High Road and By-Road

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18809, 3 December 1932, Page 24 (Supplement)

High Road and By-Road

WARNING TO IVJOTORISTB. PETROLS MISREPRESENTED. Long established standard secondgrade petrols are flattered by comparison with so-called “cheap” firstgrade petrols. Laboratory tests reveal that certain “cheap” petrols, represented as first-grade, contain from 47 per cent, to 50 per cent, more sulphur than an average established second-grade spirit. Sulphur combines chemically with moisture, in the crankcase to form sulphuric acid, and Immediately commences to corrode all metal with which it comes in contact. The gum content of these alleged “first-grades” is 143 per cent, to 166 per cent, greater than that of a standard second-grade, and motorists who are experiencing sticky valves, sludging or gummed oil channels, will now know where to place the blame. Whilst the colour and odour of these misrepresented fuels present no distinguishing characteristic, the average motorist can easily recognise their inferiority by a “knock” when the spark is at the normal setting for running on a standard second-grade fuel. Just how good a genuine first-grade fuel really is, will now be appreciated by all motorists who are determined to protect their investment in personal transportation. DRIVING TESTS IN ENGLAND. Almost as regularly as the seasons come round the proposal that motor drivers should be tested is revived and discussed, says an editorial in the Motor. The latest controversy on this ever-recurring subject has revealed nothing that will have convinced anybody that it is a practicable proposition and much that definitely indicates that it is wholly impracticable. The main contention inspiring the revived suggestion is that it would help In the prevention of accidents. On this point a gentleman well known in the insurance world has expressed the opinion that the view that the dangers to life and limb on the roads are due to a serious extent to the ease, with which driving licenses can be obtained is really a misapprehension. Ilis experience leads him to believe that the Importance which is being attached to this aspect of the question is overdone. No extension of the law with the object of imposing driving tests should be .encouraged until there is more evidence than there is at present that it will have the desired effect. The fact, is, of course, that it is practically impossible to devise any test , which will thoroughly reveal the driving capacity of a motorist. The man who is habitually reckless would be on his best behaviour, keeping his failings well under control during such

A COLUMN FOR MOTORISTS.

RELEASING SLUGGISH CLUTCHES While the most frequent fault encountered In I tie clutch mechanism of a car Is Ihe tendency for tiie clutch. In slip, Ihe reverse condition ocensslnually occurs, espeelally in ears lllled wllh curls type, dutches running in oil. The rliilrh plains do not separale when Ihe rlulrli pedal is depressed, and In conseiiuenci', diltlcully is experienced in engaging Ills* Ill's!, gear lo slaid Ihe ear from rest. M'lie defer!, of course, is one which should receive skilled allenlion without delay, lull pending adiuslnit'iil Ihe owner ol Ihe car should nol aflempl to engage the spinning gears hy the application of hnilc force lo Ihe gear lever. A slicking rlulrli can generally he released hy flrsl adjusting the engine In Ihe slowest possible Idling speed, and then hy suddenly opening III" Tirollle so Ihal Hie engine is rapidly accelerated. This hurst of speed on

an ordeal, whereas a sensitive person who is cautious by instinct in ordinary circumstances might possibly go all to pieces under examination. In this way it is easy to be seen that a safe driver might be eliminated most unjustly, and a selfish, thoughtless, and inattentive driver must get through. Thus the object of the tests vyould he defeated.

TREATING SALOON ROOFS. The roof of a saloon car is usually covered with a fabric material (rubber or cellulose treated), sometimes leather, and when the car is in daily use iiA Ull weathers this roof covering naturally deteriorates after a time. It beoomes porous, and may start to leak. The first sign is when the interior lining becomes damp. This Is the time to take steps to stop any further trouble, although it has been found that even when a saloon fabric roof leaks badly It can be stopped positively. The job does not take long, and all that is needed is a supply of petrol or turpentine, a rag, a supply of cellulose paint or special fabric cellulose, and a good brush. After the fabric Is thoroughly dry (it is useless to attempt any renovation when there is the slightest dampness) brush off any dust accumulation and wash over the fabric with petrol or turpentine applied on a cloth. It is advisable to allow two or Three hours for this to dry out, and then the cellulose preparation may be applied. Cellulose will fill up the pores of the material and give it a smooth surface; if the fabric is treated in its early leaky stages one coat may be sufficient, but it is advisable generally to give two or three, allowing at least 24 hours between each coat for the other to dry. SPIRIT FROM COAL. The possibilities of the recovery of motor spirit by gas companies from coal used in the production of gas are being investigated in Australia. The biggest gas company in London has erected a plant for the recovery of motor spirit, and obtains something like two gallons and a-half to three gallons per ton of coal treated. From rough calculations which had been made ft was estimated that about TOGO,OOO gallons of motor spirit could be recovered In Australia in this wav.

