The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-11-07
MOTOR TROUBLE

Cold weather usually b."
motor trouble. but with war Wi.
come new worries for all drivers.
They may have to press longer on
the starter to get the engine going
they may have 10 shift sooner on
hills: they may have to keep oil
in the crankcase more than the
traditional 1000 miles.
Increased production OF aviation
gasoline will take more butane-
the element that makes gasoline
more volatile, helping quick-start-
ing Of motors. The need for
butane is likely to push so-called
bottled gas distributors TO replace
butane with propane. affecting
households using the tanked gas
for heating and cooking.
Aviation gasoline will take more
tetraethyl lead. Lead is already
scarce. And Army equipment re
quires premium grade gasoline.
When the military needs are met,
there will not be enough left 10
keep up the octane ratings OF
motor fuels sold TO the motorist.
So his motor will knock on grades
--7sr-rtt -Siktrr1 over with ffstf1e
purring
pennsylvania lubricating oil
marketers may have a hard time
maintaining their automobile trade.
Aviation will take heavy hauls on
supplies.
There may be changes IN lubri-
eating oil specifications, for the
duration Of the emergency. Lub-
rlcating oils will have 10 last
longer than they did a year ago.
Serious consideration OF the
1000 mile lubricating program may
be desirable.
It will be the Job Of the marketer
OF oil products TO explain these and
many other problems to his Gus
toners. and It will be the Job Of
the customer 10 make the best OF
q bad situation
OF course there is always the
possibility OF relief from the short
age OF good gasoline as there has
been from other shortages. For
example there comes the story Of
the building contractor, j. ". Jean,
who turned chemist because he
became irritated al the size Of
his gasoline bills. and developed
process 10 convert garbage,
waste lumber and farm products
into motor fuel He says tests OF
his synthetic fuel have shown it
has an octane rating Of 9s.7, com
parable TO aviation gasoline, and
that il has developed % per cent
more mileage than the petroleum.
fuel
Jean developed his process af.
ter extensive reading on the sub
ieCt. and then disregarding many
Df the accepted notions. The raw
material first is fermented into
alcohol and then converted into a
synthetic hydrocarbon To pro
duce butyl alcohol cheaply, 1t was
necessary TO develop an inpatient
ed bacterian. He met the problem
by isolating one from potato peel
ings.
One hundred fifty tons oil
bagasse or sugar cane waste. he
says. can be converted into e.s75
gallons OF motor fuel 66,16C
pounds OF carbon dioxide for dry
ice, 400 pounds of hydrogen gas
from which synthetic alcohol car
be produced. and 80 tons Of humu,
for the soil.
Byproducts include Ammonia
salts which, when blended witt
fertilizer, provide high nitrogen
content. When the fuel is pro
dGced from garbage. a superior
lubricant is developed.
Among materials from which the
ia=l can be produced. Jean says
a molasses. sawdust and shay
t waste from paper and sugai
ls, old newspapers. potatoes
t nuts and nut shells. anc
d and third cotton crops. SCI
s# harvested. including the en-
ton plant.