New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-08
Needless Expense
in Car Operation

The function Of the carhuretor is 10
meter the air and gasolone and 10 atom
ize the latter as thoroughly as possible.
The change from liquid TO gaseous
state takes place largely IN the manifold
and cylinders. and is greatly facilitated
by proper atomizing Of the fuel u rs IN
this important function that many car
burctors fail. with the result that some
fuel never enters into efficient combus-
ton and is wasted
The tendency 10 deposit fuel carried IN
suspension I'm a column OF moving air Is
much less when the velocity is high.
Hence a comparatively small diameter
Of manifold is much preferable 10 tie
large size used successfully few years
ago. when fuel was Of better quality.
Heating the air supply TO the carburetor
is another method Of aiding Volatization
and preventing deposition. II may b.
used TO good advantage in helping de-
crease fuel consumption, particularly
when the carburetor and manifold are not
jackctcd
The carburotor which stomizes the fuel
thoroughly must also meter the air and
fuel properly. in order that the mixture
may burn thoroughly Many carburetors
do not do this. az least AT all speeds and
loads. with the result that much OF the
fuel is incompletcly burned. This loss is
prolific with certain types and cannot be
entirely obviated i'm some cases without
an entire change of carburetors.
Good ignition is. of course, prime
requisite for economy. and should be
sought in all cases. Leakv valves and
piston rings are not conducive to econ
omy. nor is an accumulation of carbon
in the cylinder. Valves should he ground
in" and carbon should be removed by
scraping when other means fail.
Dragging brakes and unnecessary fric-
ton I'm other parts frequently cause
loss of power and consequent waste of
fuel. Under this head may be placed
losses due TO the use of too heavy
grease in transmission and differential
and those due TO under-inffated tires.
which absorb a very large percentage Of
the total power used in propelling the car.
WeIl-infated tires do not make an easy
riding car, but do decrease friction losses
and increase tire life.
OF course. the best carburetor may be
abused, and the careless driver may be
wasteful in many ways. One prolific
source Of waste, which is not appreciated
by many, is that which takes place when
motor is allowed TO idle, as when
standing AT the curb.
Some recent experiments along this line
have been made by the clubs laboratory
staff. The results are rather surprising
and very instructive.
II was found that a certain car. weigh
ing 400 pounds. would travel about o.
miles per gallon of gasolene, when run
ming in heavy traffic on Fifth avenue, at
an average speed Including stops Of
about "a miles an hour. At an average
speed Of 1879 miles an hour with but very
few traffic stops. the miles a gallon were
increased to lis
When, however. the car was allowed TO
stand at the curb. with the engine idling
about as slowly as it would run (approxi-
mately 800 revolutions d minute), the con
sumption of fuel was not less than as
pints an hour. In other words, the motor
used as much fuel in idling for fifteen
minutes as il would consume in about is
miles of running in traffic at "A miles an
hour. or in about ii miles At a speed Of
1879 miles per hour