t I'lie Clovernmenl lias asked Die principal pas companies in each Stale whether they would he prepared to undertake the production of motor spirit on similar lines to those adopted by the pas company in London. The motor spirit obtained in London is stated to be of the highest posible grade. SUGGESTIONS FROIVJ WELLINGTON The following are some of the suggestions made by motorists at the recent annual meeting of' the Wellington Automobile' Club (says the Dominion) : A by-law should be introduced insisting on rear mudguards of bicycles being painted white. Parliament should compensate all people Injured by hit-and-run drivers. Mileages from town to town should be painted on signposts. Motorists .should have a good knowledge of first aid.

Many' of the signs at lex'el crossings should be made more discernible, especially at night. Luminous signs, as used by cities and local bodies, might, be used by the Railways Department, as a method of warning at level crossings.

SELLING MOTOR CARS. PUBLICITY’S DRAWING POWERS. PespUc the badly depressed condition? of the motor trade In the United States, a leading- manufacturer ' reports good results from Increased spiling effort. In a statement in Editor and Publisher of July 9 last, the Auburn Automobile Company of Indiana testified to “the unlimited drawing power of a well-directed newspaper advertising campaign—even in the face of adverse economic conditions” In detailing the results of its merchandising programme, which was started early in June, based on a drastic reduction in prices of Auburn straight-eight and twelve-cylinder cars. To date approximately 150 newspapers in more than 70 cities have been used. The result? of the first advertise-

ment, which appeared In 50 newspapers, were immediate. Approximately 20,000 people visited Auburn showrooms throughout (lie country during the first 21 hours of the campaign. Retail sales tripled and quadrupled overnight and on June 15 the Auburn factory had more than 1700 unfilled orders. "Within ten days Auburn plants in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennslyvnnia were operating full-time schedules and more than 0000 men had gone back to their jobs. Hundreds of oilier men found employment with factories and mills which furnished Auburn with materials and parts. Auburn dealers everyhere hired ad- I dltlona! salesmen and pressed extra j demonstrators Into service to take I care of the crowds which thronged j their showrooms.

the crankshaft and driving plate will generally release It from the driven plate, and allow the gears to be engaged without clashing.

CARBON ACCUMULATION. 1 Any factor which impedes the free escape of burned gas from the cylinders of a motor engine when the exhause valves open is a prolific source of power loss, because, if portion of the burnt-out charge remains in the cylinder, obviously tiie quantity of new fuel which can he admitted for tiie next firing stroke is reduced, and the output of power from tiie engine suffers. So delicate is tiie response of an ! engine to these " back pressures ' i that even the employment of an or- J dinary silencer invariably causes i j small power losses. These, however, J I are olden considerably greater Ilian ; they should lie through neglect of the j

f silencer. i The muffler chamber is one of the 1 parts of a ear least accessible to the . 'Owner, and, for this reason, the sit - - enees often received no attention i through tiie life of ttie ear. Consistent j bad pulling, which is proved not to lie I caused by faulty carburetion, ignition, or leaky valves or pistons, can often be traced to the partial blocking of the escape passages fii the muffler by the accumulation of carbon. If excessive carbonisation In the silencer Is suspected, the car should he handed over to a mechanic to remove the deposits

Unusual Case.— Tim question who- j liier the Palmer,si on North Oily Conn- j eil has Urn power to prevent vehicles and horses from beiny; di'iven or ridilen over Ihe cullivaled crass plots in the streets of Ihe city is beinyr tesled in an I action which came before Mr ,1. D. i Slonl, S.M., in Ihe Palmerston North j ! Maiiislrale's Court, when Mrs Doris j Marlin was prosecuted for a breach of i the by-law. which was framed In pre- | vent such an offence. She was rep- i resented by Mr Helling. The case is ! without precedent in lli.il Ihe court 1 of New Zealand has never been asked In deride Ibis question before. Mr 11. Cooper, appearing for Ihe City ! Council, said lli.it defeudanl did n d [deny ridimr her horse on Ihe plots. : i The real question lo he decided was | i the validity of Ihe by- law. 1