The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-01

Ignition are what may be termed the
major offensives In the campaign to Sc
cure fuel economy; there are still num-
bers or machine gun nests to be cleaned
up before you have reached perfection.
There are many places in the fuel sys-
tenn where leaks may develop and a d.
rect leak In the fuel line Is a prodigious
waster of gasolene. Moreover, a small
leak is hard to detect, and IL the car
owner has noticed a sudden increase in
the amount OF gasolene used. this INDY
be the cause, At any rate It 10 q wise
precaution to 20 over the whole fuel
system occasionally, examining 1t for
leaks. Also the fuel system with its
hters and screens needs a periodic
cleaning out. II will be remarkable how
much better the engine runs after the
fuel line has been cleaned out to give
an unobstructed flow to the gasolene.
After this the muller will probably be
the better for a little attention. A
clogged muffler consumes power that
ought to be employed in driving the car
Another fruitful source OF fuel waste
10 carbon in the cylinders. carbon
lied engine uses much more fuel than
clean one. Scrape the cylinders as one
OF the frst skirmishes In the fuel reduc-
ton campaign. In some instances where
an engine Is an excessive carbonlzer II
may be well to install one Of the water
feeding devices or vaporizers, of which
there are scores on the market, after
the cylinders have been thoroughly
cleaned OF all carbon deposits These de-
vices Will prevent the formation Of car
bon In clean cylinders though / doubt
that they will remove heavy deposits
without assistance.
The valve system must be in excellent
working order. or heavy fuel waste may
result without performing its appointed
function or only partly at best. Any
car owner who has experienced the
pleasure Of driving Immediately after
the valves have been ground will need
no advice In regard to having the valves
ground at frequent intervals.
Have you ever stopped to realize that
every waste Of power Is really waste
OF gasolene? II gasolene is exploded and
the power so generated Is wasted or only
partly used. this amounts practically TO
waste of fuel. II fabrication is not kept
up to the mark. the friction between
moving parts wastes power Therefore.
be particular to Intricate all parts OF
the mechanism as indicated on the chart
or In the instruction book given with
the car.
The clutch. while Il is usually a well
behaved piece of mechanism. when 1t
develops trouble Is an enormous power
and hence fuel waster. When the clutch
slips 1t Is letting power slip away. not to
mention the damage to the part itself
and the unsatisfactory action Of the car
Misaligned wheels are another trouble
that results in wasted power and fuel
When the wheels are running out of
true, scraping is set up between the
tire and the road. which not only tears
the tire to pieces in a shor. time but
also wastes fuel. 1t Is the only wise
plan to have the wheel alignment
checked up twice year and oftener II
the car has suffered a severe bump or
for any other reason the owner suspects
that the wheels are out OF lire. In con-
nection with the wheels a dragging
brake will materially Increase the con-
sumption Of power. 1t is so easy to ad-
Just modern braking systems that there
Is no excuse for letting these parts re-
main in a condition that Is bad for them
and worse for the general operation OF
the car.
Finally the car owner can save
great deal of fuel by careful operation OF
his vehicle. He should learn to coast
wherever possible. shutting of the igni-
ton on long hills with the throttle closed.
Useless idling of the engine costs many
thousands of gallons of fuel in the
course Of the year in this country. Do
not indulge in this costly practice. Do
not waste fuel around the garage for
washing parts. &c. Kerosene does lust
as well as gasolene for washing metal
parts and II is not 80 valuable to-day as
gasolene.