Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-24
Liberty Fuel" Is
but Little Better
Than Regular Gas

The United States fuel admins
tration, which has received many
requests for information concern
ing aviation fuel called Liberty
| fuel" has made public Information
as to it, including the results OF
various Investigations covering lts
composition. the available supply
of INGREDIENTS, and it's efficiency.
| Tests made in the aeronautlc
| laboratories of the United STATES
army and placed at the d1sposa! OIL
the fuel administration resulted III
| information that the fuel was
made up of approximately 60 per
cent Of benzol; % to 80 per cent
! of kerosene; and the remainder OF
q small percentage of amyl acetate
and probably naphthelene and al
cohol. together with perhaps small
quantities of dissolved solids and
other volatile liquids as yet undo
terTnined-"
OF this analysis, it was pointed
out, the available supply OF the
fuel must depend on the available
supply of benZol. its chief consult
uent. Investigation in this dlrec-
ton showed that if the total pro
' duction OF benzol $500 barrels a
day. were so used the total pro-
duction Of liberty fuel would De
| about 2 per cent of the present
output of gasoline, which is ap-
proximately 100000 barrels
year. Benzol, however, has other
uses, notably in grease extraction
auH rIFhhar
A cumming and corrosion test
also conducted in the aeronautic
laboratories of the army. showed
mendous amount of cumming; l. E.,
GA per cent, accompanied by ex-
tensive Tuning and penetrating
odor" The tendency Of the gummy
residue in the fuel would be TO
plug up carburetors. fuel admin
istration experts said.
In the same army laboratory
test capitalization was found to
set in at IS degrees (FahrD, and
to be practically complete" at Is
degrees Fahr.). Boiling started
at IT'S degrees CF'ahr.) as against
an initial boiling point OF not more
than 140 degrees for motor gaso-
line, Indicating better starting
qualities for motor gasoline.
The bureau of standards stated:
1.-THE results of tests in an aviation
engine indicated that liberty fuel,
compared with gasoline fulfilling
the export specifications for avia-
ton gasoline will, when consuming
10 per cent greater weight of fuel
per horsepower hour, develop
about per cent greater horse
power The (sparb plug used in
liberty fuel showed slightly
plugs used in the run of export
gasoline"
Information furnished the fuel
administration by the navy depart
ment stated that flight Of 40 min
utes was made with the fuel, and
that no observations were made
which show that the fuel would
accomplish any other results thar
to operate the engine in a manner
similar to the aviation fuel which
had been used" Arrangements
were made, the navy department
reported, for sufficient Quantities
OF the fuel to make full tests, but
the fuel was not supplied.
A letter from Benedict CroweH.
assistant secretary Of war. said:
The situation has not reached
such a stage that this office feels
that any definite announcement
can be made, or that IL can ex-
press a definite opinion as to the
true merits of the fuel"
The bureau of mines reported
that it was approached. but, on
asking for the formula in order to
compound the material ard being
refused, dropped the matter. de-
cIining to act under the circum-
stances.
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