Experience With Straight Oil
Page 53
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AMONGST the remarks by J. L. Hepworth, on -r-ipage 669 of your issue dated January 25, he said that he had evidence that not only did a high-grade heavy-duty oil keep engines cleaner, but it reduced ring and cylinder wear, and that he had not seen any oil engine that would run 50,000 miles on straight oil without the scraper ring becoming choked.
It would have given me great pleasure to have invited him to examine the pistons; rings, connecting rods, bearings and bores of a Gardner 5LW engine which was partially stripped last November at 69,000 miles.
There was the merest trace of lacquer, little or no hard carbon, but a small amount of easily removable soft carbon on variouS piston surfaces and the interiors. The rings were all quite free and there was no trace of gum or packing. The top compression ring of each bore had naturally increased its gap, so standard rings were fitted after decarbonizing. I use plain, straight mineral oil of S.A.E. 30 grade and change the sump contents every 3,000 miles.
I suggest that optimum free-ring conditions can be of this order, or of even higher mileage, if the maker's recommendation in respect of examination during the early engine life be followed. The Gardner concern,
for example, suggests that pistons should be withdrawn for examination." at 10000-15,000 miles in the case of a new unit. This, together with a light decoke, ensures that the bedding-down of bores and rings is under observation.
Although I have only a limited
experience of oil-engine operation, I believe that there is too great a tendency amongst many operators to let the engine continue to run while it will, just because it costs them more initially. In practice, vigilant service during the first 25,000 miles would result in astonishing trouble-free mileage between major overhauls—and that' on straight oils.
1 am not suggesting that detergent oils may not give greater engine life under conditions of arduous service, but I claim that they are an adjunct to, rather than a condition of, successful economy in oil-engine operation. D. MOORE-HEPPLESTON, Manager.
Rotherham. (For Messrs. Peel's Tours.)
BUS OBSTRUCTION BY PARKING H..
I WAS interested to see published in your issue dated February 8, the mature observations of an experienced driver, W. F.. Yorath, on road safety. If the remarks of this correspondent could be taken to heart by the police, particularly those concerned with parking at or near bus stops, not only would this be in the interests of public safety, but it would ease the task of bus drivers.
My route in London, No. II, is one of the worst in this respect, as it is often impossible to bring a vehicle within 7 ft. of the kerb at any of the stops in say— King's Road, Chelsea. This is by no means a wide thoroughfare, but is one in which cars are parked on both sides of the road; with total disregard of bus stops or pedestrian crossings and often practically reducing traffic to a single line.
I can honestly say that in the two years during which I have worked this road, I have never seen any action taken against these unthinking drivers, yet only a few days ago, I was cautioned by two policemen for stopping for two minutes at Buckingham Palace Road by Ebury Bridge, where the road is some 60 ft. wide and was at the time almost devoid of traffic. I was told that might be summoned for this " offence."
It is time that the selfish objections of trade councils and similar bodies to any action being taken against parking cars in narrow streets should be swept aside.
London, W.13. E. J. COOKE'.
HITTING THE EYE WITH SIG NS
qAFETY on the road is becoming a Serious problem, yet in the courts legal people are arguing about the length, etc., of black and white stripes, others are measuring them and gloating over the fact that they may be able to sling a'lot' of silly figures at some unsuspecting official, thereby causing much legal argunient. While all this shilly-shally is taking its course, people are being killed or injured on the roads.
The people of.1952 are a mass of nerves and moods; the authorities may put down. as many zebra croSsingS as they like, plus a multitude of confusing signs, and they will not decrease the death rate. A driver mayhave a tiff with his wife, a dressing-down from his boss' or 'a setback in business, then his nerves and mood take over and bingo there is another accident.
The community spirit, tolerance and good manners On the road'clo not 'exist, consequently the standard of driving is deteriorating.. The only way to reduce the number' of • accidents is to hit human: beings right where accidents begin--in the eye. By this 1 mean that whether persons are walking or driving, any, road sign should be immediately in front of the eyes. The sign should be suspended over the traffic and preferably lit so tbat, no one can miss seeing it.
• Letchworth.. • J. H. IVIoLE0o. [There is quite a lot in what this correspondent suggests, although the employment of signs in this way might be difficult in practice.--Eo.] DISPENSATION AFTER TWO MONTHS WITH reference to the item "Illegal Running " Admitted," on page 59 of your issue dated February 15, we would like to correct any wrong impression the article might give.
This service to Stanlow has not been run without a licence since last August; it was operated from August to the end of October, 1951, without a licence, but since then has been run on a dispensation on Crosville Motor Services licence, by permission of the Licensing Authority for public service vehicles, North-Western area, pending the hearing of our application.
We would point out that this service is strictly a private party of workmen hiring the coach for their own convenience (it does in fact cost them a great deal more than, say, going by train) and being a private party we presumed we were right in operating without a licence. This was, of course, rectified when the Authority drew our attention to the matter.
BARKERS MOTORS LTD.
Liverpool, 15.