Imperial Valley press., 1923-04-07
Do You Know
Operating Cost
By H. CLIFFORD BRoKAw
Technical Director, West Side Y. NJ.
C. A. Automobile School, n. Y.


Attention TO detail in the matter
of operating expenses is part OF
the successful experience in keeping
budget, whether it be for the
household, for business or for tn"
automobile. When il comes to lie
tail tcmperaments vary. To attend
to a detail may be pleasure to one
person and "a bore to another. To
those automobile owners who play
around their machines a good deal
as a feature of their recreation, 1e.
tails have some appeal, especially
when they represent economies.
IN the operating expenses of
motor car the ma jor items might be
listed as gasoline, oil, tires, supplies
and repairs. If an owner is inter
ested in getting the maximum ser
vice out of mis- car at a minimum OF
cost consistent with such service he
will be willing to take the time TO
study the machine and learn how il
operates best.
Determining Gas Used
The amount of gasoline a ear uses
varies greatly with the size and
weight of it.. There is tendency
toward greater use OF lighter ears.
Perhaps Is miles a gallon of gaso
line might come near being an av-
erage for all ears. The heavier We
hicles often give about 10 miles or
less a gallon of gasoline and some
of the lighter models will give 20 10
This Is mo-
impossibility with some cars, as tie
record mileage is well over 80 miles
gallon. But the owner who gets
exceptional mileage must keep his
athine in perfect running condi-
ton. Often high mileage on gas Is
not obtained because the owner de
mands other things, such as quick
accelleration, big power for hill
climbing and high speed. To obtain
these the carubreter cannot be ad-
iusted to the minimum gas eonsump-
tion point.
With gasoline at about 81 cents q
gallon the cost per mile for fuel can
be estimated at about 212 cents for
a heavy ear and about "A cents for
light machine. BY actual tests,
the interested owner can find out
what are the best results that can
be obtained with his particular ear.
With oil, the consumption varies
greatly in different ears; with some
machines in excellent condition a
quart of oil may do for 1000 miles.
The variation in the consumption
of oil may be due in part TO the
way the pistons fit in the rings. Or
il NAV be due 10 the amount Of OIL
the mbrivating system delivers. If
the oil is fed into troughs the level
may be carried so high that more
oil will be fed than is decided.
This will then work by pistons,
be burned and given off in the
form Of smoke. The same result oh
tains ii the pistons and rings do not
fit properly. Even though the oil
does NOT burn it may become dilut-
I'd by gasoline getting into it, due
to the engine beginning to run At
TOO slow temperature or too loose
IN fitting piston rings. Thus the
oil becomes unfit for lubricating
purposes and must be replaced.
Quart Of Oil Goes Long Way
II is remarkable how far quart
OF oil will go in lubrieating motor
when the engine is in good condi
iion. With the cost about 25 cent?
d quart, IL is not difficult for tbs
owner, after q little experiments
iion, TO estimate his oil expense.
Tire expense can be estimate
safely nj cents mile. or q ceni
. tire for each mile. This cost vii
differ, depending on the kinds OF
roads driven over. City pavement
naturally are not so hard on tire
~ some country roads. Then, too
overloaded ears or underinflateo
tires tend 10 increase the tire cost
sos each mile. Non-skid chains
especially If put on too tightly
will increase the wear and tear OF
tires. Also, tires on a ear left oni
Of doors in all sorts of westher ~
lefs fof long time standing in a
raraee tend 20 deteriorste faster
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