New-York tribune., 1918-09-15

Fuel conservation will win the war,
IS the next sign we expect to see con.
spicuously displayed. We have been
told that food will win the war. that
War Saving Stamps will win the war
and now the Administration is turn.
ing its attention to gasolene.
There can be no two opinions as TO
the need of saving gasolene for gov
ernment use, but the average motoris+
feels the need Of conservation on ar
count of the increasing cost of gaso.
lene and of other things as well. He ia
more than surprised when told what
simple matter it is and how much
may be saved by attention to several
details which, apparently, are trivial.
but in the aggregate amount to
great deal
1t stands to reason that the car
buretor must be properly adiusted-it
the mixture is too rich too much gaso-
lene IS used and if it is too lean the
throttle must be opened too vide The
mixture should be slightly lean. which
IS obtained by running the engine idle
until 1t is thoroughly heated and then
changing the low speed adjustment
very slowly until the engine begins to
lose power. The mixture is then made
slightly richer until the engine runs
well again.
The throttle is then flashed open and
the high speed adjustment is made
weaker. until the engine is drawing
100 100 much ar and popping occurs at
me carburetor: Do not hold the throt-
tie open, but flash it open and close it
Immediately, SO as not to wreck the
engine by racing it too much. Popping
back at the carburetor shows too lean
a mixture and the high speed adjust
ment is changed until the popping
stops. The throttle is then flashed
open several times to see that the
engine responds smoothly and rapidly
Inc not air tube, carrying heated
air from the "stove" to the carburetor
should be examined for leaks. If cold
ar Is admitted the gasolene is not
properly vaporized, and SO does not
produce an explosion, but causes car
bon instead. This matter OF carbon
IS also serious one and all causes Of
carbon should be sought out and re-
Iaoved-such as excess of oil, over
heating, etc
But all this is relatively useless un-
less the car is properly handled on the
road. The most important matter is
to keep the spark we'll advanced-at
al times just short of the point where
the engine begins to knock. As soon
as steep grade is reached or the car
strikes heavy going, such as sand or
mud, causing it to slow down. the
spark should be retarded just enough
TO stop the knock and no more. This
llfes the explosives vapor in the cyln-
ders early In the piston travel, giving
the gas long time to do its work-that
IS. the full length of the stroke. If
the gas is ignited late the exhaust
valve is opened soon after and the
strongest part of the stroke is lost.
This was we'll brought out by an in
cident that occurred under my own
observation.
A new driver was not getting the
usuai mileage on car that had always
run twelve or thirteen miles to the
gallon of gasolene. His best showing
was around eight. The inspector went
out with him in the car over the same
roads under identical conditions and
succeeded IN making fourteen miles
tG the gallon. The difference was
SIMPLY due to proper manipulation Of
the spark lever.
Slipping clutch. dragging brakes,
friction in some part of engine or
transmission, clogged cooling system
causing oVerheatlng, partly debated
tires and weak spark are other causes
OF loss of power, to overcome which
! the throttle must be opened more than
usual, wasting gasolene Some cars
need thorough overhauling before
= they may be run economically, but any
effort along these lines will be repaid
by increased mileage and lower op-
GRATING cost