Evening star., 1938-02-21
SALES PROBLEMS
TODELAY D|ESELS
Engineers Overcome Weight
Objection to Auto Oil
Engines.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
DETROIT. Feb. 2l.-Recent devel-
oprnents in Diesel power plant MANU-
facture have renewed speculation in
automotive trade circles regarding the
possibility of early adaptation OF the
oil-burning engine to passenger cars on
. volume production basis.
One Of the greatest obstacles to the
Use Of a Diesel-type engine in private
ly-owned passenger cars appears to
have been overcome by General Mo-
tors in reducing the weight per horse
power ratio as the result Of expert
ments that have been under way for
several years.
These experiments had their culmi-
nation In General Motors recent
formal introduction Of Diesels of varl-
o<.s sizes and horsepower, and despite
the announcement that their adapta-
tion to privately -owned passenger We
hicles was not Immediately contem-
plated, trade circles generally believe
the time is much nearer as q direct
result Of the accomplishments of Cen
eral Motors engineers.
Price Is Factor.
Speculation regarding the future
possibilities Of small Diesel engines
centers to great degree around
whether passenger motorcars powered
with such engines could be expected
to make their appearance in a price
bracket lower than any Of the present
cost ranges. The assumption in trade
circles is that q new low-price level
would be one of the inducements
offered to populari1e the Diesel pow
cred stock car. but no such assurance
has been given by any of the engineers
who have figured in tie development
OF this type of power plant.
Lower price brackets for oil-burning
cars did not materialize in England
when the Citroen Co.'S British unit in
troduced Diesel engined car as a
stock type. The oil-burning car act
ually was listed at around $3.50 more
than the same type powered with the
conventional gasoline engine.
While the ensinsers who have been
designing the smaller and lighter
weight Diesels-having made great
progress in licking the smoke and
cold-weather starting problems in
volved in this type of combustion en-
gine-believe their application to the
popular type of automobiles is a SIM
pie matter the sales authorities are
not so optimistic. They see many diff
culties ahead and not few believe
that before such units can be distrib-
uted on a widespread basis, it may
be necessary to offer would-be motor
car purchasers the option of Diesel or
conventional type gasoline power
plants.
Used Car Problem.
The question of providing fuf,
supply facilities and equipment fos
servicing cars powered with Diesel en-
g1nes Is brought into every discussion
Of why their introduction need be de-
layed. There is also the matter of
the many millions of gasoline driven
cars that still have from one to ten
years Of useful operation ahead. pre-
senting a major problem in replace
AIACA1t az q tllIlC WI1CA CllC lIlQuStIy mas
more used cars on hand than it knows
what to do with.
Sales chiefs Of the industry have no
doubt about the appeal Of cars using
the inexpensive fuel oil. To asser-
tions that an increased demand for
such oil would increase its cost and
bring the same taxes that now lie upon
motor car gasoline, they point out that
its price could not parallel that OF
gasoline because it requires nothing
like the refining processes Of the latter.
There are scores Of other argu-
ments for and against Diesel engines
in stock cars on commercially prac-
ticable basis. Most of the engineers
working on neither Diesel nor gasoline
types believe the major problem is that
OF replacing the millions of gasoline
driven vehicles at present in use.