Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-29
HIGH-COMPRESSION MOTORS
URGED TO CONSERVE GAS
ONOLD I y NO1NO1T\
Oil Board Seeks Hig cher Auto Engine
Efficiency With Minimum of
Fuel Consumption.
RY RICHARD LEE STROUT.

ing small amount OF ioollle 10 otui-
nary gasoline they changed its comots-
ton characteristics to an amazing ae-
cree Later it was shown that otner
substances. like aniline and Xylidine,
sclenium. tellurium and lead. proouceo
The same results, some OF them 10 a lar
greater extent than iodine. Hitherto en-
cine compression and engine efhciency
had been limited by the tendency OF
fuels at certain points Ito knock The
new substances added 70 the fuel re-
moved the knock"
It was the beginning OF great new
development that has, among other
things. carried the slightly more eNpen-
sive but potentially far more eticlcnl
casolines TO the far corners of the
United states and Canada. The second
report of the Federal Conservation
Board points TO the economies OF the
new type fuels and lends the weight OF
its authority to the plan OF revolution
izing automobile engine design by
building motors especially adapted Tor
using these fuels and no other.
Conservation Is Seen.
The board offers the proposal as a
conservation measure and ADDS Its voice
10 those in the industry who claim tnal
great economies i'll fuel consumption
can be effected in this manner. With
the latest glittering models OF the auto
mobile show fresh in mind, and with
1925 starting of with the keenest KIND
of competition among motor manulac-
turers. and finally with clash between
two large oil companies in the far-fung
battle line of oil distribution. anything
that means more mileage on less gas is
important. not only nationally out IN
terrationally.
resenting the American Bar. the Petro-
ieum Institute and the Government,
meeting under the Oil Boards auspices,
is now holding hearings on oil conserva-
ton methods in Washington. The re-
port of the Federal Oil Conservation
Board serves as background for all these
matters. The board interprets the fu-
ture of the American motor car IN terms
Of a fuel that will gradually increase
in price. with the engine growing more
and more efficient.
Hand in hand with this prognostica-
ton. the board suggests future sources
Of motor fuel supply If Americas gaso-
line is exhausted. The board suggests
that substitute fuels will perhaps come
from oil shales: from So-called liquid
coal and finally. perhaps from alco-
hol derived from agricultural produce
Ike grain or corn. But long before
these supplies are tapped the efficiency
OF the American automobile engine OF
the future viii have been increased, per-
i,aps doubled, by the Ire of high-com-
preston fuel in motors built especially
for their use.
Report to President
The next step in motor improvement
with the object Of fuel economy Is in
stallation Of the high compression en-
gine." the Oh Board composed OF Sec
retaries Hubert Work. Dwight Davis,
Curtis Wilbur and Herbert Hoover. re-
port 10 President Coolidge. but an es-
ser ial preliminary 10 the general use
OF the improved motor Is the wide dis
rribution Of special rotor fuels adapted
TO htca compression.
Act ,rdingly they recommend that the
American Petroleum Institute ana the
National Automotive Chamber of Com
naerce Join IN providing for census by
States Of filing stations now supplying
the special fuels essential TO the adop-
ton OF high compression. The board
sslnls ii up in saying that such ce!.-
rls would enable the automobile de-
signer 10 decide whether the time had
arrived when the more economical high
compyessio.l engine could find a coun-
try-wide market"
Has me time for such a revolu-
tioaary step at last arrived? The
board apparently takes the eventual
substitution cf the more specialized
engine for granted. The past auto
mobile show IL Ncas IS that some 81
the manufacturing are already antici-
pAting the development. Future auto
mobile shows VII show whether the
idea spreads As far back as 1922 two
experinentefs. Thomas Midgley, jr.,
and T. A. Btyd. presented paper be-
fore the American Chemical Society
On the absiruse subject OF The Chem
ical Control Of Gaseous Detonation'
with Particular Reference 10 the In
serr.qi Combustion Engine" The title
Wa probably too much for the average
ncto~igt OF the time. but the findings
Of these and other scientists may rev.
cauttonize alltomobil!ng.
Makes Predictions.
Charles r. lettering of the research
division Of General Motors. In an ad-
dress before the Federal Oil Board In
1925, forecast an immense increase In
mileage IL the new fuels weEe uni
yerEaliy adopted. There is enough
chemical energy in gallon Of gasoline
10 propel light automobile. II con-
power. for 40 miles, he said. Prob
ably such a high conversion rate will
never be reached, but progress Is last
enough, At any rate. 70 have made
Mr. Kettering's supplementary remarks
already cut Of date. On the mass pro-
6ucslon scale Of things that means a
tremendous economy In two years. Mr..
lettering and others forecast that the
substitution Of the new fuels. In en-
giEes built 10 Use them, VIII mean
greater Gayings.
La February, 1928, Mr. Kettering de-
cIa-ed that even With the potential econ
ogl!es trssr the high compression fuels
20 sight the automobile INDUSTRY Ielt ~
was not feasible 10 make radical changes
~ motor design until the new-tyDe fuel
had been widely distributed. When the
complete shift had been made, he said.
the public might expect 20 " 40 per
cent increased efficiency IN their We
illcle2 rs q first step" followed prob
ably by still greater increases.
Interpreted Ia another way, this fore
cas-, means reduced consumption OF
gasoline " secure the same amount Of
mileage. The greater efficiency of the
engine in turning gasoline into miles
wOUlf more than c0InterDslailce the
higher price 0f the new 'ue! The Oh
EoaFc has this strongly la mind IN IT.
LATEST report InaAm1ch as the con-
sumption Of oil ~ the American motor
car Is nov ~ international faetor of ut
most significance IN the world DftFo-
jel1m conslDp ti0Tl. reduction In the
H6e u Oh that might reach even 70 per
cent tI the United f3lates IL NJ world In
LFrest America produces about 10 per
cent III the worlds gasoline and con-
suDe9 about the same ratio. With tfs
~ kzc s1sLlz n
for oil arc s~at producers falling out
among Themselves over the supply, en-
p9neering econoiIiss that may Sage mil
Hons " barrels annually sge pagtieu-
harry significant
High Horsepower.
IL usJk 300 800 barreis II gasoline a