MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 69, 14 December 1917, Page 11

MOTORS AND MOTORING

IBT CLDTOH.I

Fuels and Carbonisation. , From tho oxperionco of British motorists rt would seem that thero is less troublo from carbonisation and valve-pitting wlion using coal-gas than with tho present-day liquid fuel, which is somowhat heavier than iu pre-war times. Tho oxplanation is that comploto cbiiibiißtion is obtained as tlio result of tho uniformly gaseous naturo of tho fuol, whereas, witli heavy and not. readily volatile liquid fuol, thero is bound to bo somo variation in tho mixture, which causes tho formation of carbon, small particles of which collect on tho valve-faces and cnuso pitting. Other English motorists who liavo used keroseno with potrol, to reduco tho cost of tlio fuol, hitvo found that thoir cnginos_ aro prono t-o overheat, and tlio solution was that they unduly increased the proportion of koroseno. Tho effect of kerosene, or paraffin, which is not proporly vaporised, but'enters tho cylinders in really a wet state, is to retard the rate of combustion. It is important not to exceed tho preciso amount of keroseno . that cxpcrieiico proves will give, or has given, satisfactory results. . In any case, it must bo expected that, the admixture of any keroseno at all 'will cause tho ongino to run' ratber hotter, taking into consideration also a.heavier petrol that is markoted to-da.v. Stopping Leaks. Thero are so many places about-the motor lyliero leaks aro likely to develop that it will pay- tlio car owner to go over tibe mechanism onco in throo months with this in niind. Frequent offenders aro the spark plugs and priming cups. Pour a little oil around tho lower parts of theso while the ongino is running. If tbero is a leak bubbles in the oil will betray it. An-other-vulnerable place for leakago is tho valve system. Seo whether tlie valve stems and push rods aro covered with oil; if thoy aro tho stems or guides are probably worn, or tlio push rods or their guides may be to blame. Crossing Tracks,. More, than one motorist • has been killed by stalling his motor, on the tracks iu front of an oncoming train.' The driver slows down when approaching the tracks, bolieves.be has time to get across, and then fails to start his motor up sufliciently to negotiate tlio rougher going across the tracks. Tho Safest thing to do is to shift into second or low before starting across tho tracks, and you can then bo suro of keeping going when going ahead may bo all-important.

Horo and Ther6. It occasionally happens that when motorists fill the radiator or tank hurriedly the tiller-cap is not properly replaced, and becoming loosened by vibration it falls off and is lost. A simple device to prevent this consists of a short length of brass.chain attached to the liller-cap by a screw or small bolt, and also iu a like manner to the radiator or petrol tank as the case may be. If it is not easy to attach tho chain to the radiator or tank by a screw, it may be sußicient to pass a loop of tho chain round the projecting lip of tlio filler orifice or to solder the chain to the radiator. Another device is to fix the cht.in to tlio filler-cap on the inside and to attach to the free end of the chain a stout piece of brass wiro or rod of greater length than the diameter of the filler orifice. Tho chain and rod aro then allowed to hang inside the tank, and in tlio event of the cap becoming detached the rod is pulled across the liller orifice and tho cap saved from falling off tho car. This second method is not absolutely Bafc, as the tod, being made to enter it, can also leave the orifice, but in practice, it is not easy to pull tho rod out without guiding it through. Wooden wheels with loose spokes emit a squeaking sound which is intensely annoying. Tho noiso will be more distinct when the oar is being driven around a corner. _ Sometimes this looseness may bo obviated by replacing ono or more spokes, or it may be cured by forcing small wooden wedges between the spokes and ' the hub. A wheelwright can do tho job in a few minutes.

Take your time in shifting gears! Your car will bo hotter for it. There is no doubt that many car hoods wear quickly through being folded down carelessly. Tho chief point is to get- tho hood folds as far back as possible, and to see that none of the fabric is nipped by any extension clip. Most hoods aro tlio better for being strapped down firmly when not in use. When any part of the mechanism of tlio car is removed be suro that it is perfectly clean jieforo it is returned to its placo. Even such a comparatively unimportant part as a valvo plug should bo thoroughly cleancd. A small piece of dirt on tho plug gasket may be enough to cause a serious leak. Clean every metnl gasket before it is replaced. Paper, asbestos, and other flexible types of gasket usually have to be replaced after they have once been taken out. The statement is often heard tbat braking action has a deleterious effect upon cycle tyres, the idea being somewhat prevalent, that in somo way tlio braking strain is taken at the point of the tyro's contact with. tho road. A little reflection, however, should make it obvious that this can only lie true when tho wheel is actually looked and skidded. So long as this does not. occur the only, effect of the brake i.s to causo tho wheel to rovolvo more slowly and eventually come to a. standstill. The rim and spokas take tho .strain, and the contact of the tyre with the road remains perfectly normal. liighliiig-up time: To-da.v,'7.l!) p.in. Next Friday, "7.24 p.m.