MOTORDOM

Southland Times, Issue 18972, 20 June 1923, Page 8

MOTORDOM

NOTES AND NEWS

( By

"Self-Starter.")

USED CARS IN U.S.A. OVER 400,000 IN STOCK. Automobile dealers of the United States had 400,000 used cars in stock on March 15. according to compilations of figures gathered by the National Automobile Dealers' Association. These stocks had a total capital investment of 152,206,340 dollars. The figures that make up this result were obtained from a study by the National Automobile Dealers’ Association into the used car experience of 3,333 dealers in eighteen states, from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, and covering the Mississippi Valley. The figures were based on the reports by these dealers, who themselves acknowledged stock totalling 37,015 automobiles, with a capital investment of 13,350,119 dollars. The capital invested is the cost at which the dealers acquired these stocks and does not include the figures for reconditioning, overhead, etc. They are the bare figures of what the dealer allowed for those cars in accepting them in trade on new car sales. These figures do not include reports from exclusive used car stores, but are solely from dealers who are handling used cars as a part of a new car business. The market values which these same dealers report are accepted as the actual worth of these used car stocks. And officials of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association call attention to this peculiarity —that it is almost impossible for any one to establish a market value for any article until that article has been sold. The N.A. D.A. executives believe that the market values reported are simply figures for which the dealers on their own best judgment expect to sell those cars. Fluctuations can have an immense effect on the ultimate results when these used car stocks have been moved. One of the most interesting things disclosed by the figures from these eighteen states is that the average price which the dealers Ire allowing for old cars is 360.67 dollars. PRICES OF PETROL. Much has been written in regard to the prices charged for motor spirits in New Zealand and visitors returning from America invariably have something to say as to the price charged for gasoline in the United States as compared with the price of motor spirits here. According to one authority, to-day’s price of petrol in New Zealand compares favourably with that charged in America, and incidentally in Europe, taking into consideration all the factors. First, the New Zealand motorist will not accept the class of gasoline used by the American motorist, which is known in America as the domestic grade, and is a much poorer quality of gasoline than used here. The New Zealand motorist uses the highest class of motor spirit produced; in fact, it is a much higher grade than exported to and used in England. The present price of gasoline in New York is to-day 26 cents per wine gallon in bulk. This, based on today’s exchange, is equal to about 1/1| per wine gallon. This is a point which the average New Zealand motorist loses sight of, i.e., that it is a U.S. gallon and not an Imperial gallon, and is one-sixth less than an Imperial gallon, or, in other words, an Imperial gallon is equivalent to one and one-fifth U.S. wine gallons. Further, if the price is quoted on an Imperial gallon basis, the bulk price in America for this quality of spirit would be 31 1-sth cents per Imperial gallon bulk, which is equal to about l/4i based on to-day’s rate of exchange. l/4i per Imperial gallon is equal to 10/10 for 8 Imperial gallons bulk. The class of gasoline as used in the United States can be purchased there for 2/- a case below the third grade as sold on the New Zealand market, which would bring the American equivalent up to 12/10 for 8 Imperial gallons bulk. In the United States the garage man, or the re-seller, makes less than Id per Imperial gallon profit. In England he makes from Id to 2d per gallon profit. In New Zealand he earns a profit equivalent to 2/6 a case, or 3sd per gallon. Hence, the chief factors to be taken into consideration when making comparisons of motor spirits in New Zealand and America are first to take into consideration the class of product; secondly, the difference between the gallons; thirdly, the cost of packages, freights, and other charges and overheads; and fourthly, the greater margin of profit as earned by the garage retail man as compared with that earned by similar re-sellers in other parts of the world. The leading oil companies in New Zealand have reduced the wholesale price of first grade petrol from 32/6 per case in 1921 to 18/6 per case to-day, equivalent to a reduction of 14/- per case or 44 per cent. 1116 reduction of 44 per cent, bears comparison with any other commodity used in New Zealand, and it is on the figures here given doubtful whether any other imported article used in New Zealand has been reduced by 44 per cent, since 1921. POINTS TO REMEMBER. Many small gashes and cuts, which cause eventually the rotting of the outer cover, are left unattended owing to so few people having any idea of the simplicity of vulcanising. After the stones and dirt are removed from the gashes it should then be cleaned with petrol, roughened with a rasp, coated with vulcanising flux and finally filled with a plug compound. A heavy screwdriver, with a blade at least half an inch wide, is held in the flame of a blowlamp, so that the flame plays on the tip of the blade. When this is almost red-hot, it is removed and applied to the tire, contact, however, not being made with the tip of the tool, but at a spot near the wooden handle. As the heat passes to the tire the blade is gradually moved along until the hottest portion is pressing on the repair. Considerable pressure should be applied the whole lime to the screwdriver. The correct temperature to start with can be noted by feeling for the spot on the screwdriver blade which causes the compound to sizzle, and then moving the blade to a cooler spot. Heavy sooting of plugs may be taken as a certain indication of faulty carburetion or a leakage past the piston rings. There should be no carbonisation at all. Often the mixture is too rich. When the gears of the electric starter I become stuck, turn off the ignition switch, put in “high” gear, and then gently rock the car backward and forward. This will release the starting motor gear from the flywheel gear and the starter will then turn the engine easily. Never adjust the’carburettor as soon as the engine works badly. There are such things as clogged feed pipes, poor ignition, and the exhaust valve that do not seat properly. Be sure to inspect the wheel 'bolts, tire lugs, and hub caps occasionally. When a , wheel comes off the brakes are useless, and the car travels on momentum, usually turning toward the side of the missing wheel. When overhauling a car one often encounters a nut which defies all efforts at removing it. By taking an ordinary openended spanner of the correct size, and heating it in a flame for some time, afterwards placing it on the nut, it should be possible after the spanner has remained in the position for two or three minutes to remove the most obstinate nut, as it will be expanded by the heat, and will screw off easily. A nut should not be heated direct, for the tendency then is to expand the bolt as well. An expensive adjustable wrench should not be used if this means be resorted to, as heat will render it unfit for use. Spring shackle play or looseness between the spring end and the shackle may give annoyance until the sea* of trouble is

