Heavy Duty Equip., etc.)
flashes “hot” or when the temper
ature gauge rises above its normal
position. This could cause the
coolant to boil. Just slow down 5 or
10 mph, turn off the air condition
er, and, if possible, shift down one
gear. This will give the engine
every chance to cool off by itself.
If you do stop, keep the engine
running at a fast idle. This should
cool it down if you haven’t lost too
much coolant or broken a fan belt.
You can also spray a little water on
the radiator to cool it much faster,
or turn on the heater, if you can
stand it, to help dissipate the heat.
3)Don ’t remove the radiator cap
when the engine is hot. By
removing it, you will relieve the
pressure in the cooling system and
electronic monitoring of the tire
pressures. If the pressure of one
tire drops, the central computer
starts a compressor to reinflate the
tire. If the correct pressure cannot
be obtained, the central computer
will indicate the maximum speed
not to be exceeded.
The disk brakes are made of
carbon fiber for powerful braking
and high temperature stability.
The anti-skid braking system
prevents wheel lock.
The four-wheel drive transmis
sion is engaged only as needed.
Rear-wheel drive is used until the
Proxima’s computer sense that
wheelspin is about to occur.
The 600-horsepower V6 engine
is a high-tech masterpiece. It has
four valves per cylinder and two
turbo-chargers. Each spark plug
has its own ignition coil. Frictional
losses are minimized through the
use of ceramic linings on bearings
and shafts. Engine management
systems are computerized, includ
ing fuel injection, ignition and
'turbocharger boost pressure.
The Proxima is named after the
star in the Centaurus constellation
that is the closest to our sun, 4.27
light years away. Peugeot S.A. is
Europe’s fourth largest automak-
Your mechanic should be consulted before you prepare for the hot,
dusty months ahead. Have him inspect your vehicle, and ask that
special attention be’paid to the cooling system and belts.
Special oils for special engines
Comparing an automative en
gine of the ‘ 80’s to an engine of the
‘60s or ‘70s is like comparing a jet
fighter to a bi-plane.
Standard six- and eight-cylinder
engines havegiven way to high-
performance turbos and four-
cylinder power plants. As engines
have changed, so have their
lubrication requirements.
TURBO OILS
According to a leading motor oil
expert, Norm Hudecki, associate
director of the Valvoline Automa
tive Product Application Labora
tory, turbo appeal is stronger than
ever among today’s car buyers.
“The turn-on is high-performan
ce, obtained by harnessing the
exhaust gases that normally would
be nothing more than waste,” he
says.
These gases are usedto spin a
turbine which forces a greater
volume of air and fuel into
lune Up
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combustion chambers. The draw
back of turbocharging is heat.
Without adequate motor oil protec
tion, turbo shaft bearings can
quickly fail, so engine oil must
circulate around them.
While the engine is running, the
constant flow of oil lubricates and
cools turbo bearings. But when the
engine is shut off, oil flow stops.
probably cause the coolant to boil.
You also could get a hot shower.
After the engine has stopped
boiling, wait about 45 minutes,
then check the level of coolant by
removing the radiator cap. But, if
the coolant starts to boil as the cap
is removed, wait another 20
minutes and check it again. Don’t
remove the radiator cap until the
pressure is gone from the cooling
system.
4) Don’t let anyone remove your
car’s thermostat to correct an
overheating problem. You should,
of course, replace a defective
thermostat, but don’t ever run
without one. The thermostat keeps
the engine oil clean and minimizes
wear on all parts. This engine
efficiency also means a cleaner
exhaust and more miles per gallon
of gas.
In spite of the critical job
performed by the engine cooling
system, Gates says that it is the
most neglected system in the
entire automobile. And neglect of
the cooling system, especially
drive belts, radiator hoses and the
coolant, is the main reason for
engine overheating.
During the “soakdown” period,
which can last up to 20 minutes
after the ignition is switched off,
there is no provision for cooling.
Turbo bearing temperatures can
reach 600 degrees before beginn
ing to cool down.
Ordinary motor oils can literally
“cook” atthese temperatures,
Continued on page 24
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