OIL DILUTION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 392, 29 November 1932, Page 2

OIL DILUTION

Economy in engine oil is merely camouflaged extravagance. During use a certain amount of water enters the _ crankcase, p-artly through contamination from exhaust gases penetrating past the piston rings, partly through intemal condensation. This is churned with oil in the pump, and ultimately forms an emulsion devoid of luhricating qualities, althoqgh the dip-stick may continue to sh'ow an encouragingj level. The sump should be drained periodically, and may with adva-ntage be flushed with one of the special fluids sold for the purpose. Engine oil further becomes diluted by fuel elements through excessive use of the strangler when starting up the engine. Few engines will start and warm up without a certain amount of stiangling, but impatient owners emP'loy their stranglers far too much. If a cold engine is really stubborn the owner should experiment with a modified use of his strangler, leaving it half or quarter shut during the warming-up proeess, instead of closing the air-intake completely for several minutes. Altematively the strangler may be rapidly opened and shut several times in quiek succession until the engine settles down to run evenly. A cold enginie should never be accelerated appreciahly. Mjsconduct in these respects not only dilutes the oil, but produces rapid wear of pistons and cylinder block.