MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 222, 7 June 1918, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")

The Mother of Invention. Tho draslio curtailment of Ilioic noriniil activities lias oiilyscrvnj lo whet the uppotite of the nioim-iug i'rnloriiity in Knglu-nd, says the "Jfotor News." Tliu li'ast three years, during which moloriu;,' ;ih a pastime has ifriiduiilly diminished to vanishing point, have 'undoubtedly iniiilo for progress in tho lechniual sidi , . of tho motorcar. Necessities of war Imvo stimulated tho Jwains of inventive genius. Private motorists hear whispers of wonderful developments, of super-effi-cient engines, of improvements in tho direction of lightness, strength, simplicity, and meohanicnl .efficiency. Motoring journals aro full of 'prophetic articles forecasting new enterprises, both general and particular. Manufacturers, in tho intervals of producing munitions of w>r, aro steadily perfecting their post-war programmes. Economists aro clamouring tor standard cars which aro to solvo tho question of price, and thereby strengthen our hands against the menace of foreign competition , . Individual owners, too, aro thinking out their peace-time plans. The four-seated, 15-h.p. touring car, now standing cold and inert in the garage, will, when peace conies, Ik , , replaced by a nico little two-seater, light ou tyres and petrol, comprising all the latest improvements at a moderate price. It is a healthy sign. There is little pessimism in a community so active in .their preparations for tho day when peaco comes. Alternative Fuels. In Great Britain, says an exchange, renewed interest is being manifested in the alcohol motor. The old idea, so well fostered,'that alcohol was unsuitable for internal-combustion engines, is being dissipated, and many interesting developments may be expected. AVe cannot have too many varieties of fuel, and as alcohol can l>:> freely produced within the Empire, it has special claims on our attention. Tt is highly.probable that the , now movement towaids alternative fuels will encourajo new designs m engines, The present-day power unit has been specially (lesi/picd for use with petrol, aild more than once it has been pointed out that a "number of modifications are desirable in it when alcohol or other fuels are to be employed to the best advantage. Perhaps we eventually may arrive at a composite type of engine •which will give Rood allfound results with a, variety of fuels, mi,nor.adjustments only- being -necessary to the carburettor in the way of either altering the jet or the air supply, or both. ■ •

Testing Oil. So much depends on tho quality of the lubricating oil ono uses that the followin" easily-made test, besides providing an interesting winter evening occupation, will prove instructive. True, it is of a. somewhat rough-and-ready nature, and the results' obtained can only be comparative, but it is a. fairly true guide for viscosity; An. ordinary test-tube, a thermometer, and a -watch are all the '. apparatus required The tiibe, should Oβ i easily obtainable from the local chemist.

j It is necessary to have a small hole drillied at the closed end of it, and'two marks I about 2m. apart scratched on fho side, \ the (op ono being about three-parts away up the tube. To carry out the test tlia tube should be filled with your favourite brand of oil to the level of the top mark, the hole at the bottom being temporarily plugged.' All that is necessary now is to plunge the -whole into hot water, the temperature of which should be taken by thermometer, and kept at 200 degrees Fahr. This is approximately the heat under which, tho lubricant has to servo in your engine. After the tube has remained long enough in the water to ensure the oil reaching the same .temperature, it should bo removed, and the plu" withdrawn. Now, with a watch in front of you, time how long it takes for tflie oil to drip so that the level falls from the upper to the lower of the two marks cut on tho tube sicK If it is anything over twenty-two seconds there is nothing much the matter with tho grade of oil you are using. Comparative tests will show that castor oil will givo tho best results, taking approximately twenty-ei'-'ht .seconds, but, of course, its price makes it'prohibitive for ordinary use: Naturally, the size of the drilled hole regulates the Titte of ilow, and since no definite ruling can be given it would be well to try the castor oil test first, and other results in proportion. Colonial Motor Company. It will be learned with interest, in New Zealand motor circles that Mr. Hope Gibbons and eomo of the members of his family have secured a controllms interest in the Colonial Motor Company, Ltd., of Wellington, which carries with it the New Zealand agency for I'ord cars and trucks, it should be clearly understood that the operation Qins no connection whatever with tho motor firm of Hope Gibbons, Sons, and J. B. Clarkson. Ltd. ' , ' • ■ . . Here and There. Correspondents to both Britisli and American motor journals have drawn attention to the fact that in,models of racing cars it is the rear portion of body which is finely tapered, while the bonnet differs little from the ordinary design; but it is a peculiar fact that there is less air resistance if the rear of the ear is tapered away than if.flie radiator were tapered and the rear buttressed. Experiments have proved that a chiselpointed radiator, body with a butt rear, fitted to (too some chassis, has less speed than if the' radiator were blunt-edged and the rear of the car tape Ted in the same manner as a torpedo. Atmospheric suction on a passing object is a greater factor in resistance than the mere separation of the atmosphere by an object, passing, through the air.; Suction tends to restrain the object and greatly retards its velocity. A »imple and effective style of Koodfor a light car has been noted in use. It is on the principle of the roller blind, and its outstanding feature is its extreme neatness and simplicity. There is a rounded depression just behind the seat of the two-seater car, in which the cylinder containing {lie hood rests. The erection is very simple. , There are two Y-shaped side supports held by strong catches. • The canvas covering is then pulled out of its casing and fastened over studs at the end of tho stays, the front of the hood being secured in position by two straps. Tho canvas is held absolutely taut and side-curtains can be fitted if required. According to Hie motoring writer who describes it, this type of hood has a better appearance than Iliose in ordinary use, and since it is rolled instead of being folded, it is less subject to wear.

Many motorists, and especially those who have- to leave I heir ca!? for long periods in thu streets, have wished for some means of putting I'hc-horn out of action in order to frustrate the olforfs of the niisdiievous small boy. With a mechanical Tiorn it. is not difficult lo drill a, small hole 'through thu plungeijust above the body of tho born. A wire nail can then be inserted when required to prevent tho plunger beiug depressed.

It is estimated by competent authorities that the majority of automobile accidents .ire the result of sidn slips due to defective braking, it must, not be inferred, however, that tho brakes themselves aro in nil cases defective, but rather that their proper adjustment has not been maintained, and that they were not used with judgment. The operation of a brake necessarily involves wear, so this cannot be charged an a defect ncainst the mannfiiclurerj-nni? it follows that systematic and periodical nttontion should be given to th<! brakes to keep them adiusted, so that they will operuio effectively. Lighling-up time:—To-day, 4.20 p.m. Next Friday, '1.28 p.m.