Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-21
"FOUR CYLINDER MOTORS"
DISCUSSED BY F. E. WATTS
. hicf i:n1incrr uf IImpp Motor Ear
tUrporntiOn Add-cS-cs Joint
Meeting of t.NncrtS.

n q joint meeting Of the Society
OF AUTOMOBILES Engineers. the Nmcri-
an society of Mechanical Engineers
and lie .A~cr"nautical Society. in New
Nc"e recently. i post interesting paper
vas, cad Ivy |: f.. Watts. chief IN
iinccr Of the I;Tl.r Motor Oar Cvrrora-
ton. entitled "AU'omobiic Appiic&ri'n
~ F"ar- cvlnrd-r Motors"
Nt. Watt%'S rI'cr has hc"h i.e!aI,d
- "igin," : generally aa opa nf TIA"
hest which has hccn written ~ tie
fcut e.. Under rl"lcr. NJ. watts stated
III part:
Il will consider briefly the appiica-
;i"rS &c m",ovS 10 automobiles. aud
VII try to show Why the ~four-cvlindcr
motor IS used on the majority of motor
cars produced to-day. Experience has
conNinccd me that the majority OF
automobile owners expect their cars 10
perform about as follows. to run
steadily and pleasantly on high from
i've To nifty miles an hour over smooth
roads.
"To carry them over the rougher
ROADS as fast as they can ride with any
degree OF comfort. To pull through
deem sand. mud or snow easily aud
without overllcatinG. To climb any
ordinary hill where there are travelled
Dads on hich. To get away from "a
standstill about as quickly a. their
n"lGhhorS MRrS. TO do all 'hcS. things
rs rneaply as possible, and without
skilled care and constant attention.
Naturally. the motors part in securing
his performance is important. but
think that any one Will grant that
he average automobile owner * not
Grcatly Interested in the construction
or performance Of his motor Except
as u affects tn" performance. dura.
hiity, ana maintenance cost OF his ear.
The question of durability may be
4 H. .-t 20 49, -.,- -.-.
hilitE OF the motor; second, the dura-
billy of the running gear. hody. etc.
AS !" tho motoS, each part can he made
aS ample fer it's work III one type Of
motor as IN another. hut the four
- Under motor should have :, longer
ilf" than the other types. for u is
primarily more accessible and easier 40
"@r" :or, hence i gets The better aver
aE" attention. 1; has fewer parts in
n""rpftion, AZ - has, fewer cylinders.
l;crairS required are nor only less fire.
aucn; than I'm other types ~ motors.
but the" ar" less costly - make.
There are less valve. Il" grind. less
cylinders T." d.carbOuiae. less spark
tiu@S 10 clean. less ignition wires to
watch for leaks. breaks, short circuits
and static defects, less Ignition con
'actS t" Synchr"niZe. less work Of all
sorts TO do.
AS 10 fuel consumption. the four
cHiinaer motor IS Fundamentally SUI
p"Hl"r t" other types. In any type Of
fuel distribution used in mntor cars
to-day. the division Of the gaseous
stream decreases efficiency Til.
single cylinder is the most economical
'lpc ana IN" fU.i efficiency decreases
rs The nmhcr Of cylinders increases.
The public is often mislcd 10y certified
tests. which are made ou carefully
tuned and adjusted cars, hnt tho result
IN the hands Of the owners is the MY
ihtns that VIII count ultimately. Nat
urHlly, the rising cost OF fue! has
cause" "Nfravagant statements as 70
iuei economy. which are mad. ~ manv
advertisements but, unfortunately. fc,
IN" most part these statements are
not borne out in everyday practical cx-
pcriencc."