Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-06-02


oil, tires and upkeep generally. The
desire for economy Of operation led
to the introduction of new designs IN
cars and to the cutting Of weight in
all designs, until now we have some
large and expensive vehicles weighing
considerably less than most medium
priced ears of few years ago.
The owner Of an automobile cannot
alter the weight Of his car, but he can
reduce the fuel consumption, make his
car show greater oil and tire econ
omy, and in doing these things so
reduce the cost of motoring as to
make it substitute for extFavagant
recreation without the extravaganza.
For number of years past there has
been an upheaval in the petroleum
business, crude oil has been going up
IN price steadily, and naturally the pro
duets of the crude also have mounted.
We all know that the quality of the fuel
has been getting poorer until now we
are using fuels OF far lower volatility
than we were a few years ago, and the
inability Of the carburetion system TO
properly yaporize this fuel adds TO our
troubles because there Is greater waste
within the engine.
Ii every motorist now operating one
or more cars would take the trouble
10 attend to a few simple matters and
effect saving of at least one gallon
week, which is comparatively a
small amount, it would be an act of
patriotism There would be a total
3 r1r- Dg0 nm nHD
gallons Of motor fuel, and in times
when there is an actual shortage, as
under the present conditions of de-
mand, this is an aPpreeiable saving
There are thousands upon thousands
of cars which are operated all year
round and which are using more fuel
than they should and more than the
owner cares to pay for. Most of these
owners could save on an average of
one gallon week, some could even
save three or four. These savings are
to lie made not by eurtailing touring
but by watching certain mechanical de-
tails of the car.
Watch Carburetion.
A great many owners 60 so far as to
spend money for attachments which
save gasoline, unaware that many Of
these attachments are entirely un-
necessary if the fundamentals of the
system are understood.
During the last summer season the
accessory market was flooded with
dozens of devices designed to save
fuel by permitting certain amount
of air to enter the inlet manifold dl-
rectly. These were mostly in the form
of simple valves, popplets great many
of them, which were forced open
against spring pressure when the
vacuum became low enough.
Where the air range OF the carburetor
if great enough such a device as this
merely admits of the fact that the
owner does not want to take the
trouble to get the same results by
carburetor adjustment. If the de-
vice merely admits air, which it does.
and the carburetor is capable of ad-
iustment range, then why install the
device? These devices will show a
gain in fuel. to be sure, when the car
buretor is improperly adjusted, but
the remedy lies in adjusting the IN
strument. In some types of carburetors
the older ones particularly, there is not
q suIIlcieht ar Iahse anu tnVh !" ~
of this sort might be penerlclai. PUT III
eases Ike tins II Woulu even ne pe'.gI
to get modern earpuretor ana reap al,
the benefit OF the better an arouou
results which 1t Will give IN o'her ways
up, an appTeclanie saving IN
fuel can be made II owners VIII pay
strict attention to carburetion.
Use of Fuel Mixture.
There are great many cars now
which can successfully use a
fuel mixture that IS mixture Oh So
called gasoline and heavier fuel sueh
as the present kerosehes. yum mum
ber OF owners nave toHhd tnat Tue MY.
ture gives fairly good results, out TOT
some drivers II wonld not he sallslaGt
ory at all because 1t would aIIeet the
performance of the engine. "hy no'
Try a mixture OF say one-hait a gSilon'
using one-thlrd kerosene anu 49, .Mo,s"''"9
gasoline; or vary the proPortl9hs
There is an abundant supply OF me
ieavier fuels and scarcity OF the lisnt. /
ar ones, so that If motorists can use
mixtures II Will give the nation gfea'
er available supply Of good f"ei'
Especially during the warm weather.
will mixture fHels be found snltaoie' Is
he additional heat OF the a1mospneIe
assists evaporation. some engines
k