1917 Cadillac - GM Heritage Center

24 OPERATION AND GENERAL CARE
DON'TS FOR OPERATING
Don't run the car at sustained high speed when it is new.
Don't put oil in the engine without first straining it through cheese cloth or
fine wire mesh and making sure that it is free from dirt and lint.
Don't allow the clutch to engage suddenly.
Don't prime the carburetor too much.
Don't attempt to shift from neutral to any gear, or from one gear to another
gear without first releasing the clutch.
Don't attempt to shift from the reverse gear to any other gear w'-ien the
car is moving.
Don't attempt to shift from any forward gear to the reverse gear when the
car is moving.
Don't attempt to shift from the high gear to the low gear when the car is
moving.
Don't attempt to shift from the intermediate gear to the low gear when the
car is moving, unless it is moving very slowly. Ordinarily it is best to
stop the car altogether before shifting from the intermediate gear to the
low gear.
Don't push the starter button when the engine is running.
Don't turn the steering gear when the car is standing.
unnecessary but is also bad practice.
This is not only
Don't fail to investigate any unusual sound which may develop in the car.
The car should be inspected at a Cadillac dealer's Service Station.
Don't neglect to inspect the level of the acid in the storage battery every 1,000
miles.
Don't turn corners at high speed.
Don't neglect to keep the cooling system filled with water and with a good
anti-freezing solution in cold weather.
Don't drive fast or attempt to stop suddenly on wet pavements.
Don't attempt to start the engine with the switch turned off, without air
pressure or without gasoline in the tank.
Don't fill the lubricating system in the engine only and neglect to lubricate all
other phrts of the car.
Don't neglect the lubrication of any part of the car.
Don't neglect to keep the tires properly inflated.
Don't race the engine when it is not driving the car.
abuse.
There is no worse
OPERATION AND GENERAL CARE 25
BODY OF CAR
CARE OF FINISH
The best materials are used in finishing Cadillac cars. These are applied
in the most expert manner. In spite of these facts, it cannot be expected that
the finish will stand up unless it is given proper attention.
The finish of an automobile requires more careful and frequent attention
when the car is new than when it is older and the varnish is harder.
You should be particularly careful to keep mud from the body and hood
of-the car while new. Have the car washed immediately in case mud spatters
on it.
The following instructions should be followed very carefully when the
car is washed:—
Always use clean water. Never use water colder than 40 degrees or
warmer than 60 degrees. If a hose is used in washing, never have a greater
pressure than will carry the water six inches beyond the end of the hose.
Water under greater pressure will drive the grit and dirt into the varnish.
A soft bleached wool sponge is the best for washing the body and hood
of the car. Begin at the top of the body panels and thoroughly wet the
surface all over with water from the sponge. Continue this until the accumulation
of road dirt softens up and gives way.
Use clean water continually, and plenty of it. Go over the surface with
plenty of water two or three times until the surface is perfectly clean.
Do not wash the hood while it is hot. The effect is the same as washing
it with hot water. Unless the hood is allowed to cool before washing the
luster will soon disappear.
Dry off with a clean soft chamois. Do not rub the finish or use hand
pressure more than sufficient to dry off the water. The water evaporates
quickly and leaves the finish in good condition.
Wash the car frequently, especially when it is new, as often, in fact, as the
car returns from the road with a soiled appearance. This practice in the
case of a new car, heightens the brilliancy of the finish, hardens it, keeps it
from spotting and adds greatly to the general appearance of the car.
SEAT CUSHIONS
The easiest and best way to replace a seat cushion is to first place the front
side of the cushion against the retaining strip on the seat and then to force
the rear end of the cushion into place.
BODY BOLTS
As the body bolts become more firmly seated after the car has been
operated, it is a good plan to tighten all of the body bolts at the end of the
first 1,000 miles of travel.
CLOCK
The clock is set and wound exactly as a stem winding watch. When
setting or winding the clock use reasonable care.
With reasonable care the clock will stand the hard usage automobile
service gives and to meet which the clock is constructed.
CLOCK LIGHT SWITCH
The light on the instrument board for illuminating the dial of the clock
is controlled by a separate push button switch located at the top of the
ignition and lighting switch. To turn on the light pull out on the switch
button. To extinguish the light, push in.