The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-30

Dear Barney Oldfield: My car has a knock at speed of 10 to 20 miles per hour, or on grade at 20 to 25 or 30 niles IL does not knock on first starting but the farther I go the worse 1t knocks as the motor warns up. It sounds like a bear ing knock, but all bearings and cyl inders are in good shape. J, J. J.
 suspect a wrist pin, timing gear or piston for the reason that when the engine is cold the oil Is thick and the knock is not heard As the oil thins down the parts come to- gether more easily.
 Dear Barney Oldneld: VIII you kindly tell me why my Ford Coupe (run only 1000 miles) vlbrates in the pick up." The foot pedals and top also squeak After attaining a speed of about 25 or 30 miles an hour vibration stops entirely.
 Excessive vibration in some four cylinder engines Is hard to explain. All Fords vibrate and when you get too much at a certain speed 1t is generally due to the crankshaft bear ings being worn permitting the crankshaft to vibrate more than 1t would if 1t were held tightly in place. The valves must be seating well, ignition must be good in all cylinders so that even firing results; also the compression must be equal in all cylinders.
 Dear Barney oldfield: During the last few months I get from IA to 16 miles on a gallon of gas. have no power or speed and use plenty of oil. I took my car to a garage man who said that 1t was using en- tirely too much gas. l told him to put it in first class shape, so he put in all new valves, reset the bloc, took up bearings and adjusted the carburetor. Now get 16 miles. think l should at least get 20 miles, H. c. II.
 I believe that for city driving, especially. if there are some grades, 16 miles Is 8 fair average. On long drives you should gAt 20, but I would not complain about 16. If you are are still getting excessive oil con- sumption and at the same time the sumption and at the same time the engine carbonizes faster than 1t should, l suggest that the trouble Is due to worn piston rings.
 Dear Barney oidfleld: I havs been told that coal oil Is a good solution please advise me if 1t is safe to use 1t. A. F. W.
 You may use kerosene, but there are better liquids. Kerosene causes bad odors around the car, there IS likelihood of 8 fire and on moder- off offensive gases. Use$a glycerine and water solution or an alcoholic glycerine solution.
 Dear Barney Oldfield: Cylinder No. f (from radiator) is very slug gish. Have had valves ground with no better results and since then have had new valves installed. Compress sion is good-tappets have been ad- justed properly-valve springs, spark plugs and wiring O. k. Engine runs smooth on any of the three cylinders sirgularly, but goes dead after a few strokes on No. singulaIly unless sIark lever is fully advanced and gas lever Is advanced at least half the way. Will appreciate any advice you suggest to remedy this trouble. Very truly yours. T. l.. BAKER.
 Answer: Assuming that wiring. compression. valves and springs are 0. k. 1t Is evident that the trouble must be in the timing, Probably, as sometimes happens, the point of con tact for cylinder No. Is out of proper spacing with regard to the other three points. It sometimes hap pens that the spaces are not exactly the same between the four points in the distributor head. This would cause No. to fire late, even though other cylinders fired properly and would cause symptoms mentioned Also you might checks up your cam In distributor and see if all points break the same. The cam that breaks No. 4 may be worn. This Is assum ing that the No. cylinder dies for lack of spark and not for lack of gas.