especially those which had perhaps been standing idle too long, or subjected to Hudsonotes excessive short-run or stop-and-go driv- ing — or used with inferior gasoline. Today, with special top-cylinder lubri- Column of Mechanical Miscellany cants not as readily available as they by George Schmidt were in past years, some mechanics Mishicot, Wisc. suggest using an equivalent amount of plain light straight-grade motor oil, usually Accessories and Additives #10, in the gasoline instead. (Multi- grades such as #10W-30 should be (part 14 of a series) avoided since they do not dissolve well in fuel, and may also cause added TOP CYLINDER OIL or "valve lu- deposits.) Probably a high-quality two- bricant" is an accessory additive item miles. A few brands such as DuPont or cycle engine oil, or even some aircraft which has been available for decades, STP which included a sizable amount of oils, could be used for this purpose as probably since the 1920's or earlier. ordinary anti-gum gasoline solvent along well. Many brands of "top oil" were offered, with the top oil could be used in a A FEW TOP-CYLINDER lubricants also including some from independent sour- double (8-ounce) amount; or if preferred, are still available at present. Although the ces and others from nearly every major the other brands could be used along convenient 4-ounce cans have disap- oil company, including Mobil (Upper- with an equal amount of such solvent peared from gasoline stations, several lube), Shell, Texaco, Amoco (also sold at (Gumout, Gold Eagle, etc.) purchased familiar brands (in larger containers, 12 Standard stations), Marvel, Pyroil, Shaler separately. This latter type of solvent, ountes or more) can be found at some (Rislone), Wynn's, Bardahl, and more. still generally available and useful mainly auto-accessory or repair shops, the During the past few years, however, for carburetor cleaning purposes, is clean automotive departments of some chain most of these brands have apparently burning, but should not be used in stores, and similar outlets. Brands may been discontinued or become hard to stronger than recommended concentra- include Marvel Mystery Oil (Robert Poe, find, due no doubt partly to continued tions, since damage to the fuel pump Illinois, reports that a special effort has "antismog" hysterics. Used in excessive diaphragm could result. been made in recent months to increase amounts, these products could of course None of the products mentioned here the distribution of this long-known pro- dirty not only the air but the spark plugs; could work miracles on a worn-out or duct); also Bardahl Top Oil (now in but used correctly, they could make for a damaged engine or carburetor, but they plastic bottles), Rislone Karbout (oil plus somewhat cleaner burning engine, mainly often had a useful "spring tonic" effect special solvent), and perhaps others. by reducing valve sticking and valve on units in good to fair condition, These products are intended to help guide wear, and probably also by reducing upper cylinder and top ring wear and 41111111 1111111 possible ring sticking. Better fuel economy .m...............1111111111111111111111111111111111111 W was sometimes claimed as well, but this writer found the most noticeable benefit from occasional use of these products to be a slightly smoother running engine, and perhaps also easier starting. This seemed to be especially true with , • e older flathead engines such as Hudson en5 (including Eights). Surprisingly, it also proved true with small air-cooled engines TUNEUP (on power lawn mowers and the like), some of which have been notorious for PEPS UP THE OLD OIL sticking valves and power loss when hot. Restores that New-Car Zip to the old vs: A number of the top-cylinder lubricants and sluggish engine. TO GASOLINE contained small amounts of special cleaning materials in addition to the BREAKS-IN the NEW TUNEUP usual light oil. Amoco's "Top-C-Lube" Provides extra insurance for maximum '"""a""M""n"""".nnn•n••1 performance from the new engine. It OIL included an ester-type solvent which gives additional protection to pistons GasoL,,d was particularly effective. and cylinders and helps set rings properly. Most often these "top oils" were used si mply by adding them to the fuel tank, This is a specially designed petroleum base product with one 4-ounce can for each 10 to 20 a chemical additive. The oil used has exceptional cleans- ing properties which, together with the chemical addi- gallons of gasoline, at every filling or tive, help tune up engines when used as directed. Hudson perhaps at every 2 to 4 fillings or 1000 Tune-up Oil is entirely harmless—will not injure the finest mechanism. White Triangle News 31 lubricate valves, guides, and the upper