The Washington herald., 1921-05-15

as the axle itself at the point where
they turn on the axle tubes.
In conclusion let US say that when
any noise of a peculiar or unusual
| character enlanates from the rear
axle it should be taken as a danger
signal and the unit should be got
ito the service station without delay.
Trouble in the rear axle rapidly
grows from something small to
serious matter. A stitch in time
saves a whole seam as regards rear
! axle repairs.
DEFEATING THE GASOLINE BILL.
Every car owner likes to keep his
expenses as low as he reasonably
can and it is really surprising to
what a small figure the costs can
be cut by consistent saving. This
is as it should be, for motoring in
America is distinctly a democratic
sport and We want to keep it so.
Therefore any suggestions for keep
! ing down the expense bills are quite
in keeping with what we may call
our national motoring ideals. In
the present article we purpose try
ing to tell the car owner how he
may cut something from his fuel
, bill.
Let US begin by saying that the
bills for gasoline and tires are the
two big items in the outlay for keep
ing the car running. They are then
the obvious first points of attack in
any attempt to cut down expenses.
Further. it is the duty OF all car
owners to make their fuel go as far
as possible, because our supply Of
petroleum is barely enough for our
demands now, with still heavier con-
sumption in prospect
The first place to begin the cam
paign to cut down fuel consumption
! is at the carbureter. Here occur
most of the leaks that increase fuel
consumption. The average Ameri-
can car owner drives with a mixture
nearly twice as rich as Is necessary.
In other words almost half the gas
Oline that he uses is wasted. The
modern engine will run on a mix
ture ranging from about fourteen
parts air to one of gasoline to one
| containing only eight parts pair t.
one Of gas. But the engine will do
I It's pest "OTk WHEN Jne mixture Is
made as lean as possible. While
! il burns the heavier mixture II does
not operate with the snap and vim
that it displays on the leaner fuel.
| Practically all modern carbure-
! tiers have an attachment for in
| creasing and decreasing the amount
! Of air injected into the mixture. 1t
| is a very simple matter to expert
| ment with this adjustment, first
/ making the mixture as lean as pos
sible and gradually turning back
| until exactly the right proportions
of gas to air have been found for
satisfactory operation. In addition
to the greater economy with the
| leaner mixture this condition also
| cuts down carbon deposits.
1t may seem to the individual
! car owner that 1t is a very small
matter whether or not he uses too
rich a mixture. but it is the sggre-
| gate of this wastage that counts.
! The individuals waste must be null
tiplied by nearly 6.O0O, 900 to get the
| total amount of motor fuel that is
! practically thrown away. If all
| this potentially useful fuel were
| turned into actual service, instead
of having our fuel supply alarming
| ly tight fit for our needs, we would
have a handsome surplus to take
care of the rapidly growing num-
! bers of motor vehicles.
However. the carbureter is not
| the end of the search for possible
fuel leaks. After the carbureter
! has been properly adjusted to sup
| ply the leanest mixture consonant
with good operation, the whole fuel
| system ought to be gone over from
| engine to tank. Foreign matter
| partially obstructing the pipes, or
| lodged in the strainers, or in the
fuel tank, helps to cut down the
efficiency of the whole system. A
rigid search for leaks in pipes and
| manifolds should be instituted.
Small leaks are peculiarly liable to
! escape notice in warm weather,
when the gasoline is lighter than
IN winter and quickly evoporates
after escaping into the air. Obvi-
! ously actual leakage of the fuel Is
one of the best possible ways to in
crease consumption.
An actual physical leakage of the
fuel is only little worse than
power leaks of various sorts. VAST
ed power inevitably means addition
al fuel to make good the deficiency.
Carbon deposits in the cylinders are
prolific source Of wasted power.
And here is a place where one orig
inal waste breeds further wastage.
When the fuel mixture lis too rich,
heavy carbon deposits are formed in
the cylinders and these cut down
the power output-almost a geo.
metrical progression. Therefore,
keep the engine free from carbon by
having it cleaned out periodically
and help along the good cause by
getting proper carburetor adjust
ment in the first place.
Another source of great power
waste is the valve system. The
valves must seat properly If full
power is to be obtained from the
fuel. The only way to secure proper
valve seating is to have the parts
ground in at intervals of say two
or three months or when there ap-
pears to be need of the operation.
At the present time we are not
getting the same zippy grades of
motor fuel that we once did, and
with this heavier stuff 1t is vitally
necessary that a certain amount of
heat should be applied to the fuel.
Ihere are many ways of doing this,
heated manifolds, hot spots, etc.,
and every car needs some such
equipment. Many of the new cars
are so equipped by their builders,
but IL not, owners should add the
equipment.
Good carburetion is the beginning
of the battle, but as we mentioned
before 1t is not all. The ignition
must also be good or there will be
prodi Rious wastapa ~ nouar Tba