1938 LaSalle Production - GM Heritage Center

Starting the Engine
Automatic features have greatly simplified the starting
procedure. First of all, depress the clutch pedal, then
switch on the ignition and press the starter button at the
left of the panel. Built-in carburetor controls provide the
correct starting mixture and idling speed.
The engine should start in from 5 to 25 seconds of cranking.
If it does not, release the starter button and look for
the cause:
Check the contents of the gasoline tank.
See that the throttle button is pushed in to the dash,
especially in cold weather.
Make sure the ignition key is turned all the way on.
Crank the engine with the accelerator pedal held all the
way down to open the throttle fully. This will correct any
tendencies to a floodedor over-rich condition.
Do not run down the battery by too much use of the
starting motor when the engine does not start readily. First
find the cause; otherwise the battery may be run down
sufficiently to make
starting impossible.
If a hot engine is
hard to start, open the
throttle fully by pushing
the accelerator slowly
to the floorboards, and
then crank the engine.
Release the accelerator
after the engine starts.
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Gold Weather Operation
Winter weather brings no inconvenience to the Cadillac
owner who has his car properly prepared for low temperatures
and who follows correct procedures in starting and driving.
Winter preparation of your Cadillac consists of the following:
Adequate servicing of the cooling system for cold weather,
including the use of an approved anti-freeze, (Page 49).
Draining the engine crankcase and refilling with 10-W
or 20-W engine oil, according to the lowest temperature expected,
as explained on page 38.
Cleaning the gasoline lines and filter.
Checking up on the mechanical condition of the engine,
particularly the valves and ignition, to make certain that
the engine is properly tuned.
Inspecting the storage battery to see that it is fully
charged, that the connections are clean and tight, and that
the charging rate is adequate.
Starting the engine in cold weather requires the same
procedure as at other times, but with emphasis on the following
precautions:
1. Use of 10-W or 20-W oil to assure free cranking.
2. Always depressing the clutch pedal when cranking
the engine, to relieve the starter of the load of turning
the transmission gears.
3. Making sure by regular tests that the battery is kept
fully charged or nearly so.
After the engine has started, it is a good plan to engage
the clutch gradually while the transmission is in neutral to
permit the engine to free up the lubricant before the car is
driven. Always let a cold engine warm up for at least
30 seconds before driving the car. Do not open the
throttle suddenly to race the engine during this period.
Cold weather driving can be made much more comfortable
by the installation of a good car heater. Your Cadillac-
LaSaile dealer can supply you with an approved type of
heater. Ask to see these heaters.
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