FUEL WASTAGE REMEDY

NZ Truth, Issue 1213, 28 February 1929, Page 18

FUEL WASTAGE REMEDY

Careful Use of Throttle Will Save Pounds

HINTS ON GOOD ECONOMY

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WITH even-* jerk the engine takes v gulp of unduiy rich mixture ana so. wasies ijeihaps huxt a.tea.spoonful ol! petroi — a small quantity, but .sufficient to build up into quite big wastage m the course of 100 milesThis jerky action may come abom m many ways, 'one of the most common being simply due to the unsteadiness of the foot when "balanced upon the accelerator pedal - controlled by a light spring. " One of the ways out of the difficulty is to fit an auxiliary spring, giving ; greater reaction against tho foot* bu: better still is a foot rest placed alongside the accelerator, pedal. On an extremely rough road, when U is practically impossible to avoid jerking the aocelerutor pedal, the best course is to discard its use altogether for the time being, controlling the car, by means of the hand throttle- lov«s\ Suddon acceleration also wastes fuel, so that the aim should be to maintain as steady a speed as traffic conditions permit. The wasteful driver is one who makes a habit of reserving the use of the brakes for tho last minute and .then accelerating agalm tdth'aiauii suddenness.

The actual cruising speed .ai winch, t cur is driven has v consideiable iii- r .mence upon the petrol consumption, jut the most economical t-peed lo idopt varies greatly m different makes md typoa of car. For most mediumjowered cars of the family type tlio nost economical speed is probably beavcen 30 m.p.h. and 35 m.p.h. Of course, no one would wish to govern the cruising speed entirely m accordance ■with a desire for economy; jut, nevertheless, it is interesting to enow that this does affect the miles •overed per gallon. Another point is to maintain the cruising speed desired with as small a throttle opening as possible. This is called "driving on the high spots"; m fact, many motorists of long: jtanding aver that the niceties of chrottle control can only be observed oy the continuous use of the hand lever .nstoad of the accelerator. While modern motoi-ists will riot take dndly to this control, there is no roaon why they should not make more ■" of it when cruising at a steady apes 4»