Evening star., 1939-11-26

~ W ou per cent. pump" brakes,
even with chains, to keep wheels
from locking completely.
7. Exercise greater caution gener-
ally and open cowl ventilator to force
out possible carbon monoxide gas,
since opening side windows alone re-
duces inside air pressure and sucks
exhaust gases through floor boards.
Remember: can ounce of preven-
tion Is worth pound of cure"
The conflict abroad is having q
great bearing on the automotive in
dustry, especially the one relating to
petroleum products. According to
Consolidated News Features its ef-
fects are being carefully studied in
Detroit, the motor capital of the
United States.
British methods of stretching
mileage on gasoline have begun to
receive attention in Detroit as
further information on wartime re-
strictions on automobiles reaches
the motor capital from abroad.
Rationing of fuel has presented a
difficult problem for the automobile
driver in Great Britain. 1t is not a
harder problem perhaps than such
restrictions would cause in the
United States, but sufficient to COM
pei radical readjustments in travel
and the use of motor cars.
Under the British regulations
each automobile owner is given a
ration card, fixing the amount of
motor fuel that can be purchased
in a single month. The car owner
has to use enough foresight, there
fore, to make sure that his fuel
supply is not gone before the end
of the month.
The monthly gallonage to which
motorist is entitled is determined
by the horsepower of his car. In
effect, a motorist is supposed to be
able to obtain enough gasoline for
200 miles a month-a driving range
of only 2,400 miles a year. Contrast
this with the average American
mileage of 1000 year.
Small-car owners are likely to
fare better under the allotments
than the owners of large cars, tests
made in Great Britain indicate.
Heavy cars may be cut 20 to 30
miles month from their supposed
potential because of variable fuel
demands.
Although substitute fuels are
available, most of them require
special adaptation in the engine.
The pressing problem for the aver
age British motorist, therefore, in
wolves getting the most out of his
fuel ration.
Gasoline is no longer sold in Brit
ain under specified brands. With
the government in control of all oil
resources, it is distributed without
identlflcation-and, another factor
OF importance. the best grades of
fuel are reserved for the use of
the nation. The gasoline obtained
by the private driver is consequently
OF low octane rating.
Carburetor adjustment stands out
as one OF the first methods of econ
omlzing on gasoline.
]A~NASAohAoA iillACdbC 40
by careful methods of driving.
Violent acceleration, for one thing,
is one cause of fuel wastage. Brit
lsh motorists are warned, therefore,
not to race their motors. They
have been cautioned also to main
tain steady speeds and to shift gears
as infrequently as possible.
| British motorists are learning, as
Americans have done, that one way
of getting the most out of fuel is
to keep the motor warm. Excess
fuel is easily wasted in warming UP
motor. A blanket can be placed
oyer the engine, when it is idle, with
much effect.
Additional savings have been
cited by British engineers in hus-
banding power on the highways.
BY switching off the ignition at
every opportunity, such as long
traffic stops and on deep inclines,
something can be achieved. Free
wheeling, still in use on several
English makes, is factor in econ
omy. Another admonition to Eng
llsh drivers has been not to drive
too close to the car in front to avoid
frequent stops and abrupt accelera-
| ton.
Scarcely any of these devices Is
not available to the driver in the
United States who wishes to improve
his mileage performance.