New-York tribune., 1922-11-26
Proper Mixture of Gasoline
and Air. Ignition ali the
Right Moment and Com.
preston Needed for Start
Avoid Fuss and Sputter
spark Control Lever Must
BE Advanced After Start
fo Obtain Best Results
BY Fl. Clifford Brokavs

HtteNSA st ga ~@eofh0pSlS Ca8 oe Jelleu
90 to function properly If all the con-
ditions are just right, But gasoline
cngine is as temperamental as an opera
singer.
A gasoline engine is apt, at times.
10 appear thus temperamental even TO
au owner who has mastered the prin-
elples OF its operation. This is espe-
esaliy true in starting the thing. When
y comes TO getting 3 motor to moving
Z insists On at least three conditions
NO matter how fine an engine it is,
how we'll trained, how good looking, or
now many cylinders, these conditions
must be met before the machine will
give the first consideration to start
ing. Otherwise it will only fuss and
sputter and the owner is quite apt to
10 likewise.
The three things which are neces
AIRY 10 start the engine of an automo-
bile are proper mixture of gasoline
and air, ignition at the right moment
and compression. Gasoline will con
tlnue to burn after ignition, but, con
trary to the general opinion, il will
not explode unless confined, and not
even then unless it has vaporized and
the vapor Is mixed with air. It takes
about 200 cubic feet of air to a pint of
gasoline vaporized to produce good
combustion, though the air supply is
usually much more than this to insure
carrying off the snburned nitrogen
from the air. For starting and speed
ing up, more gasoline is admitted TO
the vaporizing chamber as the rich
mixture ignites more quickly, but for
running leaner mixture produces bet
ter results.
Power for Driving Car
Whatever the mixture which is
burned there would be little or no
power produced if the mixture were not
confined under pressure. A tank filled
with gasoline vapor and air will ex-
plode with great force if ignited,
though there be only the ordinary at
biospheric pressure upon the tank. But
1t must be remembered that if the pres
sure were sixty or seventy pounds to
the square inch the explosion would de-
stroy everything in the vicinity. There
lore the designers of the gasoline en-
gine provided for compressing the gas
before ignition, to produce the greatest
amount Of power for driving the car.
Valves are provided which admit the
charge of mixture 10 the cumbustion
chamber. closing tight after the charge
IS received.
Then the piston rises, compressing
the contents of the combustion cham
Der until pressure of between forty
and seventy-fve pounds square inch
IS reached. just as the piston reaches
the highest point, and the compression
is at the maximum, a spark is intro
duced into the combustion chamber.
Under the pressure the gases burn
much more rapidly and the explosive
force is greater. The gas does not burn
fDSfanfapq0uslv haxyevar
A distinct interval of timeis re-
quired for all the gas mixture to
ignite. For this reason, when the en-
gine is running under its own power.
the spark comes just before the time
Of greatest pressure, and before the
piston reaches top center, so that by
the time the piston starts the down
ward stroke the highest efficiency Of
power will have been reached. There
fore, the spark timing control lever
should be advanced after the engine
IS started TO give the best results.
But the engine should be always
started with the spark fully retarded,
In the mean time the carburetor has
been called upon to send into the com
bustion chamber through the intake
manifold and intake valves charge
of gas mixture. The quantity is regu-
lated by the throttle When starting,
that Is, the air supply should be partly
cut Off causing an extra supply Of
gasoline to be drawn into the mixing
chamber. thus making the mixture
richer and more readily fired. When
the engine has started running, the
throttle is closed to point where the
motor does not race.
Ignition System Function
%he ignition system must deliver to
the combustion chamber at the right
instant a spark of sufficient intensity
to fire the charge. Whether the cleo
trio current is obtained from battery
or magnetic, it must be hot enough to
do its work and there must be tim
ing device which will send the spark
into each cylinder when il is needed
The compression is maintained
when the piston rings and grooves are
free from gummed oil or cabon and
move freely, when the cylinder wells
are not worn oval by Shaping piston
or creased by carbon, when a film
of lubrieating oil is constant on the
side walls and when the valves are
properly seated. Loss of compression
means loss of power and the cylinders
should be tested every little while to
make sure that no cylinder is failing
to do its duty,
Having started the engine, three
more things are required to keep the
thing going. There must be cooling
system Of fabrication and free ex-
haust. When the owner understands
the simplicity of gas-engine operation
he can begin to trace each part of the
operation. He will know why the en-
gine will not start if it will not, and
why it stops when out on the road if ii
does.
During the fall and winter months it
is usually q little more difficult to start
an automobile than in warmer weather.
This is due 10 the fact that the mix
turc lacks wgrmth and consequently
condenses when it strikes the cold evil
indcr walls. This is usually overcome
by priuing the engine and choking the
Sarburetor- 1t may, however. helm TO
put hot water in the radiator. Once
the engine is going in cold weather
and The machinery gets warmed up il
IS apt to run as well as any other
time
An owner will learn after a little ex-
perience what are the temperamental
qualities of his car and will treat ii
accordingly. BY catering 20 few
Little whims that may be found the
driver will get good results and enioy-
ment in the use of the machine.
Ferries tO Jersey