The Washington times., 1917-12-22
IMPURE O|LSBANE
OF THE MOTORIST;;
GOOD OILS VITAL
By J. r. sANNER,
OF sanner & Berry, VeedoI OIL Dis
tFibuters.


tFibuters.
It Is said on highest authority that
the major part OF motor troubles can
be traced either to defective methods
Of fabrication or to the use Of infer
ior or unsuitable oils.
For proper methods of fabrication.
the average motorist is quite content
to depend on the ability and recon-
mendations OF prominent engineers. It
is equally essential that the lubricants
themselves be bought on the recon-
mendations OF trained. experienced
men, modified somewhat, OF course,
BY the individual needs of each motor
list.
Science has made splendid progress
In developing improvements in the re-
filming OF lubricating oils. The Faux
ner process, an exclusive method used
by the Platt q WaShburn Refining
Company in the manufacture OF
Veedol, Is contribution which pro-
duces an oil very high in heat-resist-
ing and wear-resisting properties.
Some Definite Tests.
There are several tests known to
both motorists and scientists for de-
termining the relative values Of Iu-
brieating oils. The'b best known Of any
test Is perhaps the heat test. By this
test the amount of sediment is read
lily determined. Any motorist appre-
ciates that as sediment decreases, the
value Of the lubricant increases.
c. W. Stratford. engineer OF the
Platt 4 Washburn compan-, said of
this test in an address before the So
ciety OF Automotive Engineers:
In the heat test, the oil is slowly
heated in the laboratory over an open
flame and held at a certain tempera-
ture for fifteen minutes"
"A comparison of the heated oils
with an unheated sample OF the same
oil tells the story OF quality. Good oil
darkens in color but remains perfect
~ clear and without sediment, even
after standing twenty-four hours,
thus proving the total absence of acid
compounds. Impure oil on the other
hand, turns Jet black. If allowed to
stand twenty-four hours a black car
bon-like sediment settles out, proving
the presence Of sulphuric or sulphonIc
acid compounds. This test is so un-
failing and so important that I would
recommend 1t to oil purchasers as a
feature to be incorporated in their
specifications"
Insist On Pure Oils.
OF course the amount Of oil bought
by most motorists does not justify 60
ing to the trouble and expense of
making such . test They can get
the same result, however. II they in
sist on getting an oil made by a
concern which maintains an adequate
laboratory and stan.
The next best known test Is the fash
test. The flash point Of an oil is the
lowest temperature at which the va
pors arising from the oil will ignite
without setting hre to the oil itself.
The operating temperature Of pis-
ton-heads and other parts below the ]
pistons require the use OF high flash
oils for reasons OF economy and dura-
bility. Motor oils having a iash-point
much below 400 +. show a very ap-
preciable vaporizing loss and should
not be used
There is one fact about hash-points
that Is sometimes overlooked. 1t Is
this. The temperature Of the eXplo-
sion chamber is several times that OF
the highest obtainable Hash. AS a
Ol# gwen 4OO
grees in the flash OF two oils will be
Of little avail in resisting destruction
In the explosion chamber.
Still another test is for viscosity
(cohesion). This Is determined by
the length of time that a definite
volume OF oil takes to flow through
a standardized aperture. Anyone can
readily note the difference that light
or heavy oil makes in the power and
the rapidity OF acceleration Of a
motor. The ideal viscosity of an oil
Is the point where the highest econ
omy OF fuel oil Is attained together
with high-power output.
Tests which show the carbon resi-
due, and the effect of cold are also
made as well as emulsion, gravity,
and fire tests.