MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 174, 17 April 1919, Page 3

MOTORS & MOTORING

Misfiring. Poor engine operation at low speeds is a common complaint, und the usual causo lies in the carburetion system, though tho exact location will differ. Sometimes an air leak throws the carburetor out of adjustment so that an insufficient amount of gas is present in the mixture.. Oil the other hand, when the magneto has weakened magnets and the spark gaps of the plugs are a littlo wide the combination produces low speed missing almost everytime. With a 'Battery system the owner should first inspect the carburetion system,, and if that fails to disclose the cause the ignition system should bo tackled next.

The Importance of Cleanliness. The car owner should be careful to keep the exterior of the engine clean as well as the interior. Dirt, grease, and general filth act as insulators, preventing the metal from throwing off heat into the air. Incidentally, this rule regarding cleanliness applies to other parla, such m> rear axle, brake mechanism, etc. When mud is allowed to remain on brake rod clevises and other similar parts, it soaks up tho oil designed to lubricate the points, which become dry and wear excessively. All such parts as this must be cleaned regularly and havo fresh oil applied to them. . ■ •

A Substitute Fueli t According to an American exchange, when tho Allied fleets blockaded Grecian ports at the end of 191 G. shutting her off from the outside world., many new industries sprang up within the country. Foremost among these was tho manufacture of a petrol substitute known as "inotorine," sold throughout Greece by several companies and under various namc.i. Roughly, tho product is composed of 80 to 90 per cent, of pure high proof turpentine, distilled to a. high degreo of volatilit-v and mixed with 10 to 2fl per cent, ether. Properly Wended and usivl in an automobile or any internal combustion engine this gives satisfactory results. Owing to the fact that outomobile owners in Greeco are drawn from the. wealthy classes, no attempt has been made to lower the high cost of producing this fuel. • . . Protecting the Engine Hood. Many car owners, says en American expert, have had the experience of having the finish of tho hoeds of their new cars suddenly becomo dull, while the rest of the car is still glittering in its newness. When the hood finish once gets dull it is almost impossible to bring back tho shine without refinishing it. The dullness comes, of course, from the engine heat. Some owners make the_ mistake of washing the hood while it s i?hot, and 'this increases the dull effect. About the only way of eliminating" this condition is to line the hood with sheet asbestos, which is comparatively cheap. The' work is not difficult and can Tie earned out by tho owner himself. Here and There. Clean o.ff carbon with a cloth dipped in'petrol, or a brush may be used. Touch up4ho points of plug with einory cloth, but do not touch emery'to glazed porcelain, as it scratches and makes it Boot up all tho more readily.' A cracked core must be replaced. The colour of tho motor-car is generally a case of every man to his taste, but it is a, fact that the dark colours are generally more lasting. , This is caused by the physical characteristics of the colour varnish,, which has a base of gum. Now, the dark gum is moro serviceable than tlie light shades, and the dark varnishes are derived from the dark gums. The lighter colours call for lighter varnishes and the ■wearing qualities are . decreased. If the sliding member of the clutch is Tusty, it will give the effect of a grabbing member. The rusted portion will prevent the dutch's engaging gradually holding for a fraction of a second, and thus forcing a quick engagement. The operator often believes that the trouble is due to poor facing or worn engaging members. ' • When tho car is left standing on a steep grade the petrol should be turned off at the tank to prevent Hooding. The float will sometimes bind, due to the angle at which the car is placed and thus holds tho needle yalvo'opon, or the nozzle openings miiy actually be below the level of the petrol in the float chamber. -: -.■•■: f' -. ■■•■-■ "

When noises issue from the axle housing they may bo ascribed to one of the following causes: Maladjustment-of tlie driving gears, gears that have worn out or round or become ' warped; differential bearings that , are worn or broken, a broken tooth or tooth in the gear, or metal chips in the mechanism. Lighting-up time:—To-day, 5.20 p.m.; next Friday, 5.8 p.m.