WASTING OF FUEL.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20789, 24 February 1933, Page 6

WASTING OF FUEL.

RESULT OF BAD DRIVING. K Despite the fact that the engine of the modern car has been increased m efficiency to a marked extent in the last few years, it is still quite a common thing to hear motorists growling about the excessive petrol consumption of their machines. Not a few of these drivers claim to have had good mileages from cars owned in bygone days, and most of them are, as a result, somewhat dubious about the efficiencies claimed for their more modern vehicles. " Present-day cars are equipped Willi engines which can provide high cruising speeds and very rapid acceleration, and in order that such a vehicle may be safe to drive, the braking efficiency has been increased to the point where the car can be pulled up very quickly

from comparatively high speeds. These features, while they undoubtedly made, motoring more pleasing and comfort^ [ able, can, in the hands of careless drivers, increase the petrol consumption to a point where it becomes alarmingly high. In the course of an day's run the engine of the average car is seldom required to develop more than, say, 20 per cent, of its total power, and consumption during this period may average approximately 2Q miles iv gallon, even though the average touring speeds may have been comfortably high. This same car in the hands of a careless or spectacular driver may increase its petrol consumption to a point where only 10 to % miles a gallon is obtained, even though the nyerage speed has not been'increased to any great extent.. A series of tests was held comparatively recently with the object.of establishing this point, and the results were such that the average oyner must blame his driving methods rather than' his car if his petrol consumption is

unduly high. For the purposes of the test an ordinary touring car of approximately 20 h.p. which travelled about 20 miles to the' gallon was. chosen. On this car the consumption during acceleration from 15 to 3M miles an hour on top gear waa only y.6 miles to the gallon. Whon starting on second gear and running at L 5 miles an hour for less than one quarter of a mile, the consumption was U.2 miles n gallon. Violent accelerate u on top gear brought the-consumption v?.? miles a gnllon, and the same conditions applied to second speed save a petrol consumption pf only 4 mile* to the. gallon. Hard braking, particularly when U'e brakes are applied after a burai or acceleration, also is very wastef-U or fuel. When the. driving effort is n>moved the car has inertia in virtue or Hs-speed and weight. In tfie carburettor a column of petrol h also travel. I"A£ » speed for p particater throttle opening, and as the accelerator pedal » relesaad this inertia'

effect results in BtowN||fl|| wasted than second aft fpil Reasonably high td**gßß be indulged in witbotti'ifHl ' ing petrol consuretptiioat j||| providing, of course-, ItMfll celeration ami speetem^HH in intermediate geat* *OH will be found, as & rtt3jS.|j|| tance covered when a Ajf||l sensibly will be as. g?rtt#f»S •.of the day as that ***§■■ driven by what e*^|||| "grandstand driver.**' " \ M It is claimed that tlfflH cipo for si hnndHJeMtfgjyHJ , tive: —Mix one vaseline with one &fs||ffl| oatmeal and add to »§§||H good soft soap. Tf*lgNl| of the paste on fcei w|W water, then' add wswvrllHH a time until there *# fal It trill be found ib*llnHi thoroughly clean' it*£":!J||| And tea** >ta dti& #>i|al|