THE HONGKONG - TELEGRAPH MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1929.
MODIFIED BODY ON IMPROVED BUICK.
Mechanical Changes Add Power.
Flint, Mich., Aug. 5.--The now 1930 Buick presents itself to-day not only modified in Appearance bat improved mechanically over ita predecessor. It is a bigger. more powerful, more comfortable Automobile than the Bhick of 1929, Yet the prices are to remain about the same.
Although the change in the body | is perhaps the feature of mast ia- terest to present and prospective Balck owners, the machaied fea- tures have so been imprived us to rival the body in interest.
The car has been male tories, broader and lower. The engine's size has been enlarged and ita flower therefore increased. Serni- elliptic rear springs replace the former cantilever, type and, work- ing with double acting shock absorbers, improve the riding qualities of the automobile.
-Braking has undergone decided improvement with the use of internal expansion Servo brakes that are made. proof against squeaking or grabbing The frame, thanks to the rear semi- elliptic springs and new type of shock absorbers; has been lowered. and broadened, thus enabling the builders to lower the entire body two inches. Rubber engine mountings have been improved to provide greater cushioning effects and the transmission and clutch have been redesigned for the better.
Bulge Is Taken Oul,
Most marked in the appearance of the hole Buick is the replace ment of a belt molding for the sudden bulge in the former car. Yet this change has been an de signed as to retain a hint of the rounding shape of the 1929 models" in a much more graceful effect.
From the front, the radiator shell still has that doubly-rounded- effect at the corners, but this is fattened and sobered, down to -dome extent, while the entire Tadiator itself has been widened. and deepener to give the ear a mort substantial and yet graceful appearance.
The lowered sills allow deeper and more comfortable senis,
[By Iurnel Klein.]
The 1930 Buick, shown in the upper photo, as compared with the 1929 model below it, gives an idea of the change made in the appearance of the car. Note the molding replacing the sudden bulge. and the more sedate effect of the hood,
MODERN ENGINES.
Higher Temperatures.
HINTS ON
OIL
The higher temperaturo "of modern engines, the heat of sum-. mer and the higher speeds attain- ed on the highways tend to con- spire toward thinning of the oil in the crankcase, This thinned ail Поку more easily through the system, less force is exerted by the pump to get it through" and the oil pressure drops in the gauge on the dashboard.
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But, the oil may be as good ä lubricant ay the more viscous oll that provails in winter. "All that has happened to the lubricant is murely the reduction of its via.. cosity. But its quality remains.
Nevertheless manufacturers and oil engineers recommend that ́a. heavier oil be put into the crank- chuo in summer than-in winter."
The oil pressure will go down quickly, even with the use of thicker oil, but such oil will pre- vent undue wear on the bearing surfaces. The thicker oll will be 'consumed just as fast as the thin- ner under the strain of higher speed and heut of to-day. More oll is thrown from the bearings to the cylinders, the piston rings Le less effective at high speed prob. ably due to jumping or bouncing, and there is increased oil evapora- tion, and consequent loss through the breather or ventilator
The heavier oil may cause in- creased carbon formation, valve sticking and slightly decreased power output. The only advan- tage from its use is the freedom from the danger of dry bearings.
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The trouble that might result' from reduced oil pressure depends on the lubrication system. In the case of the splash system used on the cheaper cara, the lower pressure shown on the gauge is no sign of its falling. The bear- ing supply is fixed by the dipper action in the crankcase and the pump feeds, the same amount to the trough at all temperatures,' merely working harder than when the oil is thick,
In the case of forced feed lubrication, however, low pressure shown on the dial may point to clogging of the system or any one of several other difficulties. The connecting rod bearing supply comes through short grooves in the main bearings, and these are supplied from the crankshaft drillings during only a fractional part of a second in each revolu- tion of the shaft. High pressure therefore is required to get the necessary quantity of oil to the connecting rod bearings in the short time that the holes ard drillings come together.
A pressure drop in this.system therefore may mean starved main or connecting, rod bearings.
In some systems the pressure supply to the drillings is con- tinuous, and In these" a lowering of pressure may not be a danger sign, because there is merely a
greater
flow of thinner, oil
even
Looking at the 1930 Buick from the front we see stijl zone Kinship, though not as pronounced, to the preceding models. In addition to its appearance, ringed shackle replacing the engineers have been running this the body has been made more com- regular shackle it from the car for thousands of miles to through the 'bearings.
determine fortable by means of larger doors, frame on the steering gear side.
its efficiency and Without this device, a Iowered dont sills and wider sents.
road practicability. steering gear to the back of the creatively that: shock is carried up through the! As a result, they say rather con-
The fact that the oil gets thin is no reason for changing it, car, and so, causes discomfort for 1. The two larger models will neither is the fact that the oil is Fourteen Models Shown.. river and passengers. With the accelerate from 5 to 25 miles au black. The thinner all, The Bow Buick is being pro- fifth shock absorber this is taken hour in 8.4 seconds, while the diluted with gasoline coming down duced in. 14 models divided into up and there is no ill effect on smaller one will make the jump in the cylinder walls, can still be an three series 10. 50 and 60, re- the steering or read:bility.
