MOTORING NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 78, 1 April 1931, Page 13

MOTORING NOTES

'J ■ - ; - BY

MAGNETO.

Use the Parking: Lights. “ When the c-ar is halted by the wayside, no matter for how long:, always switch oft' the headlights and leave the narking lights on, or dim the headlights,” says the Canterbury Automobile Association. “ Through thoughtlessness, hundreds of motorists neglect to show a simple courtesy to other road users, and much heartburning is caused. The question of headlights is one of the most vital problems in motoring to-day, and few problems have given greater concern to motorists and motoring organisations. There is nothing more stupid from a driver’s point of view than the action of a man who pulls up and sits in his car, or leaves it, with the headlights full on, to annoy all who approach. Some motorists have been known to pull up on the wrong side of the road and leave their lights glaring into the eyes of approaching drivers. Another feature of the fault under notice is this:— If a driver pulls up close to a corner and leaves his lights full on, the shaft of light falls across the intersection and misleads drivers approaching from right angles. No doubt in the near future an amendment will bn sought to the lights on vehicles regulations, making it compulsory to dim headlights or rely on parking lights only, when a car is halted. These restrictions would be a protection against the thoughtless motorists.” Replacing Piston Pins. While it is possible to replace piston pins in some engines without actually removing the pistons from the crankcase, the most satisfactory work is accomplished only through complete removal and the servicing of these parts at an ideal temperature. Motordom is just learning the importance of temperature in its relation to repair work. For instance, a piston should be given a minute's immersion in boiling water before its pin is removed or installed. This expands the bosses of the piston enough to make it easy to push the pin in or out. This automatically avoids any possibility of damaging the piston. 16 Cylinders, 400 Horse-power. R. Loynes, of Long Beacfi, California, has supplied the Atlantic Union Oil Co. with some interesting details of his latest brain child—the speedboat, Californian, which in time trials exceeded the specification that called for a sustained speed of 60 miles per hour for 00 miles. The sixteen-cylinder V-type motor has sixteen intakes and sixteen carburetters, and develops 400 li6rse-power at racing speed-v-4300 revolutions. Piston displacement is 625 cubic inches. The 26ft hull is steel ribbed; ash was used in the keel and frames, and cedar for planking. Loynes has to his credit some sixty odd trophies as well as six world records in the 151 class for distances from one to twenty miles. « *: Mews and Views. Contrary to popular opinion, it is the vapour above the gasoline and not the gasoline itself that burns. That is why petrol must be converted into vapour before it can be exploded in an internal combustion engine. That is also the reason why so much attention is paid by car manufacturers to perfect carburettion, which is nothing else than 100 per cent vaporisation. Naturally, the gas must be mixed with air before it can be burned, but that is another function of the carburetter, perfect mixing of the two elements. The beach races on Saturday for the light cars proved beyond doubt what these “ babies ” can do in the way of fast racing. The sport so far as light cars are concerned promises well for next season, when all types of racing will toe provided. E g @gj I*3 S BE! IS @@E3ISEE®® SB HI SB ®

C. Hayward had an off day. This driver, of whom so much was expected, has not produced anything like his true form this season. At the practices he has given superlative performances, but in actual races something has always gone wrong. The Singer proved itself with a vengeance on Saturday. In the afternoon it won the first beac-h light-car handicap, and-in the evening it beat the other competitors at Monica Park with the greatest of ease. J. Tench shows considerable ability as a racing car driver and will, I am certain, be well in the limelight next year. More particularly at the broadsiding he showed what he could do. It was no mean feat to corner at the speed at which he was going. E>. C. Crozier was set too hard a task to catch the front markers in the first beach race. The high averages which were being maintained by the other competitors did not give him a chance. An automobile engine that is allowed to operate at too low a temperature is the one that suffers greatest in cold weather. The way to prevent it is a cover for the radiator, whether it be a metai shutter automatically or handoperated, or a felt-lined hood of some kind. Even an ungyacefult bit of cardboard or newspaper is better than ing to prevent icy blasts passing through the radiator. 33 Many drivers do not realise what the expert has found out, namely, that there is a lot of I'ubber dust on pavement surfaces where large numbers of cars are accustomed to stopping, as, say, at a traffic lighted intersection. The rubber dust conies from tyres. It represents the effect of too vigorous use of brakes, and its final effect is the destruction of tyre treads. More careful stopping reduces the amount of rubber dust. Rust on the rims is hard on the bead of the tyres. It is most common at this season. Cleaning the rims and painting rust spots with an aluminium paint will prove worth while. When water condenses in the crankcase of the cooling engine it mixes with any deposit of sulphur from the oil or gasoline, forming sulphuric acid. This acid etches or eats the metals with which it comes in contact. !*♦ The motorist should not attempt adjustment of the carburettor unless he is certain of his ability. Many times the carburettor is adjusted when something else is at fault. In these days of 15,000 to 25,000-mile brake lining performance the treachery of slippery streets may not send so many motorists to the service station for brake attention. Just the same, no car owner should overlook the need for absolutely equalised brakes at this season. Inequalities that may nev£r even be suspected on dry. smooth pavements will show up quickly in the form of skidding during the next few months. Although they stick sometimes, the battery vent caps never should be moved with any metal tool. They are fragile* composition parts and break very easily. If the motorist will just get a firm grip on the cap he usually will find it can toe moved toy hand. Car owners are accused of using the terms “ squeak ” and “ rattle "as if they were interchangeable. A squeak usually is the product of rubbing between two surfaces that need oil; a rattle by looseness In a part that is free to strike another jnetul surface.