Engine Lubrication

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 2 March 1935, Page 15

Engine Lubrication

Clearing the Sump of Accumulated Sludge

To obtain the maximum efficient working from an internal combustion engine, thorough lubrication with clean oil is essential, but this ideal condition can only be approached in a motor-ear engine by changing the oil at regular intervals and keeping the whole system free from impurities. Unfortunately- changing the oil is in itself insufficient, as a certain amount of sludge accumulates in the sump. However effective the oil filter may- be, it cannot prevent a percentage of the sludge from being circulated to moving parts, nor can it prevent the sludge from accelerating the deterioration and oxidation of clean oil.

To prevent such action the old oil should Ijo drained, a half to one gallon of flushing oil added to the sump, and the engine run moderately fast. At the end of five or 10 minutes, remove the drain plug from the sump and switch off the ignition as soon as the oil pressure drops to zero. This will result in the expulsion of all file old oil and deposits, and when the .egnine is left for a quarter of an hour all the flushing oil and impurities will drain out. Then clean the draining orifice and plug, making sure that the fire washer is replaced, screw- up tightly, and add clean oil of the recommended grade. . The outside of the engine should then be cleaned with kerosene to remove grease or mud. Aluminium parts, if rubbed over with a rag soaked in turpentine, will preserve a good appearance and resistance to deposition of oil and dust.

When the engine is clean, any oil leak will be readily detected and traced, while the rush of air will exercise the maximum cooling effect on the oil in the crankcase.

To take away- the last vestige of impurity- it is desirable to remove the sump every y-ear and clean the interior with a stiff brush and thin oil or kerosene. At the same time -the oil filter and crankcase breather should also be cleaned, or, if a cartridge ty-po oil filter is fitted, the cartridge should be renewed.

The actual removal of the sump from the engine should not present any difficulty-, as it simply involves undoing the retaining bolts or nuts. When replacing make sure that the faces of the sump and the base of the crankcase are perfectly clean, then apply a little jointing solution and fit a good gasket. Buy a new- one from the service depot if necessary. Tighten up the joints gradually- all the wav round; do not pull up one end tightly- before tightening the- other, as this will cause distortion and leakage around the joints. Bo long as there is adequate lubricant in the sump there is no harm done to an engine by ‘ ‘ revving” it up when the car is at a standstill, but •do not do this w-hen the oil is cold.

If a tyre blows out do not jam on the brakes but cut off the power and allow the car to coast, to a stop. Jamming on the brakes might cause a skid and that would ruin the tvres.