MOTOR NOTES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 368, 24 February 1937, Page 2

MOTOR NOTES

Compiled by “Spark-Plug.”=

Number Plates.

To discover the best contrasting colour combinations in order to obtain the maximum degree of legibility of registration number plates, tests were carried out by the Highways Lighting Committee of the New Zealand Road Safety Council. Reporting to the council, the committee stated that after six colour combinations. 1 had been selected as giving good legibility, the manufacturers of the registration plates were consulted as to which of these combinations caused production difficulties. As a . result the committee recommended that a cycle of four different colour combinations be established, thus covering a period of four years. The colours recommended were: Green

figures on a White background, black on yellow, blue on white, and black on white.

Petrol Tank.

Despite all precautions water and dirt find entry to the main fuel tank at. times. To eliminate it the tank must be drained, and the car should be shaken about during the process to agitate the sediment. A drain plug is provided at the base of the lank. When empty, replace about one gallon or so and again swill the tank and drain completely. Make sure that the base plug is well tightened; it would be as well to run over the mountings with a spanner to ensure tightness’. Also look for loose piping at the tank and along the feed line to the pump or vacuum tank.

Idle Car.

If a car is left standing unused for some days it might be found that the battery is weak and will not spin the starter briskly. One might conclude that the cells had become partially discharged because of a short circuit in the wiring, but it is more likely that the trouble is caused by deterioration of the battery plates, which always suffer to some extent When Idl3. Furthermore, the engine will be stiff because of thickening of the oil film, and it is wise in such circumstances to crank it a few times with the handle in order to “loosen” the oil. If the car is to be stored for more than a few days, care should be takbn to see that the battery is well charged and the cells topped-up v*itl> distilled water. As a further precaution one main battery lead might be disconnected.

Carburettor Setting.

In the belief that exceptional petrol economy will be procured, some motorists tinker with_ the carburettors of their cars and set the slow running adjustments in such a way that a lean mixture is provided. The nr,in- may perform satisfactorily with that setting once it has warmed up,'but at a rule it will be difficult to start on a cold morning. In any case, very little material saving is made by departing from the manufacturers’ instructions as to the standard setting for the best all-round performance.

New Fitting.

An attachment noticed on one of the newest British cars is a small auxiliary induction pipe which leads from the valve cover of the overhead valve engine to the main air intake. In this way a certain proportion of oil-impregnated air is drawn into the mixture and tends to assist upper cylinder lubrication. A similar fitting could be easily contrived on most cars which have fully enclosed overhead valve-gear.

Crankcase Ventilation.

Efficient crankcase ventilation is invariably provided for in the design of modern engines. This 1 eliminates the unpleasantness of escaping oil fumes, prevents overheating of the sump oil, and reduces oil leakage. The advisability of keeping the breather cap, filters or strainers clear by frequent washing in petrol will be apparent. The breather pipes also need occasional internal cleaning to remove sludge, which restricts free flow of air.

Wheel Noise.

Electrical Knowledge.

Rattling caps on the large centred wire wheels are corrected by punching the threaded centre outwards from the inner sidej, thus bringing the outer cap edge earlier into contact With the steel hub. The snapon type will need re-springing of the side pieces or renewal of the springs.

No motorist Vttio goesi far afield can feel confident to grapple with wayside defects unless he has some working knowledge of the electrical system. An acquaintanceship with the first principles of electricity is.' an essential preliminary, but it is equally important that he should, either by studying the diagrams in the instruction book or getting an experienced mechanic to demonstrate to him, learn the lay-out of the circuits and the electrical units, the position. of the various fuses anti switches, and how to make progressive search for faults in the event of a sudden failure of the ignition, lights or horn.