discovered. A good method of taking up the play is to play shims between the spring end and the shackle. Or the play may be removed by tightening the spring bolt. WASTAGE OF GASOLINE. A reminder to motor-car users that they are likely to be judged guilty of some responsibility for increasing gasoline prices in the future is voiced by the National Motorists’ Association of America. Sheer wastefulness, it is said, helps to create an excessive demand which ultimately enhances the price. As the result of a recent investigation, the prediction is made that unless car-owners turn over a new leaf, close to a billion gallons of gasoline will be wasted during the present year. “ The average car-owner does not conceive of the important part his particular engine plays in conserving or wasting gasoline,” continues the association’s report. “He does not even appreciate the role the proper functioning of his engine plays in cutting his own fuel costs. That is why it is estimated that the wastage of gasoline annually represents an expense to motorists of 180,000,000 dollars. Every car-owner could save about 4 cents per gallon, and the individual loss of gasoline through carbon choked engines and too richly adjusted carburettors should be left out of discussion until car-owners sense the seriousness of the situation. “ To tell a motorist that his engine is wasting gas because it is choked with carbon does not spur him on to remedying the condition; but once he has a glimpse of the sum total of the nation’s carelessness with respect to its motor-car he raises the hood and looks into the situation. Carbon is not a vague something which accumulates in a motor, and has to be cleaned out every spring. It is a very real efficiency-killing deposit of dirt, oil, unburned gasoline, which accumulates by degrees and which can be minimised, even neutralised, in the same way. “ It is now estimated that 90 per cent, of carbon is dirt drawn in through the carburettor. Air cleaners and strainers will therefore greatly improve the efficiency of the engine; but where the car-owner is not able to attach such devices, feeding each cylinder with a table spoonful of kerosene through the pet cocks when the engine is left for the night will eliminate much of the carbon as it is deposited. “ The wastage of fuel caused by the carbon is by no means confined to its habits of heating to a cherry red and pre-igniting the cylinders’ gases. It does its damage mostly around the valve heads, causing them to remain slightly open when they are supposed to be closed. This reduces compression by allowing the gas to leak back into the carburettor or out the exhaust. One valve that does not close tightly or which is stuck because the owner neglects to oil the valve stem will practically cut out an entire cylinder which, in the case of a six-cylinder engine, means a waste of about 30 per cent, of its power and its fuel.” THE NEW MOTOR CYCLE. The motor cyclist who has just taken delivery of a new machine is naturally very anxious to discover its capabilities at the first possible moment. To desire to know without delay “just what she will do” is very natural, and one cannot wonder that the average rider lets his new machine “all out” on the first possible opportunity after he has taken possession, so that he may tell his friends that “she will do fifty, and climbs stiff hills on top.” He would be more wise, however, to remember that his new machine may be well worth over a hundred pounds’ worth of somewhat complicated mechanism, and that on the way in which it is treated during the early days of its life will depend the service and satisfaction to be obtained from it later on. So temptation should be resisted, and for the first 500 miles, at any rate, the throttle should never be opened more than half way. This will give the piston and cylinder and all the other bearing parts an opportunity to bed down properly and develop really smooth surfaces before they are called upon to carry heavy loads. The maker of the machine takes great care to grind the surface of the cylinder and piston to as smooth a finish as possible, but it is impossible by any form of machinery, however accurate, to produce the beautifully polished surfaces which result from the two parts rubbing' l over one another under light loads. The same thing applies to the buyer of a new car, except in this case there is more money at stake. The manner in which a new car is handled for the first 1000 miles is a big factor in its future service. CYLINDER HEAD JOINTS One often hears it suggested that if a cylinder head gasket be given a coat” of shellac or varnish on both sides before it is used or refitted, the likelihood of a water or compression leak is reduced. That is so, but—and the qualification 's important and the probability is that the gasket will be worthless when next the cylinder head is removed; a new gasket will be needed, whereas if the shellac had not been applied to the old one it might have served again and again. What happens is that the shellac adheres not only to the gasket but also to the cylinder block below, and to the cylinder head above, and forms a hard film between the units as it dries; when the cylinder head is next removed and the gasket lifted off, some of the shellac is left on one unit and some on the others, resulting in very uneven surfaces to be brought together again subsequently. It is almost impossible to clean off all the film from the four surfaces, and rarely does a fresh coating enable a good joint to be remade with the same gasket. There is really no need for shellac to be used to make a good joint, providing the surfaces to come into contact are scrupulously clean and the gasket is in good condition; if a gasket is defective it will require something far more effective than shellac to make it worth reinstating. TWELVE SAFETY RULES. Slow down and proceed cautiously in passing intersecting streets, blind crossings, schools and bridges. Make a full stop before railway lines. Never drive past a tram car which is unloading passengers. Eqiup your tyres with non-skid devices and proceed with care when streets are wet or slippery. Keep brakes properly adjusted and equalised. When preparing to turn or stop, never stop suddenly, and always give a signal. Ix)ok behind before backing car. In passing a vehicle going the same direction turn out at least 75 feet in back of it. so that there may be a clear view of the right side. Do not try to pass if another vehicle is coming from the opposite direction. Do not try to pass another motor car going in the same direction while turning a crossing. Never drive fast with a worn or soft tyre. Be careful with lights, not blinding drivers of on-coming vehicles, and never failing to keep the tail light exposed as a warning to other drivers. Always drive slow enough in passing children, vehicles and horses, so that a stop can be quickly made if necessary. JOTTINGS. An ounce of instruction may save a pound p f repair. An oiling a dav keeps the repair man

