Evening star., 1936-02-09

operate, is pointed out in the bulletin,
which says:
Oils for Summer use are made
heavy in body so that they will re-
main efficient at high temperatures,
which tend to make oil become too
thin. If left in the crankcase during
the cold season, such oils may become
too thick and fail to circulate prop
erly to moving parts. This may be
the source of hard starting troubles
and invariably means excessive en-
gine wear. All manufacturers Of lu-
bricants recommend particular grades
of oil for different seasons, and these
recommendations should be followed
if the driver wishes to insure the sat
isfactory and efficient operation Of his
car.
1t is often the case that the mo-
torists allow too long an interval be-
tween crankcase DRAWINGS, the bull
letin continues. This also is apt to be
the cause of serious motor trouble
and costly repairs. Even the best
grades of oil, containing a minimum
of decomposable natural impurities,
become contaminated during the
course of operation. Water, gasoline,
road dust and minute metal particles
are the most common cause Of oil
contamination.
Water in the crankcase is caused by
the condensation of water vapor in the
cylinders. 1t should be remembered,
that for every gallon of gasoline that
is burned, more than a pound of water
is produced which normally finds its
way out through the exhaust. In
Winter, when the motor is operating
at low temperatures, this water vapor
condenses in the cold cylinders and
seeps down into the crankcase, dilut-
ing the oil.
Gasoline finds its way into the oil
through "blowby" down cylinder walls
past the piston rings, the bulletin de-
clares. The amount of fuel that gets
into the crankcase depends largely
upon the conditions of pistons, piston
rings and cylinder walls, as well as
the conditions under which the car is
operating. Cold weather starting
which necessitates the use of the
choke, and too rich a mixture during
operation, serves to bring about seep-
age of gasoline into the crankcase. A
diluted lubricant is inefficient and con-
ditions of Winter driving, which brings
about this dilution, necessitates more
frequent changes of oil during the cold
season.
Just as a diluted oil Is inefficient so
is dirty oil inefficient and harmful to
the car, according to the bulletin.
Dirt is an engines worst enemy; it
can grind down moving parts almost
as effectively as an emery. Minute
particles Of road dust and metal from
bearing, ring and cylinder wear, find
their way into the oil and cause trou-
BILE. The use of the proper grade Of
oil and recognition of the importance
Of oil change, will do much to prolong
the life of the car and make Winter
driving more pleasant.
X X X
Despite inclement weather, the
Spring sales campaigns of the auto
mobile companies already are under
way, according to the North American
Alliance.
The shift in automobile show dates
has revised the entire automobile cal
endar. with the result that almost all
the Detroit sales organizations have
started the fireworks usually reserved
for late March.
The sudden brakes that have been
put on sales throughout the country in
the last two weeks have contributed to
the decision not to lose any time on
Spring selling campaigns. 1t is fact,
of course, that for four months the
distribution of new cars moved along
on its own momentum, excited by the
Autumn models. To tell the truth, the
whole of 1885 was less of a sales battle
than toboggan ride, on which every
body climbed aboard.
Some of the Detroit sales managers
are wary lest the output of 4,009, ,496
units last year lull their district Or
ganizations and their dealers into the
habit of waiting for sales. There is
some logic, therefore, in the early in
auguration of the Spring sales drives.
Most of the Detroit executives feel
that the next three months will test,
more than any time in the last year
and a quarter, the solidness of the
progress that the automobile industry
has been making. Certainly there can
be no question that the trend of sales
between now and May l will deter
mine whether the factories are to equal
their 1885 records, go on to achieve
new post depression figures or re-
trace some of the ground that was al
most too easily covered last year.