MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 32, 1 November 1918, Page 9

I (By "Clutch.") Lubrication Hints. . Au Australian writer give 3 tho following advice nbout oil:—"Spend an extra shilling for the right kind of oil, and save possible ten in work and spare parts. Never was tho need for good oi mg more urgent. Change the engine oil often and be consistent about, changing, and don't throw the old oil away. Use it, after filtering, to oil parts to which you heretofore have never given a thought. • Oil the brake connections, the shackle bolts, the spring leaves, and other parts that wear or rust. How about the universale? Have you given them any attention in tho iast four., months? They probably need repacking with graphite or grease. If your car is fctted with grease cups, they' are there for a mii'Dose-kcen them filled and turn them down.' Otherwise they might just as well not bo installed in the first place. The transmission and rear axle of your car contain gears .needing constant and efficient oilings—not greasing. Be euro there are no leaks so tho gears never may run dry. They'll run better and much longer, and the bearing will not wear so much if you pay attention to lubrication. You will be more than repaid for your work if you.will only lubricate and lubricate well. Don't try to skimp on the oil, don't use too much-r follow instructions of the car maker, and, above.all; don't try to save money by buying cheap lubricants."

Alcohol as Motor Fuel. Results of experiments recently conducted in Western' Canada reveal, that from .i ton of dry. sawdust from 20 to 2,5 gallons of 95 per cent, of alcohol-ethyl, or grain alcohol (Dot wood alcohol),, can be obtained under proper treatment. Regarding wood alcohol, it may be said/an exchange observes, that this fuel is useless for fuel purposes, owing to,the formation of .products of combustion which would have a deleterious effect on' the cylinders. Wood alcohol, of course, is first produced; it is afterwards converted into grain alcohol. It should be mentioned that while) the calorific power valuo of alcohol is little more than one-' half that of petrol, the greater efficiency from alcohol in a suitably designed enigne more than compensates. Moreover, for the complete combustion of alcohol only-.a third of the usual volumo of air is required, and less energy is dissipated in the exhaust. Tho alcohol mixture can be subjected to a pressure of 2001b. to the squaro inch without spontaneous ignition (as against 801b. per square inch for petrol), and the combustion products are smokeless.and almost, odourless. One disadvantage with alcohol is that it docs not facilitate" the. starting-up of the engino, which probably would necessitate tho provision of a small petrol tank for priming purposes. ■ The cost of tho production is. phenomenally low, as tho spirit is obtained from wastage products, of which there is an illimitable supply.

Fixing Split Piris. Ono of the most troublesome of minor details is replacing, the split pin ,in a drilled nut and bolt. . The usual plmi when the position is such that the hole cannot'be seen is to feel with a pieco of wire and turn the nut until the holes come into- line. A simpler procedure, which is applicable to almost all cases is to mark tho nut and bolt before removal with'a Cut from a hackstiVor n touch of a file edge exactly in line with tho pin. When the nut and pin are being replaced it will then be easy to see when the holes are in lino and the split pin can be inserted'at; once. . ,• ' '

Here and There. In washing a car the usual advice is to keep the hose off the radiator. Som'o light, cars, however, have a habit, of flinging a certain amonnt of fine mud on to this part, end also inside the cooling fins. In this case the best plan is to open the bonnet and hold the hose against tho radiator, so that the water washes tho mud outwards. , Cast-iron rusts very easily, and the cylinders, manifold, etc., being of this material are very liable to be affected if any water reaches, theip in the general process of washing the car. . Facilities, it is stated, have been recently granted by the British Government to many leading English car manufacturers to enable them to proceed with the construction avid testing of experimental post-war cars, so that when peace comes, the English make'rs will be in a position to jump into the construction of their latest models without undue lo3s of time.

Motor-car stealing in the United States has developed to an appalling extent. Careful checking of figures from all parts of that' country shoiv that during a period of nine months 22,750 cars were stolen in fifty of the largest cities. Of these no trace has .been found of over 8000. When it is considered that 8000 cars represents I per cent, of the cars niado in America during 1917, it will be realised to what a serious extent car thieving has developed iii tho land of the Stars mid Stripes. Owing to recent developments in this direction, the insurance companies who insure against theft havo had to raise their rates considerably. One Afnerican Judge has threatened that any future car thieves brought before him will receive not less than ten years' imprisonment. Even police cars havo been "lifted" in some cities.

Eightihg-up time:—To-day, C.31 p.m. Next Friday, GiO pm.