Motor trucks are being increasingly used in the rural sections of U.S.A. The survey of the United States, just completed by the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the local county agents, has brought out the facte that there are 138,308 motor trucks on farms in the 1,218 counties which they surveyed. If the 40 per cent, of the total counties which responded are typical the total number of motor trucks on farms for the entire country is 348,000. Missouri reported 13,803 motor trucks, - Pennsylvania, 3’ ••• 7, qi B. Evidence that the American tyre busint... »a enjoying a large part of the prosperity due to the increased automobile activity is seen from the fact that on April 13 the Goodyear factory at Akron made 48,592 tyres, exceeding the former daily record of 35,780 on April 14, 1920. On April 13 the Los Angeles Goodyear plant made 8,837 tyres and the Toronto factory 6,584, a total of 64,013, which is said to be the largest number of tyres turned out in twenty-four hours by any tyre company in the world. At the recent directors’ meeting in U.S.A, of the Nash Motors Company the regular quarterly dividend of If per cent. (1.75 dollars per share) was declared upon the preferred “A” stock. It was reported that the factories are running at capacity and are unable to fill orders by a wide margin. Statistics showing that 14,000 deaths were caused by automobile accidents in 1922, an increase of 1,600 over 1921, recently compiled by the United States Bureau of Casualty and Surety Underwriters. During the first three months of this year there have been shipped from the Buick plants at Flint, Mich., and Detroit more than a hundred trainloads of Buick cars. It is likely that the victorious riders in this year’s British T.T. Races will compete in the Grand Prix of the Nations on the Monza track, near Milan, Italy, on September 9. The organisers of the Italian event, the Societa Increment© Automobilismo e Sports have shown their appreciation of the classic British

tvent by making an offer of 4500 lire towards the expenses of the winners of the three solo T.T. races for competing in the Italian Grand Prix.

