| By :
Terry S Vostor
Old time auto expert William Simpson of Bill's Body Shop laments the time when cars where simple and you simply went to your local handyman or friendly neighborhood auto garage. Not today with complex electronic machines pretending to be simple auto runabouts. Still Bill ( the auto expert consultant) regards himself as an automotive technical incompetent. Give me the old mechanical cars complete with carburetor fuel gas systems he maintains - at least they can always be easily fixed and repaired at reasonable bargain economical north end Winnipeg prices What is the truth about gasoline classifications? To ensure ease of operation always take extra time and effort to lubricate all controls and external moving parts with a little engine oil. Take care to note what the mechanics at your local garage or new car dealership keep on their bench. Some like commercial products like WD-40. Others shy away from these as they find these corrosive. All in all it is personal preference overall by the auto professionals. You can hear the knock , knock , knock of your engine if the octane rate is low. Some of the times expansion of the gas from a hot summer day can do it as well. One other tip off is your ignition "dieseling" after you turn the key to your engine off. Either way its a hard rush for your engine that it does not need or wish - One spark plug is fitted into each cylinder and is simply a carrier of electrodes between which the spark is created. A spark plug comprises the metal body which is screwed into the cylinder head at the top of the combustion chamber. An insulator in the spark plug body contains the central electrode onto which the high tension spark plug is created. A second or side electrode is attached to the bottom of the spark plug body so that it reaches out and over the end of the center electrode. A small gap between the two electrodes is adjustable to compensate overall for erosion and corrosion. Lead is the most common of all gasoline additives. This component became a most important invention and innovation of the mighty Standard Oil Company of Rockefeller fame - and went on to become an important determinant in the progress of the second world war - on both sides. It acts as a valve lubricant also. (Lead also has some unattractive properties as well: a small amount can completely ruin your expensive catalytic converter; The function of your ignition system is to provide a spark in the combustion chamber to ignite the fuel/oil mixture at the correct time and timing. The ignition system comprises the battery , coil , distributor and spark plugs. With normal atmosphere acting on the surface of the gas - its all a piece of cake - that is if the electronics of the fuel system is set correctly at the factory. Also take care to regularly clean out your fuel filters. One is usually located on the fuel pump itself. An additional canister type is sometimes fitted in the main fuel line or lines to the fuel pump or pumps. Simply ask your auto dealer's service tech or verify in your vehicle's driver's manual . Alternatively one can consult the maker and specific manufacturer of your vehicle - either by toll free 800 , 888 or 866 number of online on the internet. In modern cars the fuel injections systems - or in antique and vintage autos the carburetor - both serve the same purpose and purposes. That is to mix the correct proportion of gas and air together. Various connection and connecting pipe lines are also fitted. The aim is to get the correct combination of performance and fuel economy overall. Certain cars (notably 60's high performance engines" from the 1960's and certain mid 70's classic high performance important cars) require high octane to avoid knock and lead to avoid premature wear to the valves of their engine components. If you do require both "lead" and "high octane" what do you do? You have three choices 1) Alternate tank fulls of "lead" and "high octane" - that is leaded gasoline is available or legal in your state area 2) Find a gasoline station that still supplies leaded premium or one that carries lead supplements to add your gas 3) If neither of the above - A compromise between downdraught and sidedraught carburetors are sometimes used. This is best known as the semi-downdraught carburettor used in older vintage or antique automobiles
|