CLEAN THE PLUGS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17238, 19 April 1930, Page 9

CLEAN THE PLUGS

Dirty plugs, with gaps which have become too wide owing to burning away of the electrodes, are the chief cause of difficult starting, with consequent buttery troubles. Occasional cleaning of plugs also helps one 1o form an idea of the-functioning of the engine, if the meaning of the dirt needing removal is read correctly. If the, plugs are quite clean, and it is necessary only to close up the gaps a little, indications are that the engine is functioning efficiently. If the plugs are dry, but covered with soot, too rich a mixture is being used, and fuel is being wasted in building up carbon formation. Probably the carburettor is wrongly adjusted, or it may be merely that unnecessary use is being made of the choke. Any considerable quantity of oil on the plugs is usually a bad symptom, except in the case of a few freak engines. Usually this occurs only when the piston rings and perhaps the pistons and cylinders aTC worn, and it indicates the necessity for an engine overhaul in the near, future if the power output is to be maintained. Oil may reach the plugs, in the case of engines with pressure lubrication, if the oil .pressure is ; too high, or if the bearings are worn, allowing too much oil to be thrown out. The latter defect is often the reason for one plug oiling-up quicker than the others.