Evening star., 1932-02-07
MOTORDOM SPEEDING TOWARD
GASOLINE MILEAGE PROBLEM
How Many Miles to the Gallon" Revived
by Rise in Tax Rate and
Gas Price.

gallon, is the fact that it has set the
motoring pubic to thinking in terms Of
economy
Transmissions offer an opportunity to
meet the situation, and doubtless will
come into greater prominence as the
subject comes into sharper focus. II
the motoring public today wolld vii
lIngly shift to an intermediate high
speed gear on every hill or when picking
up in traffic, it would be possible to
effect marked economies through use OF
a 3.5-to-1 or even 3-to-1 high-gea
ratio. Free wheeling which permits
easy shifting. may encourage further
developments in more economical gear
ing The same can be said for synchro-
meshing.
Gear Playing Seen.
With the introduction of automatic
clutches. vacuum operated. the driver
may find actual enjoyment in playing
around with the gears. With no need
to operate the clutch manually, or even
TO give II a thought there should be
greater inclination to endeaVor to OBJ
tain new effects in performance with
the aid Of the gears. The vacuum -op-
Grated clutch as standard equipment on
a few popular makes of cars is expected
to be one Of the methods by means OF
which motordom can prepare itself for
tomorrDws higher gas price level.
Increased use of gears would permit
the use of smaller engines. Already
manufacturers are endeavOring to curb
any increase in displacement. One com
pany has not increased bore and stroke
since 1929, vet has raised horsepower
from 80 to no
America may yet follow the custom in
ENGLAND, where small engines are made
10 give a wide range of performance
with economy. with the cooperation OF
the driver On this side of the Atlantic
drivers previously have refused to shift
gears any more than necessary. but with
gear shifting becoming pleasure the
situation may reverse itself.
Much will depend on the public's will
ingness to cooperate. Higher compress
sion increases economy. or at least per-
mits greater power output without in
creasing engine size. If the public IN
carbon forming oils and incorrect spark
plugs the engineers will be obliged 10
go to lower compression and make gas
eaters Of oversize engines
With a 6-tO-l compression ratio. and
anti-knock gas Of the usual proportions
of tetraethyle lead, it is necessary to
handle the throttle more skillfullv
Crowding the engine with gas is certain
to cause a super-h!gh-c -compression
knock.
Accuracy Essential.
Accuracy Of spark timing is essential
in all the new motors One popular
make Of car will do 16 miles to the
gallon under normal conditions If the
spark is not timed accurately mileage
drops to 13 or less. Where there are
double sets Of breaker points, synchro-
nized ignition service and adjustment
should be made at least every two
months.
Gasoline leakage is a factor in low
mileage with today's car. This is due to
less rigid mounting of engines, to fuel
filters which become loose and to failure
to inspect and clean the carburetor
There is much unnecessary idling. and
in cold weather the time -honored habit
Of using the choke in excess. Because
of the greater confidence in brakes
thousands of drivers continue to operate
their cars much faster than conditions
warrant. Their frequent visits to the
brake service stations reflect this vast
age of power, which is fuel.
In an actual check-up most owners
obtain fewer miles to the gallon than
they claim. Majority do noe know what
mileage they obtain and some day will
be shocked when they come to reali-
zation Of how low it really is. Inaccu-
rate gasoline gauges result in much
wastage Of fuel through spilling at fill
ing stations. Too low an operating tenn
perature is factor in poor fuel
efficiency with many engines.
Higher prices for fuel are on the
cards. What are we going to do about
1t, handicapped as we are with so little
knowledge Of fuel economy and so little
inclination to learn?