South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-28
Motor Cars


Folks who have not given the
matter due thought and considera-
ton are prone TO believe that one
motor is fabricated much the same
rs another. and that what is good
as a lubricant for one particular job
viii. OF necessity give satisfactory
service on some other engine. Such
however, is not the case. There il
vide divergence I'm the details Of
automobile engine fabrication sys-
TENS quite az well as q wide diver
gence In other constitutional details
which. taken as a whole, have dis
tinct bearing on the oil which will
give best service.
The fabrication requirements OF
different engines differ widely This
is determined by an analysis Of the
engine construction and the lubTi-
eating systems OF different cars
The following mechanical factors
enter into this comparison.
The construction Of the engine;
horizontal. vertical or V-type cylin-
der arrangement, two or four-stroke
cycle. bore and stroke; valve con-
struction, size and location: number
sign and composition; piston clear
ance. cooling system (air and wa
teri. engine speed and climatic con-
ditions-all must be considered.
Oil For Various Types.
As "A result OF these differences in
construction and fabrication require
ments-
30 one oil VIII correctly 1ubricate
sll engines.
-Fhis is absolute. No one would
think Of using the same lubricant
Tor "a sewing machine and a battle
ship-yet the needs of two auto
mobiles may often differ quite as
widely. Hence it follows
That different types Of engines re-
quire different grades Of oil. Auto
mobile lubricants are like automobile
parts-they must fit the cars they
are used on. The correct lubricant
Tor a given engine should be an
oil
ta) OF the highest lubricating eff
fciency. Any oil will Intricate TO
an oxtent-so will lard. But there
are degrees of fabrication. The mo-
torist's only protection against de-
structive friction is film of oil no
thicker than this sheet OF paper.
This oil film must separate the NOV
ing parts and Intricate perfectly.
only an oil Of the highest lubrica-
ting efficiency will do this under
The heat of service.
OBJ Whose body and fluidity in
cold weather are best suited to the
feed requirements OF the engine.
Oils do not feed as freely in cold
weather as IN warm. but some oils
resist cold better than others How
ever. the value Of an oil for winter
use is not necessarily indicated by
its cold test e., it's ability TO flow
freely at low temperatures. Low
cold test oils are necessary only
when the feed pipes are exposed 10
low temperatures.
Co OF sufficient body and heat
test TO form a film that will separ-
ate the friction surfaces and pre-
vent the escape of gases past the
piston rings during the compress
sion and power strokes.
All Thin out Under Heat.
All oils thin out under the heat
Of service. but some oils resist this
tendency better than others. Two
oils may be identical in body under
normal temperatures. but subjected
to the intense heat Of the cylinders,
one Will wear" well and maintain
proper seal between the pistons,
piston rings and cylinder walls.
while the other will break down and
lose its Intoxicating efficiency.
If one factor OF engine design has
a greater bearing on the determina-
ton OF the grade of oil to be used
than another. perhaps that factor is
the type OF lubricating system en-
ployed and the manner Of carrying
out the details OF design OF the par
ticular type of lubricating system on
the engine in question. There are
employed on present-day cars, for
instance. five distinct systems OF lu-
brication. First in order, although
by no means the most popular
Judged by the number Of designers
using II, is the splash system. -
modus operandi is made perfect.
plain by the accompanying nlustra
ton In automobile application the
OIL is contained Ia a reservoir form
ed integral with, but as a separate
compartment from the lower half of
the crankcaSe. (See Fig. II