THE MOTOR WORLD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9783, 5 October 1917, Page 8

THE MOTOR WORLD

CARBON IN CYLINDERS BEST WAY TO REMOVE THE DEPOSITS. . "Carbon is one of the worst ailments 'of the engine and the most insidious,” Isays Mr William H. Stewart, junr., president of an American Automobile Ifohool. "Its presence is not suspected and the evils .which follow are attributed to many other than the real causes. (There are many causes 5 of carbon, and bne must be on his guard against all of them. The usual trouble is too much bil, but the wrong grade of oil will Igiro carbon as will a poor grade. Too 'r.cih a mixture from the carburettor is auother cause. If the piston rings are badly worn oil will ibe drawn up into jtho combustion chamber on the suction stroke—more carbon.

"The remedy is to avoid the causes. Use oil made by the, manufacturer of established reputation and use the oil }io recommends for your car. See that oil level is correct and that mixture trom carburettor is right. If red or yellow flame' is shown at compression cooks the mixture is too rich. In spite of the best care, however, carbon will persist in forming. To help keep this down inject a email quantity of kerosene in each cylinder cnce a week. Rave motor hot when it is_ poured in' in that the kerosene will vaporise. Close compression odoks and crank engine ever a few times, either by hand or self-starter. This compresses the vapour and forces it into itho carbon. The 'effect of the kerosene vapour acting all night is to soften the carbon so that some of it will ba ejected when the faiotor. is again started, j “If such precautions have not been taken and cylinders are found to be toarbonised, the deposits may be too thick to be affected by kerosene alone. The old method was to use scrapers whii'ch. were inserted through the valve openings. ,Tho carbon was scraped off, bat foil in masses on the head of the piston. Unless blown out it was carried into the muffler.'’ If not thoroughly removed ridges of carbon were left which became red hot and caused.. preignition just the same. The best method, aside from removing cylinder head and positive scraping, is to have the cylinders burned out with oxygon. This can only be done when special apparatus is available. The engine is started and the gasolene supply is shut off. The engine stops, having used up oil the explosive mixture in the com'busjtioh space. This is to avoid an explosion when the oxygon is first'introduced into the cylinder, The plugs are then |removed, a burning miatoh dropped in'to the cylinder and the stream of oxygen turned on. This spreads to all (part® of the combustion space, burning ■the carbon. As long as sparks are coming out the workman knows that there

is still some unconsumed carbon. This process is quick and <iuite efficient, dismantling of motor being unnecessary. T7SES OF BLECTEIC TOECH.

One of the most useful articles _ a motorist can carry aboard a car--tnat is, the owner -wlio does not luxuriate in electric lighting and inspection lamps—is a small citrine torch. When driving at night it conics in handy for numerous purposes, for ascertaining the time, for inspecting the oil gauge, for checking speed by glance at the speedometer, for use when lighting up, _ etc. If there is no pocket beside the driver, a crossed strap arrangement ]>laccd in some handy .position will hold _ the torch or lamp securely, so that it is always close at hand. If it happens that any engine adjustment has to be made on the road after night-fall, these small electric lamps are invaluable, for it is not alwa„j safe or expedient to bring a kerosene lamp close enough to enable such work to be done easily. Every driver whose car is not electrically equipped in the way of lighting, should carry one of these small lamps. FEATHER-WEIGHT AIiOTOE CYCLE-

An American manufacturer has marketed an extra light weight motor cycle that promises well. It weighs only 651 b. and sells at .£2O. This machine is equipped with a little high speed twocvcle motor (air cooled), the .whole outfit weighing only 191 b. The cycle itself is of special construction to withstand the balder work incidental to powerpropelled machines. The whole control is by Bowden wire, which retards or advances speed, etc. The drive is by means of a half inch' "V" belt to a driving rim on the back wheel. The engine, which is of outside flywheel type, is mounted in the diamond of the bicycle frame. Although the machine is proudly equipped to ensure the rider's comfort, it weighs ready for filling up only 651 b, yet is capable of travelling 25 miles an hour on a consumption of one gallon of petrol per 100 miles and 400 miles to the quart of lubricating oil. The machine is complete with pedals, chains, etc. so that the rider can assist up Stiff hills if he desires, or in case of motor trouble can slip off bait and pedal homo.