8.7 seconds,
effective lubricant, The efficiency, placing the 20, 40 and 50, respez Another innovation in Buick 14 2. The 40 and 50 cars climbel however, cannot last as long as a tively. In each of the models, the the seven degree slanting wind- an 11.6 per cent. grade 1,100 fest non-diluted thicker ́ oil. engine bore has been increased an shield, to eliminate glave from long and reached the peak at a But the blackness of the oil or eighth of an inch, with a resultant headlights on cars Behind.
This minimum of 26 miles an hour from dinarily is no danger sign. The increase of eight per cent. in was first introduced on the Mar- a five-mile-an-hour start, while the oil turns black almost immediate- power, the Buick engineers guy. quette, Buick's new companion smaller model, with the sumely after being used, because of
Despite the increased size and cur
start, went 25 miles an hour or oxidation-the result of oxygen power of the endine, however, fuel The stronger frame constriction better at the top.
from the al mixing with the sil economy has been improved in the of the Buick is expected to 3. The top road speed of all to form a soft black material, eliminate further any possibility models is over 70 miles at hour, some of which acttics out in the of shaking in front fenders, lampé accurately calibrated, yet the crankcase, the balance remaining and radiator, and rattle or speed of the engine is much slower in the pil. An oil filter will col- squeaks is the body
than in the older models, due to lect some of this material and be Thermostatically controlled shit- increased platon displacement. Iters have been placed on the 4. Average fuel consumption
come clogged with it. Another help has been the in- radiators of all models, with the in the 40 series is lower than that quickly does this material collect. The hotter the engine the more corporation of double breaker arm thermostat set into the radiator to of its corresponding 1920 series. There is one serious danger from distributors in the 50 and 60 types eliminate noise and sticking. The ranging from 16.5 miles per gallon it-in some engine designs the to insure proper firing of the shutters are so fitted as not toj at 20 miles an hour to 12.25 miles crankshaft drillings may be clog- engine at all speeds and under all interfere with the crankcase ven a gallon at 60 miles an hour, Fuel ged by this material in the oil and consumption on the two larger so prevent lubrication of the series is the same, but there's a bearings.
40 series and has at eat been re taland in the other models. This, the designers say, is due to better balance between engine power and car weight and to Improved carburetion.
conditions.
:
Fifth Shock Absorber.
tilation.
What Cars Will Do,
gain' in economy when the in- creased size and power of the motor is considered.
Among the innovations in the On a test drive in the new Buick Buick and in fact an innovation jover the General Motors Proving In automobile construction, is Grounds, the car responded to All these figures are based on what may be termed a fifth shock Jevery demand of the driver and the use of a four-door sedan carry. absorber. The device is a double- jevery condition of the roads. Its ing a load of 450 pounds.
MILLING ROBOT.
the analogy further, has a pair of DEAL IN MILLIONS.
hands at the end of arms; "One of
these arms reaches out, takes a rough piston casting in its fins
Machines with Minds. anger, and places it in the machine.
SATION. Some of the machine tools used In the manufacture of a car have
Soviet Buys Fords.
NEARLY £80,000,000.
States Petrol Tax.
ALL FOR ROADS? -
An increase in the petrol tax in parts of the U.S. will mean an extra 75,000,000 dollars taxation for motorists to pay.
The casting, passing through the The Soviet Government has contrivance gets its complete ma signed a contract with the Ford PERFECT SYNCHRONI-chining in less than a minute, and Motor Company for 30,000,000 The tax he been increased by then the other arm takes hold of it dollars' worth of Ford products, one per cent. per gallon. In 17 and passes it on, while the first within four years.
States, and three more States have The contract also provides for adopted this method of taxation.. reaches for another.
technical advice and assistance in Ten years ago the tax was first The honing machine is so accurate the erection of motor factories in imposed as a means of producing been developed to such a fine point that it stops itself when a cylinder Nijni Novgorod (Russia), with revenue for road building in all of that they appear to be able to think is honed to .001 of an inch. The capacity of 100,000 cars annually the 48 States, and during that time machine does work that formerly The contract will run for nine it has swelled from about 10,000,000 out the operation they perform. occupied 12 men.
yenra, A J. Brant, an automotive dollars to over 800,000,000 dollara engineer, of Detroit, will go to annually. The new increase will Two new ones, a piston milling
Another interesting machine is a Russia to supervise the building of bring next year's total to nearly machine and a cylinder honing multiple spindle drill which boreal the plants, which will cost 6,000,000 | 400,000,000 dollars, or £80,000,000. machine, are quite uncanny in their 116 holes in one operation and is and 10,000,000 dollars, respec- Motoriste are.protesting strongly.
tively. accuracy. The first one, to carry worked by one man,
that the tax is being used for other purposes than, road work,
The Choice
of the-
G. W. R. L. N. E. R.
SOUTHERN Railway
for their new
į
RAIL ROAD SERVICES
THORNYCROFT
SIX-CYLINDERED
COACHES & OMNIBUSES
Preferred by experienced users!
Further particulars of our Lorries, Vans, etc., for 14 to 7 tons, and Coaches or Omnibuses for 20 to 45 passengers forwarded on request to:-
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JOHN I. THORNYCROFT & CO., LIMITED.
UNION BUILDING.
FIFTH
Write us and our representative will call.
HONGKONG
FLOOR.
DEAL DIRECT.
Telephone Central 4881.
DUNLOP RUBBER Co. (China), Ltd.
Pedder Building.
Tel. 4554.