The Washington herald., 1917-08-26
Real Economy in Motoring

This is war time and war time means
economy time. American motor car
owners have been to an extent spoiled
in past times by the comparative
cheapness of commodities entering
into the manufacture and operation of
their vehicles. When products are
cheap the temptation to waste is al
most irresistible and we are essentially
a nation of wastcTs anyway. Today
however, prices of most motoring
necessities are rising and there is real
need for practicing economy. The
large majority OF our motor car owners
are ignorant of the ways and means
OF accomplishing any aVpreciable say
ing in the operation of their cars. The
principal points in which worthwhile
savings may be affected are in fuel
and oil consumption. tire wear and
general wear and tear.
The first item to consider Is fuel and
the car owner should not scorn the
small savings in this connection, for
IN their aggregate they make a formid-
able total To begin with every owner
should reduce the idling periods Of his
engine to the smallest possible mini
mum, he should stop every smallest
gasolinS leak and should have the car
buretef adjusted SO that it consumes
the smallest quantity Of fuel. consis-
tent with efficient running Attention
to these three details of operstipn and
adjustment, will save many galfoss of
gasoline per annum for each motor
list who heeds the warning.
Next it IS essential to reduce to its
inevitable minimum the friction in the
mechanism and this must be accom-
nllQhah hNT l,Vl.
dom from carbon in the cylinders pro-
notes fuel economy. Efficient func-
tioning of the ignition system is a
vitality important factor in any at
tempt to obtain economy of fuel con-
sumption. To obtain maximum igni-
ton efficiency theS owner must pay
strict attention to the battery, wiring.
spark plugs and other units of the
ignition system. II the spark il not
correctly timed or lacks life. heat. the
fuel vapor in the combustion cham
Der will be but partly fired or will
explode at time when some of its
force will be wasted. Further. there
must be no leaks in the engine itself,
as distinct from the fuel system. Valve
leakage is one of the cOmmonest
causes of lost power, which in the
final analysis means excessive gaso-
Ahe consumption, since II VIII require
additional fuel expenditure to make up
for the waste. The valves must be
kept accurately seating all the time,
because a very small leak here will
cause a very large waste of fuel
Waste from Piston Rings.
In the interior of the engine a great
deal OF unnotiCed waste will result
from piston rings that are too loose.
When this condition develops a
quantity of the fuel forces its way
down past the rings into the reservoir
and is, of course, wasted. The owner
who has reason to suspect this con-
dition should try fitting some of the !
leak-proof piston rings of patent con-
designed to correct just this |
fault. This same condition is some |
times produced by the use of a lubri- |
eating oil of too light a body. The |
oil is thinned by the heat present !
under running conditions and lacks |
he viscosity to make a perfectly gas
light seal at the piston. AS a result |
he fuel forces its way past the rings /
and into the reservoir.
Then there is the possibility of i