Show U U R il ff k CAUSE S care and cleanliness counted among most important precautionary steps backfiring BACK K fai FIRING IS DANGEROUS most frequently caused by too lean a mixture of gas starting when engine Is throttled down keep drip pans clean the most careful auto driver Is likely to have a tire lire for auto fires frequently are due to causes not under his bis control greater caution of course will nill mean a greater measure ot ol safety and it is only by close attention to details that seem trivial that 0 one ne may be reasonably sure of safety backfiring back firing is the principal cause of auto fires and this most frequently Is caused by too lean a mixture of gas starting even when the engine is throttled down says one motor expert most lost often this is in a colden cold engine which is why most auto fires take place in winter in view of the danger of a lean mixture it is the part of wisdom fur for the operator to enrich it in winter especially ally this will pre present ent the danger of back fire and when the engine is warmed up the mixture can easily be readjusted flame from air intake when the engine back fires there comes a sheet of ilaine from the air intake and it if thero there is any gasoline in the drip pan as too frequently is the case this usually starts blazing blaz lug there should be little or no gasoline in the alic pan but supply pipes and connections will get leaky while often poor seating of the float valve may lead to an overflow of the carburetor if this Is the case the valve should be taken apart and cleaned so the float will seat properly high speed starts fires running for a long time at high speed is another cause of fire this sometimes raises the exhaust pipe to a red or even white bite heat and when as often Is the case this ehaust 1 is placed too close the woodwork of the car it in may ay be ignited particularly it if the woodwork has become greasy or olly oily thus the careful owner or chauffeur who keeps his car clean Is in far less danger than the careless owner occasionally fires are started by opening the muffler cutout in starting if the car is in a garage this Is particularly ticul arly dangerous for the presence of spilled gasoline and oil adds to the chance of the fire spreading A slight gasoline drip under the car may lead to a serious fire from this baube cau e gasoline vapor being heavier than air remains close to the floor and muy may be set off in alls way short circuiting odthe ignition or lighting wires Is a cause bluit must bo be guarded against |