MOTOKS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2931, 17 November 1916, Page 9

MOTOKS & MOTORING

. $ IBy Clutch.]

A Choked Petrol Filter. When an ongino which lias been running perfectly for some time suddenly commences to misfire, it may generally bo taken for granted that tor sonic reason it is not getting sufficient petrol. It may be tnat the fuel lias run out, and, if so, the remedy obviously lies in requisitioning tho spare tin which should bo carried. It may be found, however, on removing the filler cap that plenty of petrol is in the tank, in which caso the trouble must bo looked for elsewhere. Possibly the air vent in the filler cap has become stopped up by dirt, thus 'preventing the air from entering and consequently the petrol from flowing. Should this, however, not be the source of the trouble, it may lie in the pipe line or carburetter itself, and this can Hie determined by flooding tho carburetter. If it floods easily, then the pipe lino is clear, and the trouble lies in the carburetter, which - must be taken down and cleaned, but if it happens that t*ho latter refuses to flood, then it is the pipe line that must be inspected, and if a filter is fitted, this should bo examined first, as it is the most likely place to locate the trouble, for tho gauze often becomes choked. It is a great surprise to many, whan .they take down the filter, to find that so much dirt has ' accumulated there from the petrol tank or fuel on its ivay to the engineWashing a Car. Tho appearance of many a new cat is spoilt by careless washing. The purchaser of a car sometimes falls into one of two mistakes. Either he uses it all day on'tho road's, returning homo .too late to wash it, or ho keeps it clean by the process of frequently removing the dust, by. wiping it with a dry cloth. In the first caso the damage is done by the mere fact of allowing tho mud to dry apart from the greater difficulty- of, and harm done by,, removing it in a solid instead of a more or less-liquid form, Varnish often turns a sort of milky colour, due to damp, but it will, go away of' itself in a few hours after the damp is removed. In -well-painted and varnished machines this defect does not.usuallj occur, but it should be guarded against by drying the body as soon as possible Tho great point in washing is to ust plenty of water and allow tho mud t< become thoroughly saturated befon touching it with either brush or sponge A hose is the best meaiis, but musi be used with discretion. ■' Only a feebh stream of water should 1 be used foi the panels. If a strong jet is used u has' tho effect of forcing the grit aye: the delicate surface and acts ]ust lik< sand-paper. The underside of the wing: and tho ■umlershield will he none w worse for a powerful stream. Thi ■ softened mud can bo easily remove< by a sponge, the hose being held so a to play on the panel just above tlisponge. Finally the moisture can b< dried off with a soft chamois leatho frequently wrung out in water, and i polish with a Solvyt trill bring th varnish to its pristine glossiness. On word of caution may bo necessary Never add paraffin or petrol to th water used for panels. Useful Tests. The selection of the proper lubri cant for a motor vehicle is one that i left far too much to chance or conven. en'ce. The majority of owners take th brand of oil recommended by the gai age where they do business, and if i produces a surplus of carbon or an ei gine that overheats, they are apt t lay their troubles to other than ngb causes, and continue using the saw oil as before. There is as much diffei euce between actual oil values for ii dividual cars as there is difference i the cars themselves, and some lubr cants will give absolute satisfaction ui der certain conditions that will wor very badlv under others, so select' vol oils' to meet your own individual need; and not because some other fellow ha used it and likes it. You may to.' your oil for viscosity or lubricatin power by rubbing a small quantity i the palm of the hand. If it leaves grease spot in your hands after bein rubbed for some time yon may concluci . that it has the proper greasing qua itics, and again, if it fades away yo may conclude that it it would not fu: ' nisii the best of results. in an engir i or gears. .You may test it for fins or disappearance under extreme hca such as the cylinder furnishes when fi, ing, by dropping a trifle on a hot stovi If it disappears at once don't buy th; grado of oil; if it bubbles- and remaii in sight for a few seconds you ma reckon it as satisfactory in that r< spect. Your test for carbon is to tat a small quantity from your crank-casi i put it in a glass tube,, and let it se tie, then note the amount of carbc deposited. Try this with several brant of oil, and use the one that leaves tl least sediment. As a rule, the older : car becomes tho heavier tho oil shoul be, inasmuch as ydur pistons becoii smaller by. use, and the heavier c ■ makes for better compression and ' cooler running car. In tho use of grea; s for cups, differential, etc., the grac ■ and quality diould be used that wi ; give the maximum of efficiency for tl work done. Some people like a «r; phite grease of heavy body for cm where heat is a factor. It does in ■ melt so readily as the ordinary sor ; and this question should always bo co: sidercd in using greases, as some sor t will run out the moment the meohai • ism-'warms up. The grease for diffe ' ential should be of heavy enough hoc to hold its sticky consistency win • heated and if you find it running (low • your axles and into your brakes, it \ well to examine your differential cai when warm and sec if your grease " not too thin. 3 Here and There. It is of en said that retreading is u: satisfactory, as the process stretch ' the cover and Weakens the fabric, bi " if this happens it. means that the r [ treading process lias not been undc taken in time. Retreading should I done as soon as the tread of the tii is worn away and before the actu foundation has started to wear at a . and if this is done no trouble will I . experienced due to the cover strotc ' ing. If it is not left till too late tl . tire will probably stand retreadii twice, and the economy' thus efi'ccti will be considerable. It will often I found advantageous to run a retread* tire on the front wheels, as it is tho: of course, subjected to less hard visa! and will last longer. Should the cov> stretch, security, bolts should bo nsc< and a bolt valve and two security bol should be sufficient to keen a very cai fitting cover on without difficulty. Verv few motorists, ooinnarative speaking, take the trouble always have a certain amount of French cha inside their tires, .is they are unawa that'it acts as a lubricant and nrcven tho lube from chafing against the 1101 too smooth canvas walls' of tho cove Only a small amount of chalk is r quired—too much will cause a lunii) be formed inside the tire—and it advisable, whenever the tiro is remo cd, to add a certain amount of cha! to make up the quantity that has grp< ualy worked its wav out of thc-tii ■ between the bead and the clinch of tl 1 rim- ; To remove tar from body-work, sn butter ii tho best, but unless applii | before the tar has time to dry nui . hard, even that is- not much use. Par; ' ffin or netrol should not be used as the are liable to inline the varnish. Lighthi'Mip time:—To-day, 7.3 p.n Next Friday, 7.12 p.m.