CORRECT ENGINE LUBRICATION.

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXIII, Issue 3251, 20 February 1933, Page 7

CORRECT ENGINE LUBRICATION.

By production of dependable oils, and the publication of charts giving lubrication data for all makes of cars, manufacturers of oils have eliminated a guesswork from engine lubrication, but they cannot ensure that the owner will use the correct grade of oil in the correct manner.

Probably the least appreciated point in engine Care is the necessity for distributing the oil to all friction points around the engine before any considerable expenditure of power is required from it. When an engine has been stationary for some hours most of the oil on the cylinders has drained away, and as the sole source of lubricant is splash, which necessarily is limited so as to avbid excessive oiling during normal running, several minutes must elapse before the thick cold oil can reach them. It is advisable, therefore, first to start the engine, and then to allow it to run idle while gates are opened, radiator filled and tyres examined. The engine should be neither “raced” nor throttled down to its lowest, since then the thick oil might not be thrown far enough to reach the upper parts of the cylinders. Several factors contribute to deterioration of the oil when in use, and It is necessary to change it at intervals. Dilution with unburnt fuel is the most serious lubrication trouble, since the fuel which passes into the oil greatly increases engine wear by reducing lubrication. While it occurs even with the engine In perfect condition, it is much increased by wear of the piston rings, pistons or cylinders. Dilution is most rapid (luring the winter, especially when the car is driven only for short distances, and Is minimised by making the least possible use of the choke,, and.by covering portion of the radiator so that a fairly high running temperature may be attained., " Carbon, dust and other abrasive substances gradually contaminate the oil, and these also produce mechanical wear unless removed with the ojd oil. In many modern engines felt filters are provided to remove solids, but often owners forget to replace the filters every 10,000 miles, so they become ineffective.

When the crank case oil is. replaced every 500 miles in winter and every 750-1000 miles in summer, being the correct intervals, the engine should be drained immediately after a run, when most of the dirt will be in suspension. Modern opinion is solidly against washing out the crank case with kerosene, as some always remains behind to dilute the fresh oil. It will be noticed that the fresh oil soon darkens, but this is quite normal and does not indicate that the oil is of poor quality. In fact, it is possible to remove the substance which changes color, but if this is done the oil becomes actually less efficient as a lubricant.