The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-02-11

sidered-the driver, the car and
the road. A reckless driver may ruin
a good car or bad roads may do the
same, in spite of careful running.
While the writer realizes that it
would be advantageous to have up
keep figures given, it would be of no
practical value as the cost of upkeep
is not identically the same, even with
the same make of car, or even the
same driver, as roads and weather cut
big figure in fuel.
1t is we'll known that driving into
the wind takes more gas than when
there is none and the harder the wind
the more gas required.
Different stretches of road also re-
quire different amounts of gas. How
ever, more gasoline is wasted by
faulty engine adjustment than any
other way. Too rich or too poor mix
ture in the carburetor, missing cylin-
ders, leaking or wrongly timed valves,
and carbon in the cylinders all are
wastes of power.
How to Test the Mixture.
One of the best ways to test the
quality of the mixture is to turn the
engine over couple of times with
the switch off and the throttle open,
remove one of the spark plugs and
hold lighted match to the hole. II
the mixture is too poor it will burn
weakly or not at all, or If too rich
will burn with yellow colored flame.
A mixture which is about right will
explode, not burn.
A carburetor adjusted for Summer
may not be just right for Winter, but
when once set should be let alone. If
there is still trouble it may be dirt in
the carburetor, faulty ignition or car
bon in the cylinders. A carburetor
should be flushed out often and If
there is much trouble with dirt, the
gasoline should be strained through a
tine-meshed smooth cloth.
Locating Cause of Trouble.
When an engine runs after the
switch is turned off or knocks in the
cylinder while running, it is pretty
sure sign of carbon. The spark lever
too far advanced will also cause
knocks in the cylinder.
The only satisfactory way of remov-
ing carbon is to take the engine apart
and scrape the cylinders with the
steel carbon remover, which can be
bought for the purpose.
This will take some time, but If
done carefully and methodically' will
not be very difficult. Put everything
aside in just such order that you can
get it back in just the way it was be-
fore.
Poor oil or too much oil is the
cause of carbon, and while it is neces-
sary for the cylinders to have plenty
of oil, too much is just as bad as not
enough. Only the best grade Of oil
should be used. 1t pays in the end.
Grinding Valves.
Valves generally have to be ground
every 80 or 40 days If the car is used
steadily. On some cars the engine
has to be taken apart to do this; on
others there are plugs directly over
the valve heads, which may be re-
moved to get at them. The edge OF
the valve head should be coated with
valve grinding paste, which can be
bought in tubes, and turned back and
forth with a short motion till the
edge of the part and the valve show
bright all the way around. While
doing this, repeatedly shift the valve
around so as to grind evenly. BE
careful not to get any of the paste
in the cylinders, as it will injure
them. Valves seldom get out OF time,
but if they do, they had best be ad-
justed by an expert. 1t is too particu-
lar a Job for one who is not used to
to the work.
Most ignition troubles are confined
to dirty or improperly spaced spark
plugs. Excessive oil or too rich a
mixture causes fouling of the plugs
and should be remedied. Engines
with magnetos have less trouble than
those depending on batteries. Bat
teries should not be allowed to fall
below 90 amperes, all wiring kept
from getting oil soaked, or chafed, as
this will soon cut through the insula-
ton and cause short circuit, as will
also oil If it penetrates the isulation.
The space between the points OF the
spark plugs should be between one
sixteenth and one-thirty-second OF an
inch, so as to give thick spark.
An Overhcated Engine.
This may be caused by driving too
long on low, too late spark, or too
rich a mixture. A clogged circulation
may also be the trouble. Loss OF