The Washington herald., 1917-10-21
Owners' Service
Department.

T6reS-lS the nedNy IQe same BidN-
tty as the light?
Four-Why does a motorcycle re-
Quire such heavy oil?
FtvtDoes the color have anything
TO do with the quality?
Six-poes the darker oil contain
more carbon than the lighter oil?
Seven-Has q heavy cylinder oil
higher IRE test than a light Of the
same kind?
Efght-Can an asphaltic base oil be
made to show as high a fire test as
a parafin?-F. v.
One-Crudes vary so greatly in phy-
steal and chemical properties that 1t
Is hard to give a really definite an
swer to your question. Even crude
from one section varies in gravity.
For example, the Oklahoma field
yields both paraffin and asphaltic
crudes of entirely different charac-
teristics. Pennsylvania crude usual
ly runs between "a and A Baume,
Texas between S and "a Baume and
California between "a and 30.
Two-No. The oil is lighter than
the crude.
Three-The color is no indication OF
the gravity.
Four-Because a motorcycle engine
Is air-cooled and runs at a higher
temperature than a water-cooled en-
gine.
Five-The color is no indication of
the quality of an oil.
Six-The darker oil does not neces-
sarily contain more carbon than the
lighter. The test is necessary to get
the carbon content.
Seventies.
Eight-It is possible.
Would you advise using calcium
chloride in the water system as an
anti-freeze solution? Alcohol costs
too much now. Or would you advise
a preparation?-X. Y. z.
I wonid ADVISE you to get a made
up solution, because calcium chloride
has a corrosive action on the water
Jacket walls and radiator.
What Is a good substance to use to
stop leaks around the threaded plugs
IN the cylinders? II use white lead,
the plugs are so tight I cannot get
them OF. and II I use nothing. the
plugs Leak.
One OF the best substances to use
for this is ordinary paste stove black
ing. Spread it lightly over the threads
and it will stop the leaks. Do not use
too much, or some OF the blacking
will be forced into the cylinders
What is the best gasket to use for
oil joints, such as that made by the
crankcase pan and the top of the
crankcase? There is always leak
around this crack
Wrapping paper is best to use. Be
careful in cutting the gasket that
there is no break in it. To make the
gasket, spread the pan surface where
the gasket rests with some cup
grease. Place the paper, over the
grease so the paper will stick. Then
with a hammer lightly tap around
the edge OF the pan until you have
cut out the gasket. Use a very sharp
knife TO cut out the holes in the gas
ket, and cut the holes while the paper
is stuck to the pan.
Some time ago I gave my car, which
Is one and one-half years old. a coat
OF varnish, which was made by a we'll
known varnish dealer. I put 1t on as
per directions. and for the first few
days the body had a smooth gloss,
but after 1 washed the car all the
gloss disappeared, and now dust and
dirt settles quickly. How can I re-
store the gloss?-C. G. 5.
The only thing 1 can suggest is that
you apply another coat of varnish.
The trouble probably is due to the
fact that you applied one coat over an
old coat. The latter being porous,
the new coat sank in. do not be-
lieve the trouble was caused by poor
varnish.
In some strange manner the up
right windshield support of my car
broke. and 1 would like to knew il it
can be repaired. 1t broke Just where
one Of the curtain fasteners is at
tached, and there is not much metal
there to be welded.-J. ". L.
1 should imagine that a good welder
could repair the break for you by fill
ing in the hole for the fastener and
building more metal at that point, so
that when another hole is drilled and
tapped 1t will not weaken the sup
port as before
II the car catches fire under the
hood, should the gasoline be turned
on and the hood taken off? What
else can be done to stop the flames p
Thomas.
When there is a fire Of that, which
usually is caused by a backdre, the
gasoline should be turned of, and IL
lncIc ID d LIc cAuubulsn6F, II naIuT-
ally be used. II possible, keep the
engine turning over by using the
starter so that the flames will be
drawn into the manifold and cyIin-
ders.
What does a battery require in win
ter aside from giving it water at in
tervals? Also, what is a good method
OF getting easy starting, so as not to
use up the battery?-M. S.
Winter battery care. consists in not
only keeping the cells filed with
water, but in frequent testing, to see
that the electrolyte is OF the proper
density. A fully charged battery will
not freeze so readily as a discharged
one, and in your part of the country
1t is almost impossible to injure a
fully charged battery, because the
temperature does not drop low
enough. Have the battery charged
from an outside source once each
month. especially if the engine is
ught and you are using heavy oil.
II you use the car much at might, this
takes quite a bit of current.
Easy starting may be had by. prirn-
ing with a high volatile fuel, such as
high-test gasoline. Use a printing out
Mt operated from the dash of the car.
understand that in the winter time
II Is necessary to use different oil
than IN the warm weather. What oil
shall use, and why is this neces-
sary?-A. L.
In the winter time a light oil gets
thicker, due to the cold, and thus, If
a light oil is used in the transmission
and rear axle housings, it will, be-
cause OF the cold, thicken to the right
consistency. In the summer time a