Opinions and Queries
Page 53
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What the Colour of Oil Can Tell
ALTHOUGH the products of my company may be described as technically competitive with molybdenum disulphide, I must support G. J. Vineall on his complaint published by your journal on May 16.
I am quite prepared to discuss the advantages of graphite over those of MoS2, but whatever claims are made for the latter material it is quite certain that pale engine-oil additives contain neither graphite nor molybdenum disulphide in sufficient quantity either to prove or disprove relative claims..
Possibly, some of the additives being marketed can be classed as harmless, but the public must be advised that the benefits obtainable from solid lubricants cannot apply unless there is at least enough of such material incorporated to ensure formation of the low-friction film. Unfortunately, colour alone cannot guarantee that the desired quality or particle size is employed, but if it is not "blackish " there is certainly a deficiency in quantity as well.
London, W.I. . F. STANLAKE.
Jenograph, Ltd.
Automatic Transmissions on film Cars
AUTOMATIC and semi-automatic transmissions are coming into the news these days. For some time we have been operating hire cars with the latter type of transmission, from our Irish branches. There are approximately 40 of these, as against 450 models with clutches, and here are a few observations concerning them.
Most garages, especially in the provinces, have had as yet little experience of the system. If something happens to the transmission—and we find that from time to time something does go wrong—then the hirer may have to get the car transported to a 'distant garage, or a mechanic brought to the car. He• is lucky if there is an expert near at hand.
But, for the city driver, assured of quick, reliable service, this semi-automatic system is quite a good proposition. In heavy traffic, involving much gear changing, driving is easier and more enjoyable.
It is the policy of our company to ensure that each vehicle of our fleet is given a complete servicing every week. Yet, despite this fact, and taking everything into consideration, the serni-automatic gear has not yet proved to be altogether satisfactory. Another point is that they rather fall between two stools. For Americans, familiar with fully automatic transmissions, they do not completely fulfil their requirements, whilst they are not yet particularly popular with some British and Irish motorists.
Dublin. DERMOT A. RYAN,
Managing Director, Ryans Car Hire, Ltd.
Towing Without a Second Driver
THE towing bar, patent No. 792,341, referred to in your résumé of patents in your issue dated May 30, does not seem to me to be a new idea.
I have seen ex-W.D. Leyland lorries of the First World War converted into trailers for use on Lincolnshire farms and equipped with the same type of tow bat.,
Overseal, near Burton on Trent. F. KIRK.