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When using any liquid fuel it must first be changed to a gaseous form in order to get the best results from the
combustion. In this form it is most easily mixed with the air.
The vaporizer in the White Car serves the purpose of changing the fuel from a liquid to a gaseous form. It
enters the vaporizer and is changed by the heat therein to a gas. The earlier vaporizers were in the form of a casting
having several through passages which were connected in series. The fuel travels back and forth at least six times
before emerging as a hot gas. As has been mentioned before, the later vaporizers are of steel and very light compared
to the old ones. The latest ones for kerosene contain steel rods running through the passages. About the only trouble
that can happen to the vaporizer is having these passages become coated or filled with carbon. Gasoline and kerosene
are known as hydro-carbon fuels and are composed principally of hydrogen and carbon. If this carbon is deposited in
the passages it will eventually check the flow of gas or fuel. This condition, however, has been almost entirely
eliminated in the later types of vaporizers.
A very common cause for choking is putting too much graphite on the vaporizer screws after cleaning. When
the fuel first passes through some of the graphite which is on the inside is carried with it and lodges at the nozzle tip.
After cleaning the vaporizer it should also be blown out with air pressure with the nozzle tip off.
A slow gas leak is the most common cause for vaporizer trouble. The fuel passing through the slow leak
drifts through the vaporizer without any velocity. Owing to its lack of velocity it has time to become hot enough to
cause the carbon to drop or deposit. A good way to detect a leak after the car has been standing a few moments, is to
apply a match to the vaporizer nozzle. If there is a flame at the nozzle it shows a slow gas leak. Be sure to wait a few
moments, for after stopping there is usually a slight amount of gas left in the vaporizer. If the flame continues to burn
and will not die out, it shows a leak.
If the pilot light flame is turned too high, especially if the car is standing, it will overheat the vaporizer.
When the first fuel passes into the vaporizer upon starting the heat is so intense that the carbon will be deposited.
When the vaporizer tip begins clogging regularly with particles of carbon it is a wise thing to remove the vaporizer
and clean. It shows that a carbon deposit has already started inside.
The cause of a split vaporizer is the result of overheating from a high pilot light, or it may result from
clogging and overheating at the same time. A split vaporizer is easily detected by a smoky fire. Loose vaporizer
screws may give the same result. Sometimes a red flame can be seen within the fire box by looking through the
vaporizer door.
Neither the pilot light nor the vaporizer should be a source of much trouble, providing certain precautions are
taken. If the pilot light persists in going out, it is probably either dirty or turned too low. The pilot light should be
turned high enough so that the noise of the flame is just noticeable from the outside. When burning kerosene it should
be carried with a flame much higher. The pilot light should burn with a blue flame and the little flame-spreading cone
should be at a bright, cherry red. A light gas mixture in the mixing tube may blow the pilot light out by accumulating
before ignition, and igniting with a puff. Water in the gasoline tank will extinguish the pilot light flame. However, the
tank must contain quite a bit of water before giving any pilot light trouble. If the pilot light cannot be turned high
enough to make a slight roaring sound or will not burn with a blue flame, the probabilities are that it needs cleaning.
This can be done by removing the small screws and cleaning out the passages with a drill provided for the purpose.
Care should be taken in replacing the screws that there is a small copper gasket under each one, and that too great
pressure is not applied in tightening, as the threads are very fine and easily stripped. In lighting the later style pilot
lights, where there is no flush valve, be sure that the drip cup is full of gasoline before applying match. Do not open
regulating valve too much at first, as a sudden rush of fuel may chill the pilot light vaporizer and cause it to burn with
a red flame.
30
Items on CHART #3
VAPORIZER
PILOT LIGHT
MINOR ITEMS
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