solvents such as Pyroil Carburetor Clean- tavern, he came out smiling, and com- cylinder area; remove fuel deposits, free er, Gumout, and Gold Eagle Gum Chaser mented that he thought he might be able sticking valves, and reduce repair costs. have already been mentioned. They can to fix me up. He called to his wife to bring Your columnist's experience has been be found in both aerosol-spray and some cinnamon (yes, I said cinnamon!). that they generally fulfill all of these liquid form, and they provide cleaning "After filling the radiator and running claims to some degree. action but no top-cylinder or valve the engine to get it hot again, he put Since the 1950's and probably earlier, lubrication. about 1 1/2 heaping tablespoons of cin- there have been accessory devices which A lower-cost type of fuel additive namon into the radiator, put the cap offer an alternative method of feeding contains mostly an alcohol (either methyl back on, and waited while the engine top-cylinder oils to the engine. These or isopropyl, both unfortunately undrink- continued running. You could see the "top oilers" usually mounted underhood able) and has only slight cleaning value, leak start to plug up, and in about 15 and featured a glass jar for the oil, along but is highly miscible with both gasoline minutes the leak stopped. Car smelled with a vacuum-operated feed system and water, and so will remove condensed like Danish pastry, too. He said that including a metering control and one or moisture from the fuel by holding it in ginger will do the same thing, but it will two tubes leading to the carburetor base suspension. "Heet" is one of the familiar. plug up the cooling system. (sometimes a special base). Accessory brands. "I ran that Pontiac with the cinnamon top oilers for cars and trucks were One other class of fuel additives has radiator for 9 months before getting it available from several companies (in- appeared since the recent irresponsible repaired — with no problems, either. cluding Pyroil, if memory serves. Does outlawing of tetraethyl lead in gasoline. Since that time I've done the same stunt any reader remember other brands, and These additives, it is claimed, can counter- with my daughter's '77 Firebird and Bob the approximate years?) Your columnist act or minimize the harm to engines (and Patzer's '52 Hudson Hornet; and needless has seen one of these oilers (brand to engine performance) caused by the to say, my Hudson has a small bottle of unknown) on a '52 Hornet, and another elimination of lead compounds in fuel. cinnamon in the glovebox at all times." on a Studebaker of the same era. We Though your columnist has not yet tried Thanks, Carl, for an interesting tech would like to know whether any Hudsons any additives of this kind, we are hoping tip. It is certainly one of the more in our club are equipped with working to hear from readers who have tried appealing suggestions for making an top oilers at present. Because of vacuum them, either in a Hudson (especially a emergency radiator repair. Since receiving actuation, most of these oilers probably hot Hornet) or in a Brand X. your letter, I've been told that some have tended to feed more oil at idle It is wise to read the instructions motorists have also used granulated (when vacuum level is high), and less carefully before using any additive. For pepper for this purpose. when the engine is working under load badly sticking valves, some brands (in- ALTHOUGH POWER STEERING and with throttle open. cluding Karbout) are recommended to brakes may not be the most distinctive Bob Poe, who recently assumed the be poured into the intake, through accessories in Hudson history, they Marvel Oil Company distributorship for carburetor (engine running), and left to certainly have drawn the largest number Chicago and the surrounding area, stand for several hours before restarting. of reader comments during past months. informs us that the Marvel Inverse Oiler, If an additive is to be mixed with the Most of those who wrote apparently in several models and sizes, is still being gasoline in tank, one method is to make a view these two options more favorably marketed for use on cars, trucks, and premix with a gallon or two of fuel in an than does your columnist. A letter from stationary engines. The special feature of external container, but this is seldom Forrest Schaeffer, Pennsylvania, tells us: this oiler is that it feeds top oil in inverse necessary. An easier method is to pour "I purchased my Super Wasp in 1967 proportion to engine vacuum level, so the additive into tank; then follow on the streets of the Bronx, New York. At that most of the oil is supplied when the i mmediately with several extra gallons of the time it had no power steering.