Evening star., 1928-01-29
u S SETS RIGID STANDARDS
u FOR AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS
.Gasoline, Oil, Tires, Fuel Pumps and Many
Other Accessories Are Given
:. .~-...~ Careful Tests.


By w. Il. McCALLUM.
Uncle Sam pushes his finger into
many business pies. much to the dis
gust of industrially minded gentlemen
who see in any move of the Govern
rlent toward business the bugaboo OF
political interference. Uncle Sam is
inevitably mixed up with business of all
sorts but on the whole he turns to pri-
yate business the kinder side Of his
countenance. siding with business IN
every legitimate manner and rendering
inestimable help to industry.
In no industry does he give more
practical aid than in the automotive
world. Not phase of the industry has
failed to come before his scrutiny. But
Uncle Sam gazes at the autonotive in-
oustry with interpretive eyes, his main
object to find out What good can it do
ne?" He carries on tremendous buSi-
ness of his own. with something like
ll5,o00.oo0 people as clients. of whom
more than 1000 900 work for him. He
uses many thousands Of products of the
automotive industry and he demands
hat these come up 10 certain standards
ct by his experts His investment in
automobiles runs into the millions and
n allied automotiye equipment into mil
ions more. So he wants to know what
le is buying in the four-wheeled line
md he sets up definite yardstick of
,alues which the industry must meet or
lose the business.
Standards Set Here.
Most Of the standards which the in
austry must meet are set up in Wash
ngton and many of them are estab-
shed in the big house of wonders
tut on Connecticut avenue. the Bureau
# Standards. But where the bureau
tops the Federal Specifications Board
leps in, and where this agency comes
o halt other agencies. such as the
Bureau Of Mines and Army and Navy
Cngineers, take up the work
Every product Of the automotive world
must meet rigid tests of Government
xpertS before Uncle Sam spends a dol
ar for equipment. These tests have
,een worked out through standardized
'ractice and IN many cases are higher
han the average of the industry
One Of the most important factors Of
he automobile is the fuel il uses. and
this field Uncle Sam has set a def
lite and high standard. Twice a year
xperts from the Bureau of Mines 60
through the country taking samples of
he gasoline sold at filing stations and
hipping it back to the bureau for test.
Until quite recently the investigators
'ound considerable difference existing
,etween gasoline sold in the Summer
nd that marketed in the Winter
The gas sold in the Summer. to be
Ted In an engine under favorable con-
litions, was found to be considerably
ess volatile than that sold for use dur
ag the Winter But in late years the
"xperts have found the range of differ
nee narrowing. until today there is lit
lie difference. Many commercial COM
anies made a distinction between
summer and Winter gasoline. but one
pioneer in the field. has consistently
ield to one policy-a single grade Of
asoline. manufactured to the highest
tandards, for both Winter and Sum-
.ner use.
Inspects Gasoline.
Uncle Sam buys many kinds of gaso-
Inc. from the aviation gas. fighting
grade," for the speedy cruisers Of the
upper air. down to the low volatile fuels
or use In tractors. Most OF his gas
purchases, however, come under the
trade Of Government motor gasoline"
md here are the specifications the fue!
must meet:
Corrosion test-A clean copper strip
hall not show more than extremely
light discoioration when submerged in
he gasoline for three hours at lz2 de-
Tees p.
1rop falls from the end OF the con.
ierser. the thermometer shall not reao
more than IS degrees G. usl oesrees
gJ.
When 20 per cent has been recovered
n the receiver. the Thermometer shal
aot read more than los degrees C.
f22l degrees F).
When so per cent has been recovered
n the receiver, the thermometer snaA
no. read more than i4o degrees c
(2s4 degrees p.
When 30 per cent has been recovered
in the receiver. the Thermometer sha!i
not read more than 200 degrees {.
The end point shall not be higher
than 225 degrees C. f437 degrees F.).
Az leae. ss per cent shall be recovered
as distillate IN the receiver from the
digtsilztion. :.
EuIphur-Sulpaur shall not exceed
Gl0 per cent.
Many thousands OF gallons Of fuel
oil are used By the Navy for destroyers
and dreadnaugats. This fuel must also
come up 10 rigid specifications or be
rejected
Here are the specifications covering
purchase O. oil for Use in interYai com
bxstlon engines. except aircraft ana
DIESEL engines. supplied IN nine graoes'
En0yT, as extra light. light, medium.
heavy. EXTRA heavy, uitraheavy, tractor,
tractor heavy and motor cycle
Flash and FIRE points~-The fash and
FIRE points Of the nine grades shall not
be lower than the following: