The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-08-25
Better CarburetOrs
As Offset High Cost
OF Gas Proposed

PARIS, Aug 2~-(Associated Press
MaiD-Gasoline consumption for au-
tomobiles is such a serious question
here. with gas costing from 55 to so
cents a gallon, that recent French
tests to develop better carburetion are
being continued.
Cars smaller and lighter than those
generally used in the United States,
recently have averaged about 60
miles to the gallon of gasoline in of
fetal public contests. The winner in
the principal competition OF this sort
made 81 miles to the gallon.
Large cars, weighing more than A.
600 pounds. averaged close TO l6
miles to the gallon in the recent
Strasburg a C of 440 miles over the
Grand Prix course and under the
same regulations. This was the first
race of this kind organized by the
Grand PriX officials, and it proved
such a success that a similar contest
is announced for next year.
These results, however, were under
the special conditions that govern all
such affairs and admittedly are not
attainable by the average driver, par
ticularly in the United States.
Several cars of a popular Ameri-
can make competed in the LeMans
test for light cars, and their showing
illustrates the progress made in eco.
nomizing fuel. Equipped with the
same carbureter as the winner that
made 81 miles an hour, n ran )!
miles on a gallon and another mad,
only SO miles.
These economy tests, according &c
carbureter manufacturers, taught
them lessons that will show neIt
year in improved design, but so fal
there has beer no revolution in en-
cheering that is applicable to auto
l mobiles in general.
Racing tests, however, give a mis-
leading idea of results, for the cars
l that then average 60 miles to thu
5 gallon operate normally at about g
I miles to the gallon. The difference
> is explained as due TO six factors: thu
use of a special gasoline; equipmen
= with the best %carbureter; %carburete
adjustment to get a weak mixture
that would not serve in ordinar,
2 driving; expert driving; perfect me
l. chanical condition of the car an,
/ special adjustment of the motor 70
2 high compression, and pronounced
advance OF the spark.
The reasons for the better result
\ obtained by French cars over thei
4 American competitors are attribute
to several things. The America
cars were heavier, and it was ms
o dramatically certain that it would TAX
Y more fuel to drive the greater weight
; particularly as the American car
q travelled 20 percent faster. The An
erican cars also stood higher fror
the ground and met greater wind n
~sistence, also the American cars ha
u much larger motors which turne
over at a much slower speed, S
that greater consumption was inev
= table.
u When the different conditions t
d be met by the French and the An
. erican manufacturer are considered
&c experts do not generally feel thu
there is any remarkable superiorit
II in the French car. These differenC
ii grow out of costs of operation an
>, the temperament of the public. Gas
" line costs nearly twice as much i
France as in the United States, an
De French makers, therefore, find
la profitable to spend more money
IS produce an economical motor. TIL
~ is done in several ways, but principa
in ly by having a well-finished, sma
motor, with relatively high compre
sion, turning over at a high spec
is Some small motors make 1000 revoi
Id lions per minute, and French raciI
IN cars approach 5000 RPM. The Frent
re are educated to look more to gasoliI
consumption than to speed and a
Id celeration. They prefer a small mot,
with four speeds, and they are co
A tent to shift gears constantly so
n. TO save gasoline.
or Americans over here somtim
wonder whether the higher origin
re- cost of French cars really Offsets Il
err saving in gasoline. French cars CO
n. responding in size, power, appearan
m and ability to travel cost much mo
he than their American rivals. Americj
id quantity production accounts
nj much difference in price, althouI
;" Citroen, called the Ford of France
of by far the numerical leader amo
re. cars, still suffers greatly when co
he pared with American cars in price.