Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-08


The automotive world owes grea,
credit to the work of the Bureau oil
Standards. under the dictatorship OF
George X. Burgess. In a recent re-
port of Mr.. Burgess. through the
Department of Commerce, at a sub
committee hearing of the House on
appropriations. just made public, the
sum OF $4,000 is asked for the in
yestisation of automotive engines.
This amount is the same as obtained
by the bureau last year.
Among the surveys and investiga
tons carried on by the Bureau of
Standards include methods of meas
urIne anti-knock characteristics of
tuel. the starting OF intcrnal-combus
ton engines, the phenomena of COM
buston. the economic volatility OF
motor fuels, recommendation in re-
gard TO the purchasing OF oils by the
Federal Government, cooperative in
vestigation OF lubricants for artillery
automotive equipment. automobile
brakes and brake testing and auto.
motive headlights.
FROM the general surveys the fol-
loving conclusions were reached
Gasoline consumption is somewhat
greater IN Winter than in Summer.
Dilution of crank-case oil is consist
emily greater the heavier or less
volatile the fuel. Diiuiion of crank
case oil IS much greater in cold
weather than in warm. Small differ.
tnces in initial volatility have a large
effect on engine starting. Starting
performance of the fuel is the quail
iiy. most readily noted by the driver.
a survey on dilution showed that
oiiution depends upon the ,empera.
ture OF the engine cylinder walls and
upon the volatility of the gasoline.
The " per cent point on the A. 6.
(. / VI. disiillation curve being taken
as an index Of volatility: tha, dilu.
Ton increases with richness of mix
ture: that dilution decreases with
higher temperature in the crank.
case. and particularly when the
ersnk-cate is ventilated: that diiu.
ten Goes not increase indcfniteIv.
Dnt tends 10 reach a definite per-
centsse. depending upon average 90.
Grating conditions; that this enui.
Hcriuni diliitior is rot much affected
py air temperature. piston and ring
III or oil vicosity.
To Reduce Dilution.
Thus 10 reduce diiution the bureau
recommends 10 operate with high
cylinder wall temperature. reduce The
tine required TO reach normal Oh.
atins temperature. alwzys use as
'eSn mixtures as practicable. opcr.
ate with high oil temperature and
Feniilste the crsnk-rase.
AS the bureaus work on fuel con.
sumption was supplemented by the
ROAD service tests. likewise the lab.
orstofy results on diiution were sup.
plemensed by the analysis Of some
~ samples Of used erank-ease oils
hese samples were collected accord.
ing 10 carefully prepared schedule
from typical makes OF cars dixtrib.
pied throughout the country. The
laying Out OF this schedule and ro,.
lection of samples was undertake.
by the research department A dis.
ftlisfioH test for 2ssolines has been
devised which duplicates the eondi.
tons IN sn engine manifold. Tb,s
method is being studied by several
rehnerifs and promises 10 be of con.
tlAeFsbIe value.
The third major project of the bu.
fess ~ the automoiiye liue-.iha,
engine starting MAS affected by fpet
CONFERENCE.-The been under wa,
Tor more than year and is the sub.
ifd of report ~ be presented a,
the research session. The sneei6,
question: proposed for solution wa,
THIS What changes in fueI would b.
nesSsd ~ give the same sfartins
ability in Winter as in Summer
The results 10 date answer this aues
ton snd several others. They show
that IN the past motor fuels hzg.
been marketed without much fegsg.
10 varying requirements for stari
ing, because the necessary knowi
edge oi what was required for start
irR. did not exist, They have show
how engine design Nigh, be r1odjfe.
10 improve starting and what Tue
Characteristics are required for cas-
starting ~ any low Temperature
Easy starting requires. small nun
her Of engine revolutions necesssrl
10 start, and means not only con
seniehce 10 the operator. bnt ais,
economy ou fuel consumption, say
ing in batteries and = minimum q
diutlon II the lubricant,
Means Provided.
Means are now provided for tn