Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-10
CONCERNING LIFE OF CAR
Much Depends On Two TbinEs-the
Handling and the
Use of OIL.

The question is often asked. What is the
life of an automobile?" This is easily an
swered. 1t depends upon two things. first,
the way the car Is handled, and second,
the amount Of oil 1t receives. With proper
attention In both of these respects an auto
mobile should last from five to ten years,
depending upon the grade of the car.
. To properly appreciate tho Importance Of
olling It may be we'll to see Just what it's
functions are and how it performs them.
If you look at oil through a powerful mic
roscope, you will see that it is composed
Of thousands of globules, each one shaped
like a ball. A properly oiled bearing has
distributed all over it's rubbing surface
these small globules. which act exactly as
If they were steel balls. preventing the two
surfaces themselves from touching each
other. The moment there is no oil there
and the two surfaces come in contact, they
start to cut and it takes but a very short
time for an expensive bearing to be de-
stroyed.
The oil itself will wear out; that is to
say, the globules win break and the oil
will thus lose its lubrlcating properties.
Therefore, new oil must be added con-
stant!y.
AS proper oiling is such a tremendous
Aa~NoA ~ wv Q AAoiA~ VI -
car, 1t is we'll to see that your automobile
is equipped with as rearly an automatic
system Of oiling as is possible and practl-
cal, The pump oiler, the operator, is likely
to be forgotten. This naturally would have
disastrous results. There are several very
good positive oiling systems; some of these
are mechanical pumps, which start when
the engine starts and pump lust the proper
amount OF oil to every part where oil is
required, stopping when the motor stops.
Another and more simple arrangement
which Is well adapted to double opposed
motors is to use the alternate compress
sion and vacuum of the crank case, the
pressure and vacuum starting, when the
motor starts and falling when the motor
stops. In this method a pipe having a
simple ball check runs from the crank case
to the oil reservoir. Every time there Is
a compression in the crank case, which
occurs as the plstons approach each other,
there Is a pressure put on the oil in the
reservoir. This forces the oil to sight
feeds. which should be ituated on the dash
In easy sight OF the operator and is theice
distributed to the various bearings. As the
oil leaves the sight feeds It is sucked to the
piston and the engine bearings by the va
cuum caused by the piston receding from
each other.
Great care should be exercised in procur-
ing the very best oil. II Is poor economy
TO use an inferior grade; 1t does not fol-
low thai because you are paying a big
price for OIL you are getting the best. There
Is probably moro fraud practiced in
the oil business than I'm any other pursuit
accessory to automobiling. The best oil
for cylinder use is one having a very high
fire test and a very low cold test and
which is rather thin. This same oil can
be used for most bearings Gears should
be run in a very heavy oil or a good quality
OF grease. The manufacturer OF machines.
however, always give Instructions as n
just what oil 10 use in each particular
place where fabrication Is necessary.
Remember that a gallon too much oil can
do no damage other than TO SCOT up the
sparks plugs. which are cleaned IN a very
few minutes. A drop too little Of OIL on
the other hand, may destroy the whole
power plant OF the machine.