MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2330, 11 December 1914, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

[Br. Gmioe.} Undor-Inllatlon of Tires. Aocordiug to, the Dunlop Rubber. I Company many thousands of pounds are wasted annually by motorists in this oountry through insufficient inflation of tires. The results and losses from such neglect were bad enough when only the standard-sized covers were marketed, but the trouble has been intensified siuco the introduction of what are known as "oversize" tires, i.e., covers built to standard size bead lines, but of larger diameter and more ait- epace, with a 'view to elminiating vibration to the benefit of man and motor. The "oversize" tire has proved very successful; in the hands of careful motorists, who always sea that their tires are kept inflated to the proper degree'of hardness, but unfortunately there are thousands of motorists who, as long as.their tires do not 'flatten out, or , roll too much; are satisfied to leave matters slide—especially if there is a bit of hard work, such as pumping, to be done. The effect of "not enough air" on the standard-sized cover is bad enough, but on. uhe "oversize" type it is considerably intensified, inasmuch as there is more roll and flexing of the cover, the result being that owing to the extra friction set up, the canvas casing is put under an undue Btrain, and casing trouble is brought about. One of the chief troubles that ensues is that the plies of canvas become looß'ened, greatly weakening the oasing, and another is that the tendency for the wearing tread to work apart from the canvas. Keeping ihe tires hard will prevent this, becajso all covers are constructed to carry certain weights under specified inflation. Reduce the air pressure, and' tho cover is overloaded and 'overworked. The average motorist thinks that because he is using a slightly larger diameter lire, he can use less air thah in his. <Id sized tires. No greater and expensive mistake can be made. Sufficient air is required to keep tho cover the,corrwt shape under loaa. [t is a peculiar thing that the cost of motoring can be reduced'to a very considerable extent by the use of plenty of air—which costs nothing—yet motorists are loth to use it, even when their own pockets are aJfected. The proper thing to do is to be guided by the air pressure tables, issued by tire makers, and to frequently use a pressure gauge; for guessing pressure is unsatisfactory, and is only' likely to load to trouble. Motor Spirit Supplies,

The supplies of motor spirit in tho storages in Great Britain are stated by the "Autocar" to bo greater than ever before, and during the present year Ibey have increased to a far greater ratio , than the consumption. Ever since tho European war broke out motor spirit imports have been upon an unpreoedently large scale, tootn the Anglo-American Oil Co. arid tho Asiatio Petroleum Co. having brought numerous bulk cargoes to London and other ports in the United Kingdom. •. The situation is rendered all tho wore favourable by reason of tho closing of _ the German markets, for. in normal times these, too, draw from the same sources of supply. "Motorists, then," adds our content-' porary, "may rost assured of not only being able to draw upon ample supplies of spirit during this period of war, but, what is more, it is quite probable that a decrease of one penny per gallon upon both the light and heavy grades will be made iu tho near future.fno reasons which may brinK 'this about are not far "to seek. Markets have to be .found for motor spirit and other refined produots of petroleum, otherwise stocks will greatly accumulate in the producing centros, and, as a consequen'ce, production be curtailed. Already the oil producers, throughout the United Staites are keeping the,crude oil output down to the lowest possible point, for the largo refining interests— notably those of the Standard Oil Co.—have issued orders that until additional markets can be found for the refined products, they will not be in a position to purchase their' ordinary quantities of the crude oil. It is reasonable, however, to assume that the gigantic ocean transporting companies and the several importing interests are straining every nerve to market as quantities' as possiblo in order to maintain normal conditions in the oil-producing coun-; tries', and this being so, the_ United Kingdom, so long as she retains command of the seas, is tho particularly fayoured market." Ths Light Car.

There is abundant evidence that many American engineers are now keenly interested in the light-oar problem, and from various designs which we have examined evidence is afforded that a powerful attack may be made soon on the British market. _ . . Some misgiving exists about the effective life of a light car. According to an English motoring journal, a wellmade vehicle should bo,as durablo as the prototypes of this form of motoring. To take but two examples: old De Dion and Rover cars seem to P9>-, sess unlimited vitality. There is no reason why a high-grade British light car' should not have a useful life, of at least ten years, arid for the first nye the expenditure for renewals should be small. Almost overy mail brings news of new light four-seaters which are on tho stocks in England for next season. . When taking over a new car, ascertain the engine speed at which it is supposed to work best and time jenr gear-changing accordingly. .Most lightcar engines are of the high-speed type, and a change down from top to second on a long hill is best performed at from 20 to 25 m.p.h., and from second to first at fram 10 to 15 m.p.h. •In tho conscientious observance of this rule your engine and transmission will evince much satisfaction. Hints and Tips.

Tlje majority of drivers seem to consider that the steering gear of the car should lubricate itself. As an instance, an owner was told the other day (sayß. an English motoring journal) that another man had had a bad smash because tlie ball joint on his car's steering arm had never been lubricated and had worn down to half its original sizo. Straightway the recipiont of the story seemed to remember something, and was discovered in the garage half an hour later with his steering gear disconnected, ruefully, regarding an extremely worn ball joint and packing grease between'the steering roa cups. It is this neglect which occasionally is responsible for serious accidents. When driving in unknown country— and particularly at night—and you .find the road forking in front, do not iorgot that the main road is generally marked by telegraph poles. Few people realise how observation of this fact will save much timp in referring to maps. Lubrication involves not only tilling up the engine sump if it should need it; it- should include a turn of each greaser, and oil in the lubricators and on the brake connections. Washing may be left if work is heavy; lubrication and replenishment must tako precedenco of washing and polishing, for- "handsomo is as handsome does." On long runs tho greasers should be given half ri turn at every convenient stop. The experienced motorist always goes straight to his universal joints whon he hears a mysterious squeak proceeding from the subterranean mechanism; and he is generally right. Judging from the Puncn-liko accents one not infrequently hears from light cars on tho road, the light car novice fails to comprehend the absolute necessity..of oram-

mLng these joints, with lubricant at frequent intervals. Here and There. Legal lighting-up time for motor-cars and -motor-cycles: To-day, 7.31 p.m. ; next' Friday, 7.37 p.m. The motor-cars attached to the British Feild Hospital are doing excellent work in Belgium. There is an outcry in motoring circles in America' against the proposed new tax on two cents, a gallon on petrol. The sensational story about tne traitorous chauffeur, who was alleged to have endeavoured to drive the King of the Belgians into the German lines, and who was shot dead by the King while travelling at high speed, has never been confirmed. There certainly was a weak point about the story. When the driver of a motor-car is 6hot dead at the wheel something serious must happen to the car and its passengers. The story just stepped 6hort of the crucial point. A useful warning device has recently been adopted by the proprietor of a motor garage in Louisville, U.S.A., whose examplo might w'ell bo copied J in other places. Cars leading the garage i]f question are obliged to crosß the pavement of a busy street along which pedestrians are passing at. all hours of the day and night.' As a Earning, there has' been installed in front of the exit a lamp in a large globs, on cach side pf which the word '"Danger" is painted in large letters. The lamp is kept 1 alight from sunrise and in itself forms an effective cautionary signal. It is, -however, supplemented by a loud-ringing gong, which is automatically by a loud-ringing gong, which is : automatically operated whenever a car approaches the . exit door of the garage, a steel plate being so placed that it automatically closes a contact and rings the bell wnenever. the wheels of a car pass over it. .