MOTORS AND MOTORING.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 139, 7 March 1919, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING.

'Sj "Chitoh.") The Kerosene Problem, Everybody knows' Mint kerosene,is/a perfectly good fuel, but every automotive engineer knows that there are difficulties in the way oi his using it. If he could burn it in tho liquid form, as tho'housewife has been doing these many years, all his troubles would bo solved; but he cannot so burn it.- Ho must burn it much, more, rapidly than the housewife does, so that he will have not merely a flame, but' actually an explosion, and to effect tins ho must first vaporise it. Otherwise tho molecules are not far enough apart to get into tho instant and immediate relation with the oxygen that alono can cause explosion. This is the fundamental basis of the woes that beset the man who tries to find a, substitute for petrol.. If he is to vaporise his fuel before combustion ho must do so by addition .ot heat, because-' kerosene is not so volatile as petrol or benzin'o. Ho can supply this heat in several ways, but all of them cause complications. In general the problem is .that of controlling the heat evp-. plied to the fuel mixture in accordaneo with the instantaneous load on the engine. This problem, however, must he solved, for at low engine f.peeds and low, engine loads tho fuel is less, effectively 'ooimninuted. so that a higher oegree ot heat is roqnirpd for its yaponsnhon than would bo in the case with a full loud or ft speed, while the exhaust, which is ordinarily called upon to supply that heat,'is'"at a- much, lower temperature. The cleverest engineering motor exports the world over are endeavouring to devisea successful carburettor or atomiser, so that kerosene, can replace petrol, on nnj car, but it has not come to light yet. When it does, what .a rush there will be for the fitment! Tank Hints. Don't dip'inlo the petrol tank with a handful'of cotton waste when you havo something- to clean. Cotton waste can cause more trouble with the carburetion than any amount of dirt. Incidentally,, every precaution should be , taken to keep the petrol'tank clean. ; Always strairi the petrol through a chamois filter, and if vou use a measuring stick be.sure tttat it'is always cloan before it is inserted. See, - also, that the surface : around the tank is clean before, removing the filler cap. . Engine Prospects,! . .

Excellent as automobile engines now are, some engineers do not hesitate to eay that, they 'are far from as. efficient as they should be, aiid. might .be, m the Mβ of fuel.- If improvements can be effected in this direction they will w duly appreciated, but the question arises whetheAho porfected engine will require any more skill' to operate it than the present types. A.favourite statement ot manufacturers has lone been that their, designs are "fool-proof, and while this expression is not very complimentary to their customers it, in fact, covers a-c-m----sideraMo percentage'of the driving public; and the splendid record of the modern car ■bears, witness to the truth of the makera' 1 claims. There are undoubtedly many ■ engineers who already know how to build abettor engine; but .are deterred from the attempt by the fear that it would not be properly' handled. On the other hand, the very reliability of -he modern engine' makes tho average owner, indifferent to all , technical problems o« Operation, and eveiv to the proper care of their machines.'

Here and Thoro. . ' , . It is anticipated that the American output of motor-care will be back to.normal about .Tune of this year, whilst the majority of manufacturers hold the opinion that prices are likely to stay up, owiiiK to increased cost of material,and production. , ' ' ~ . The importance of being able to diagnoSfr motor ills from the sounds-ensuing is well illustrated by the differential. A sort of weaving in the differential indicates that the master bevel gear is out of alignment. On the other hand a slight catch occurring several times in each revolution of the driving wheels indicates a chipped tooth. Electric cables that rub on sharp edges of the battery, box or other places will soon wear through the insulation from vibration of .the car,and a short circuit wilKpcour that may be hard to find. Such parts of the wire-should be well piotected with adhesive tape, and should also l>e frequently inspected. Twenty "'thousand motor trucks, constructed for use by the American Army, will.' when released by the War authori-. tics, be turned over to the American postal service for use in country districts. ■ . When the porcelain' of a spark plug geta covered with grease and dirt, often metallic in character, the current •is likely to jump ecro«'s this bridge from the terminal to the metal of the engine, an.l the result is,n case of missing that is frequently difficult to trace. Keop th'j plugs clean. ■ ,'ln■ florae instances a'nut-is-.eo placed that it is' extremely difficult to reach with. , a wrench.' .-.Often this" may be obviated by .reversing the bolt, whereby the nut is brought within easy reach. Lighting-up time-.—To-day, 6.27 p.m. Nest Friday, 6.16 p.m.