A novel sidecar has made its appearance ©n the Aucklnd streets. Used in connection with a dying and clothes cleaning business the vehicle is capable of carrying 50 suits suspended from the roof besides a number of parcels on the floor. The body has been so designed that at any time it may be used as an ambulance or •ven as a taxi.

In the rare cases where the carburetter Batches fire owing to back-firing, the conflagration may be extinguished by turning off the petrol and then racing the engine. In this way the engine sucks the flaming liquid out of the carburetter and so the fire dies out of itself.

Annoyance is often caused by brakes squeaking when they are applied, but this trouble is quite easily remedied by applying graphite to the working surfaces. Powdered graphite can be used, mixed with thin oil, petrol, or paraffin. Graphite grease is also useful if it is handled •paringly.

Whenever the car has suffered a bump ©f any kind, a crash against the crab, or anything of that sort, the wheels should immediately be tested for as a bang of this kind is quite enough to force ♦hem out of correct alignment, which will lead to excessive trye wear. One of the most common complaints among car owners is the improper action of the clutch. The clutch throw-out collar needs constant lubrication, and in many cases failure to give this unit attention even for a single day may mean trouble.

When adjusting rear wheel brakes both back wheels should be jacked up and the brakes set so that their action is as nearly uniform as possible. If the brake is found to bind at a particular point, the trouble is nearly always due to the break drum being dented and this should always be remedied, as it is a fruitful cause of skidding and leads to rapid tyre wear.

Among the hardest working units in the mechanism of the modern motor-car is the rear axle. The function of this part is not only to help carry the weight of the car, but also to transmit the power. Whenever the car is in motion the rear axle is the scene of intense mechanical activity. It is obvious that this part of the mechanism should have the most scrupulous care. When checking the clearances of the exhaust valve tappet, there is an important point to observe; it is to make sure that the lifter control is not holding the tappet in any way. If there is any possibility of this, it is not a bad plan to disconnect the control altogether when adjusting the tappet, as it is possible for the setting of the lifter to make the tappet clearance appear correct when in reality it is considerably out of adjustment. It is always a good tip to carry a few spare nuts and bolts of assorted sizes in one of the toolbags. One can hardly help accumulating such things in the garage—but try to obtain a suitable nut on the road! At the majority of wayside garages such things are usually as scarce as golden sovereigns, for nearly every manufacturer has his own pet sizes, which are all put impossible to match. The origin of many of the automobile terms we use is most interesting. As it was in France that the industry was cradled, naturally most of our terms come from that language. The term “Limcusine” was first applied to a French army waggon which had a hooded covering. The women folk of Limoges, the old capital of Limousine, wore a hood with cape attached; this head-dress was called a limousine. and from this covering the army waggon took its name. The “Sedan” was so called from the fact that when people traveled in chairs, before the era of carriages came, the finsst and most comfortable were manufactured at Sedan, a village in north east France; and as these models were copied by every manufacturer the name “Sedan Chair” came into universal use, and now the term is used for one of the most popular types of closed-in motor car bodies.

Not so very long ago it was generally thought that the thicker the oil, as it appeared to the eye, the better it was for lubricating purposes. Laboratory tests have proved that actually the opposite is the case, and that a thin cil really lubricates better than one that is thick. The reason is not far to seek. Most thick oils nowadays lose a great deal of their viscosity when they become hot, whereas the latest brands of lubricant are thin, whether they are cold or warm. In other words, their viscosity does not vary with their temperature and the scientific achievement, will, in all probability, do away with one of the greatest bugbears of winter motoring—that of engines which gum up so that they are too stiff to turn over with the starter-motor if they have been standing during the whole of a winter’s night. HINTS AND TIPS. Don t let the weight of the car rest on deflated tyres even over-night. In priming an engine, remember that the priming caps usually furnished on top of the engine hold just the right amount of priming fluid to do the work. If you pour more in you will make starting more difficult instead of easy. To save tyres—Do not accelerate or brake suddenly; drive on the throttle, not on the brake; tpke corners slowly and oecvlutch when running over loose stones or metal. When changing gear endeavour to get a smooth change free from jerks; high speed causes excessive wear. When a cover is removed from the rim it is as well to examine the inside to see if there are any objects projecting through which might puncture the air tube and cause it to leak. Also look for any small cuts that may have penetrated to the inside of the cover and repair these. Before replacing the tyre, all rust should be removed from the inside of the rim. When a motor-cycle has been left standing in the rain, it sometimes refuses to fire with the usual ease. On such occasions care should be taken to wipe the porcelain or mica insulation of the plug. One drop of the rain on this portion of the plug is sufficient to short-circuit the current between the high tension terminal and the plug body.