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Show Winter Driving Cause of Motorists' Trials The automobile engine should have plenty of power, especially during the cold, winter months. A few motorists, motor-ists, when their engines begin to lose power, start experimenting with different dif-ferent kinds of fuels, little realizing that the trouble is loss of compression, which is a loss of power. There are many causes of this trouble which are difficult to remedy, writes Fred Kingsbury Kings-bury in the Cleveland News. The first thing is to test the compression com-pression of each cylinder. If one varies from another the next job is to locate the cause. There may be a leak in the piston rings, or there may he a leaking valve, pet cock, spark plug or through the cylinder head gasket. gas-ket. Of course a cylinder may be scored, but that is another problem. Tighten Cylinder Head Gasket. The cylinder head gasket must be kept tight. This tightening must be done evenly all around, taking up a little on each nut until all are tight. Sometimes the piston rings are turned so that all openings are in line. A poor grade of oil will prevent pre-vent a tight compression seal. Be sure to use the finest oil obtainable and the grade prescribed by the manufacturer man-ufacturer of your car. If a cylinder is worn oval there is no remedy except that of reboring. Sometimes kerosene will help to free the piston rings of carbon. This should be used, however, when the motorist is ready to drain the crank-case, crank-case, as dilution oflhe oil is likely to result. Tighten Spark Plugs. Make sure that the spark plugs are tight and that a gasket of good copper and asbestos is provided. A cracked' porcelain will allow compression to escape. If your engine is fitted with priming prim-ing cups be sure they are tight and stay closed. During the compression stroke the valves should be closed. If there is a broken or weak spring, or even faulty adjustment, the closing operation opera-tion will be prevented and there will be no compression. If the timing is incorrect, a loss of compression will be noticeable in all cylinders in the engine. Keep the engine free of carbon and be sure the"" time and tappet adjustments adjust-ments are correct |