Wednesday, March 9, P SMALLER ENGINES with fewer cylinders do not enjoy an easy life in today's breed of compact car. Because the smaller engine must work harder to deliver adequate road performance, it now produces higher heat loads in a more. con- fined space. - In their efforts (0 make adjust- ments for heat and. space, design- ers have introduced a number of new elements into the modern automotive cooling system. ‘ For example, except for a: few large engine applications and some accessory drives, there is hardly a ~ V-shaped belt on 1988 passenger cars. Rather, a Y-ribbed belt on a “serpentine’’ drive weaves around smaller pulleys, thereby replacing a number of traditional V-belts. -: The standard V-belt, however, is - still found on more than 120 mil- lion cars’ plus. 40 million ‘light trucks and vans of 1970 to 1980 vintage. “: Motorists should .continue..:to replace them every four’ years, ls “aluminum are at work - small cars, and: again these new S98 - North Shore News R I because studies show that the ma- jority of these belts are at or near failure. Also in the cooling system, the fan that. worked constantly to keep air flowing through the radiator is now clectrically operated, . and turned on and off by means of a fan thermostat which monitors engine coolant temperature. . In other efforts to reduce weight, several engine makers have adopted aluminum cylinder heads, “and in.a few. cases even engine blocks are now made out of aluminum, instead of heavy cast iron. ‘These units now call for the use of new antifreeze (coolant) mix- tures which are:compatible with these non-ferrous metals. So the entire engine cooling system’s chemistry has changed. Other weight’ reduction moves also have seen radiators change .in tadical ways. Now plastics. and - in some coolant materials must be used if - parts damage to the system is to be avoided. The same cautions apply to ad- ditives so often used in many cool- ing systems. Use the wrong ones and the result could be an expensive fix to put things right. Due to the higher heat loads now found in today’s smaller erigincs — some 20 per cent more than in yesterday's bigger engines — it is vital that all radiator hoses, the radiator cap ,and the cooling system thermostat be in working order. . The hot environment’ of | the engine causes a gradual deteriora- tion of these parts. So, it would be a sensible precaution to have these replaced every 40,000 kilometres or so, or every two years, Whichever comes first. Also be sure that your car's air conditioning system is at. top operating efficiency for best per- formance. Although they are two separate systems, air “Why your Volvo dealer is the best place for maintaining your Volvo Service: ‘data flows:into:Volvo +: : headquarters from around the ’ world, If comes from. Volvos.. operating. in. severe’ Arctic: winters: and tropical summers. From “Volvos'crossing dry deserts and humid-rain forests;"and from. ° Voivos that absorb the agony of , punishing mountain roads and ; congested. city traffic, eek: __ AM this information, determines. . how Volvo engineers: and builds its cars. It’s: aiso used to establish: your Volvo's recom- mended service. and: maintenance schedules, : more ‘importantly, Volvo and your Volvo dealer have the service’ history. of: hundreds of thousands of ‘cars’ ‘condensed into technical ‘bulletins, service ; manuals and training materials. . =A Volvo Technician has the ex- perience, from servicing hun- dreds, even ‘thousands,, of cars like’ yours. It’s this knowledge your Volvo. ‘that lets him spot a potential . problem before it becomes a . breakdown..- This means that he can tell where you drive and how you drive just by looking at your _ used engine oii, checking your tires, brakes, and the steering ..and suspension components. ‘, Add _to this a comprehensive and.internationally recognized training program that develops and rewards the most qualified ‘technicians, and you can see how * “valuable your Volvo dealer's ser- vice personnel are to you and Your Volvo dealer also provides something else: the right tools to do the job quickly and correctly “while using Volvo warranteed replacement parts. So, when ser- vice is performed by a Volvo dealer you're sure of maintaining the integrity of your Volvo’s new car warranty. conditioning and engine cooling share common characteristics. Each relies on the other’s proper operating condition for best performance. A regular season flush and refill with the right type of grade of coolant also is important. The best coolant and water mix is 50/50. Even though the coolant is in the radiator and engine, out of sight while it’s doing its work, its chemistry does change as it goes through successive heating and cooldown cycles. It gets tired. So it should be replaced oeriod- ically — annually would be best — as a protection against extremely low, as weil as high temperatures. Undercoating helps battle rust threat | WITH THE high cost of today’s. automobiles, it makes more sense" than ever. to protect your invest- ment not only mechanically . but aesthetically as well. “With millions of dollars being” spent annually. on. vehicles, some °-- of the smart money is being spent on detailing of older cars and Pro- - tection packages on new. cars,” -said Mike Haveruk of North Van : Undercoating. “With the i increasing use of salt on the roads during. the winter | months, owners are looking for.“ more ways to stop the destruction” of rust,"’ he explainéd. / “For a small fraction of the cost of a new vehicle, they can have the added protection of professional undercoating © and’ rustproofing. Add. to that a long-lasting paint sealant, and the. worry of- deterioration is cut dramatically,’ And the cost of this added pro- tection can reap dividends when it : comes time to sell the car. Auto buyers look for the most for their money “and if you can offer: a good, sound vehicle — both bodily wise as well as mechanically ~— your chances of selling quicker and ‘at a higher price are much better. - Following this, Haveruk is also seeing more and more auto owners investing. in professional detailing — and the difference can be star- tling... After the process, many people virtually do not recognize . their own cars; said Haveruk. . “A professional - detailing ‘will “attain more than:a simple auto car, wash since: ‘the’ entire car, truck: or . van is thoroughly . steam cleaned. [from top te-bottom to rid it of. any salt or dirt,’’ he explained. “Then it’s. vacuumed inside and uphol- stery and rugs shampooed. ag ‘These. days with, self-serve gas stations, ‘people. don't always: get the attention paid to those. things as they used. to,’’: Haveruk added.” . “AIT in all:it. may ‘be the ‘smart: - thing and. the least expensive thing: in the long ‘run to have some or’all: of these services applied to » your: new or used vehicle." oa ATTENTION © YOUR PONY, EXCEL OR STELLAR ‘MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE REPAIRS | Every Pony, Excel and Stellar on the toad less than three years or 60,000 km is eligible for free repairs to specific components. Simply bring your car in to Tatlow. Motors for its next regular service and we will check every component on the list. Necessary repairs or replacement of these items will cost you nothing. Nothing for parts. Nothing for labour. HYUNDAI QUALITY - REASSURANCE PROGRAM ‘1695 Marine Dr. North Vancouvez: