The Washington herald., 1917-09-16
PRACTICAL PARAGRAPHS ES5@~IIr1I
For Everybody Who Owns an Automobile - =

There seems to be some doubt
among car owners as to the circum-
stances under which 1t is advisable
to fit aluminium pistons. In general
it may be said that this type Of piston
gives excellent service in q motor.
the bore Of which Is not greater than
three inches. In some cases alumi-
mum pistons have been fitted In
motors with slightly greater bore
than this, but where the bore Is above
four inches, 1t is not advisable to
make the experiment.
When any part of the mechanism OF
the car is removed, be sure that It
is perfectly clean before 1t Is re-
turned to its place. Even such
comparatively unimportant part as
valve plug should be thoroughly
cleaned. A small piece of dirt on the
plug gasket may be enough to cause
serious leak. Clean every metal
gasket before It is replaced. Paper
asbestos and other flexible types OF
gasket usually have to be replaced
after they have once been taken out
Oil on the brake bands Is p not un-
common trouble. even in some moo-
ern cars, and 1t Is caused by excess
oil In the differential housing. The
excess oil is forced through the axle
tubes and eventually gets to the
brakes. This 10 true of those axles
not fitted with special devices 10 pre-
| vent leakage On some axles small
drain is fitted near the outer END OF
the tube, while in others the interiors
! of the shaft housings are ntted Win
/ tubes which catch the oil before "
gets to the brakes. By keeping the
oil level in the housing at the correct
poilt. much of this 'aakage VIII DC
| obviated.
The sediment trap In the gasoline
tank should be drained periodically.
This trap catches water and SOHO
matter that may be in the gasoline.
| II the trap should become fun OF
| foreign matter. the excess will travel
along to the carbureter and the result
will be trouble in plentiful measure
The careful driver never operates
the car with his foot on the Gluten
pedal. There may be only the slight
est pressure exerted, but even thls
may be enough to cause the clutch 10
slim Just a little, which Is too much
There are so many places about the
motor where leaks are likely to de-
velop. that it will paw the car owner
/ to go over the mechanism once In
three months with this in mind. FIRE.
| uuent offenders are the spark plugs
and priming cups. Pour little oil
around the lower parts OF these, while
I the engine Is running. II there is
leak, bubbles in the oil will betray II
Another vulnerable place for leakage
Is the vale system. See whether the
valve stems and push rods are COW
cred with oil; IL they are the stems
or guides are probably worn, or the
push rods or their guides may he &c
blame. The cylinder head is liable Il
develop leakage, II the gasket is moi
in good condition or the head sprinf
out OF shape. Leakage at the inle
manifold connection to the carburetel
may cause poor motor operation by
thinning the mixture. Sometimes tht
leakage here is so great that II can
not he overcome by reducing thu
amount of air going through the car
bureter itself.
Do not forget that those parts oi
the engine which become hot in nor
NAL operation must he adjusted wher
they are hot. The valve tappets, fo'
example. should not be adjusted wher