The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-19
AUTO DESIGNERS
TRYING TO REDUCE
GASOLINE WASTE
b n. II. La FORTE
WashInEton FranlIln Dealer.

When statisticians point to a yearly
national waste Of $5OoOoo.ooo in gasoleus
and tires alone. 1t Is not strange that
automobile design should come in for its
share OF attention. 50 as to reduce this
waste and conserve our war require
ments. In this connection. Directdr
Manning. Of the United States Bureail
Of Mines. recently came out With. In
statement urging more efficient engines
a. the foremost step. Now, more than
ever before. engineers are recognising
many other elements that make an e9-
CINE consume less gasolene and that ed
tend cars tire mileage.
Asroplane design. which has shown
such rapid strides since the war. e BE-
ing reflected In the construction OF auto
mobile engines. While valves In the
head. always recognized as an influence
in greater efficiency, have been incorpof-
ated in motors In an of-and-on way
since the beginning Of the industry, L
took the success Of this construction n
war service to give It the place 1t d.
serves.
Methoa Of cooIlnr.
Most motorists have observed the closer
study Of the proper method Of cooling.
because In the past the limits imposed
by water have led to wasteof power
through over-eooling. water-eooled en-
gines are lighting this waste through n
thermostat attachment. while the In
herent ability Of air-cooled engines TO
operate at about 1so degrees higher tenn
perature removes the Limitation Withont
mechanical attachments.
Little reinements. like automatic
spark control. light reciprocating
parts, Seven-bearing crank shafts,
dash control OF the carburetor needle
valve, all have a part in making
gasolene go farther.
The progress toward greater e.
hciency Is reflected in the development
Of lightweight construction It II no
uncommon thing to hear OF 1000
pounds OF superduous weight being
removed through refined design The
success OF the hvepassenger Franklin
Weighing 1850 pounds d often med
toned q, an indlcRtion Of the posi-
bilities Along this line It used 10 BE-
flnbossiofe 70 make an en-
closed car to weigh less than $50
pounds, but scientific light weight -
worked out in the Franklin now prp-
dueea q sedan and q limousine weigh
ing only 2,610 pounds.
Weight Reduction.
This weight reduction Is all a mdt-
ter OF the use of lightweight mae
rails, such as aluminium and heat
treated steels; the elimination OF sil-
perfiuous mechanism, like torq1s
tubes and reach rods and frame crobs
members and braking apparatus, aud
even the casting aside OF the entire
water-cooling system, with its radi-
ator, pumps, piping. and the water u.
self.
And Il has been my experience that
when the subject OF inspiring weight
was mentioned only q short time ago,
nobody knew what was being TALKED
about But now, with maximum tire
mileage taking on added consequence,
engineers are seeing TO 1t that axle5,
wheels. and all under-construction are
as light as possible, 30 that tires may
be relieved Of unnecessary pounding.
In fact, It has been established that
one pound OF weight below the springs
II equivalent in -destructiveness 10
ten pounds OF weight above the
springs
The search for efficiency has also
developed the easy-rolling car. In
efficient bearings have been cast
aside, and any complication OF
mechanism or dead weight that acts
as q drag on the car, is becoming
highly unpopular.