MOTOR NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1937, Page 6

MOTOR NOTES

(BY AN OLD MECHANIC). If I were inclined’to ask car owners to guess at riddles, I would ask,” “When is the oil in the cratikbasd nbt oil:-” f : ; \ Thd answer is, “When it is petrol.” More often than the average motorist realises, that is what the fluid iuHhe crankcase actually is. Not all of itj to be sure, but a portion that may amount to as much as -0 per cent., or even more in some cases. It may be that when-the bayonet gauge, or other type shows‘that the crankcase is full of liquid, it - still is not full of oil. The deceptions of the thing makes it doubly bad. 1 • There are a number of ways by which crankcase oil dilution can be reduced, ’to the advantage of both petrol economy and lubrication efficiency. One of them' is to keep the carburettor adjustment properly lean. After this has been taken care of, the driver must watch out that he does not nullify' the good effect by over-using the choke. A properly lean mixture will require more adroit use of the choke in starting, but it is a thing .that the carowner should learn to do. L '/U-'H-A-

However, the carburettor is only the starting point- in the process of preventing dilution. If the electrical system is not putting out pretty close to a maximum of efficiency, delivery, of the . proper : amount of fuel to the combustion chambers is not going' .to make dilution remote.

No, indeed. Unless combustion’ is nearly perfect, the heavy ends, or noiibiifliable portions, of the petrol are not going to be fired, but- will' seep down past ffhe piston-rings ihto the crankcase. They work a lot pf.havbo on the way, as well as after;, their arrival.

It i s a distinct economy to keep -the engine’s fuel and ignition ’systems 'in such balance as to prevent dilution, and the motorist who does this will find that it costs far less than allowing matters to take their normal ’iiiefficient course. • / , . “ mwiim. mmimiimnuw