MOTORDOM DANGER FROM PETROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 794, 15 October 1929, Page 6

MOTORDOM

DANGER FROM PETROL

TT/-

HEAHUGHI

GARAGE GOSSIP New regulations introduced in Switzerland prohibit yellow paint schemes for private cars, as this has been chosen for Government motors. Now that summer is here again something in the way of an eyeshade to dull the glare is more necessary than ever. .There are dozens of different makes on tile market, including an “eye-rest” which is on an extension bracket so that it can be moved at will to the most convenient position.

A newcomer among the world’s strange machines is one which reproduces the conditions of every sort of road. It has been installed in the research laboratory at Fort Dunlop in order to find out the chief causes of tyre wear. At the wall of the controller the machine can imitate a wet road, a rough road or a road covered with dust.

STYLE OR COMFORT MILADY’S DRIVING WEAR Do women always wear the most suitable attire when at the wheel ? This point is raised in a recent issue of the “Autocar,” by the Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce, who says: “I expect that a large number, if not the majority, of women motorists make no change from their ordinary walking shoes to special footwear for driving, just as they risk the ruination of a pair of dainty gloves for the same reason. But it is not so much the effect upon the shoes as the relative lack of proper control over the car of which lam thinking. It is so easy to change either shoes or gloves for more suitable articles that it is rather surprising we do not more often take the obvious precaution. Shoes which are thin and do not give much support to the instep are distinctly not suitable for driving; and if the spring of the accelerator pedal is at all stiff quite a short drive will temporarily cripple the driver, while constant driving may have lasting illeffects.

“A tight-fitting glove, again, tends to restrict the circulation, and, though in these days of almost universal clpsed cars we do not suffer from the cold, the general effect must be bad, apart from the fact that a pair of ordinary smart gloves cannot be expected to last for very many minutes when used for driving. It is rather a nuisance, perhaps, when one is out on a shopping expedition to have to keep changing; but, 'after all, perfectly satisfactory compromises in both gloves and shoes can be purchased which are not too obviously utilitarian, but will withstand the unusual strain.

"It is very much a matter of what one is used to, but, generally speaking, I do not think it is wise to wear jewellery of any kind when motoring. Rings may or may not interfere with the use of the steering wheel and levers —it depends upon their type and number; but as one usually has to do things in a hurry when driving it is extremely probable that the rings themselves may be damaged by accidental contact with the car. My pet abomination, however, is the popular string of pearls, which is always liable to become tangled in the levers on the steering wheel, or worse, if one has to lift the bonnet or replace a road wheel. If one cannot leave off the necklace—for fear of catching cold!—at least it should be tucked in out of the way.”

A man was proudly exhibiting to a friend -his newly-acquired car, which was of a certain popular make. “Ah,” said the friend, “so you’ve got one of those. I should, have thought you would have gone in for something—well —a little more uncommon.” “It is uncommon,” retorted the owner, indignantly. “In fact, in a sense, it’s unique. It’s paid for.”

PRECISION METHODS

SILENCE IS THE MODERN IDEAL Periodically an “oldest model” of one of today’s better known motorcars is discovered, such as the 19 l Oakland and 1903 Cadillac that were recently found still in service. Aside from the radical changes in appearance, these earlier models serve to emphasise what strides automotive engineers have made in mechanical developments. One of the most important contrasts is the “silencer” that has been built into the modern motor-car.

Discussing the roar and clatter of the early models, a well-known distributor says tbey had either poorly designed mufflers or none at all; gears whined, and body and running gears protested loudly against the slightest road jolt. Large, clumsy valves contributed perhaps the greatest of all noises for they continued as long as the motor was in operation. The silence of operation in today’s cars is due largely to the development of precision instruments. Precision brought silent piston operation, smooth

operating camshafts and noiseless opening and closing of valves. The ignition distributor strikingly illustrates what is involved in precision methods.. It is estimated that with a six-cylinder engine making 3,000 revolutions a minute the contacts on a six-lobe distributor are opened and closed 150 times a second, remaining each time on contact for approximately four one-thousandths of a second. The length of contact is even shorter at higher speed of operation.

SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS There are some things about motor spirit or petrol which everybody should know, as such knowledge makes petrol safer to handle. For this reason the Vacuum Oil Company has reecntly issued a poster, which contains the following simple precautions: Petrol evaporates readily and its vapour burns when mixed with air—such a mixture is highly combustible and is explosive. Keep lire, flame or sparks away from any possible mixture of petrol and air, or an explosion may result followed by a serious fire. There lies the only danger of petrol explosion. Always stop the engine before filling your tank. As petrol is poured into the tank, it forces out the vapour and this vapour readily forms an explosive mixture with the air, therefore never smoke, strike matches or use a hurricane lamp while your tank is being filled. Petrol vapour is heavier than air so that sometimes it remains in an empty container mixed with air. Always turn an empty petrol container upside-down for a while and let the vapour out. HOW TO PUT OUT A PETROL FIRE

I It is dangerous to try to put out a i petrol fire with water. Water is apt j to float the burning pertol and spread j the fire—smother a petrol fire. If a i small one, throw a bag or rug or any j similar article over it, or dash sand or { dirt over it. For a large and persistent I lire it is well to use a fire-extinguisher | special types necessary for i petrol fires. One of these should j always be kept handy to the car.

Oil Fuel

A ustralia Considers a Local Supply Vital POWER ALCOHOL FROM CROPS A report of far-reaching importance to Australia has recently been made by the Federal committee which has been probing the problem of a local supply of liquid 'fuel for motor-cars. The report states that since 1918 the consumption of petrol in Australia has increased from 17,000,000 gallons to 124,000,000 gallons last year, practically the 'whole of which was imported. The annual consumption of petrol is doubling every three years. In a few years Australia will require more than 3,000,000,000 gallons a year. Of 124,000,000 gallons of motor fuel at present required in Australia annually only 8,450,000 gallons are produced locally, of which 7,000,000 gallons are produced from imported crude oil. The committee which represented the Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association consisted of Mr. P. C. Holmes Hunt (chairman), Dr. T.

Guthrie, Mr. J. B. Henderson, and Mr. G. Lightfoot, acting-secretary of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. POSSIBILITIES OF COAL “The admittedly vital need that a reasonable proportion of liquid fuel required for motor traction in Australia should be of local production.” says the report, “gives ample ground for regarding power alcohol from the point of view of potential fuel resources. Motor fuel is essential to modern life. “It must be obtained from foreign sources Or locally, and although local production of alcohol may absorb as many heat units as will subsequently be obtained from it, it may be highly desirable to draw thus upon the resources of coal to obtain fuel which is suitable for motor engines.” Obviously the last question is largely a matter of economics and in the report attention has been concentrated on those materials that offer some prospect of providing appreciable quantities of motor fuel and thus of having a definite influence on the power resources of the Commonwealth. The report proceeds to examine the possibilities of obtaining adequate supplies of power alcohol from byproducts, waste crops and native vegetable growths. POWER ALCOHOL The production of power alcohol, it says, is of great value since it supplies a power in a form that is essential to modern conditions. Its manufacture can be quickly and extensively developed, provided it is thought that from a national point of view it is worth meeting the cost necessary in order to render the Commonwealth less dependent on outside supplies of motor fuel. It is quite possible even under present conditions with suitable management and public support that power alcohol could be produced on a large scale in Australia at less than Is 6d a gall,on, but there is not the least chance of this being attempted unless a market is assured. The point, says the report, cannot be too strongly emphasised. The committee regards the production of power alcohol from cultivated crops of primary importance, since all other sources of alcohol are so limited or in the present stage of knowledge commercially impracticable.