TRACING SQUEAKS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3266, 26 October 1928, Page 2

TRACING SQUEAKS

Some squeaks can be extraordinarily elusive, but an hour or so spent in process of careful examination and elimination will locate most of them. Does the squeak manifest itself all the time the engine is running while the car is stationary? Obviously, then, the engine, or something closely , connected with it, is the cause. Is it the fan or jits drive? The test for these is simple, for all that need be done is to remove the belt. Otherwise suspect the tappet or valve gear, and hunt down the trouble by pressing in various directions with a piece of wood on each moving member as the engine runs slowly. Does the noise arise while tho car is being driven over an absolutely flat and even road, but not while the car is stationary? Then it is probably something to do with the transmission. In this case is the nature of the noise dependent at all upon engine or car speed or upon the particular gear engaged? If not in engine or transmission, probably the noise comes from bodywork or suspension. Stand on the running board and jerk violently up and down. This will probably locate a spring or shackle noise. A body noise also will probably be shown up by this sort of treatment. Seize a part of the body and shake it violently sideways— this nearly always gives a fair idea of the exact location of a body squeak or rattle. Curious squeaks sometimes occur in worn wheel bearings, and these can generally be found by jacking up the wheel and wbbbling it by hand.

the brakes for the last minute, and then accelerating again with. equal suddenness. The actual cruising speed at which a car is driven has a considerable influence upon the petrol consumed, but the most economical speed to adopt varies greatly in different makes and types of car. For most medium-powered ears of the family type, with 4-cylinder engines rated a* from 10 h.p. to 14 h.p., the most economical speed is probably between 25 miles an hour and 35 miles an hour. For cars with larger engines, particularly those of the sixcylinder type, a speed of about 35 m.p.h. seems to give more economical results.