SILENCER TROUBLE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 June 1928, Page 16

SILENCER TROUBLE.

PERIODICAL ATTENTION NECESSARY. The silencer, or muffler as it is sometimes called, is the important details of a car, which is often neglected 'by the owner-driver, it is out of the way and awkward to get at, ami any adjustment to it is generally a very dirty and uncomfortable job. -Nevertheless, the owner who would Keep lik* car in the best running condition 'Should periodically give some little attention to this much-neglected unit or the motor mechanism.

The, silencer lias for its object tbe reduction of the impact of the overflowing gases on the air. It is this impact which causes the noise which is so objectionable a feature in some cars —especially in the case of sports cars, which are often great sinners in regard to the amount of exhaust noise they allow to be set up. it is unnecessary to tell the motorist of experience that a good healthy “baric” in the exhaust is not a measure of the engine efficiency. There- are enough silent cars of line perrormance on the road to discredit the opinion expressed by some people that an efficient exhaust silencer detracts from engine efficiency—power and speed—of the car to which it is fitted.

Troubles with silencers are various, as are the troubles with other departments of the collection of mechanism which goes to make up the whole of the modern car. When the owner finds his car becoming more silent than usual, he may also find that his power is falling off slightly, and lie may be getting overheating oi the engine. This is an almost certain indication that tlie silencer has become partially obstructed by an accumulation of 'carbon deposit.

This state of affairs generally arises froni -over-lubrication or the use of a mixture too rich, or it may be occasioned by too much driving in low gear, and is more frequent in the case ot oars nsed in hilly districts and winding, narrow hilly roads. The silencer should occasionally be taken down and cleaned out. When this is done it should be done -thoroughly, even to the taking down of the exhaust pipe and manifold of the engine.