Evening star., 1942-08-16
Splitting Motors to Save Gas
Splits Auto Experts as Well >.
Some Hold Blocking Cylinders Is Way
To Trouble; Others Much More Optimistic

the aplit-engine Is seriously cur
tailed. The maximum grade which
the car will climb is reduced by
from -0.3 per cent to l5.5 per cent
depending on the car. The grade
ability in second is somewhat be-
low that for high gear under nor
NAL operation. However, the grade
ability tn low is such that the car
will climb any hill likely to be en-
countered in average city and coun-
try driving. Hill climbing will
merely entail more gear shifting and
lower speeds than the average driver
has oeen accustomed to-
How to split" an engine is ex-
planned in some detail in the new
report.
The mechanical method" it says,
lis to remove the valve lifters from
every other cylinder so that both
intake and exhaust valves remain
closed. OF course the precise cylin-
ders selected are chosen so that
the regularity OF firing Is not
changed. It simply means that
every other cylinder in proper or
der is out of operation.
Working Cylinders Charted.
For six cylinder engines, cylin-
ders, 4, S, and 8 were chosen as
working cylinders.
For the VS. engines the work.
ing cylinders were 1R, Ar, 81 and 81.
For the eight-in- line engines the
working cylinders were 6-5-3-4.
Since the amount of gasoline re-
quired is thus greatly reduced, it
is also necessary to make some
changes In the carburetors. In a
double carburetor, this means block
ing off one-haf of the existing car
buretor. For engines with single
carburetors such as most of the
skies, 1t is necessary to use slightly
smaller carburetor jet. Minor ad-
justments have to be made to idling
jets, etc. Some carburetors require
new larger metering pins and
smaller jets"
There were somewhat conflicting
reports as to what to do about
spark plugs. One report quoted oil
company officials in Philadelphia
yesterday as saying the spark points
should be pinched together. In the
scientific report it was said the
spark plugs we're permitted to fire
since removing the wires seemed
to upset the spark distribution to
the other cylinders To maintain
motor balance, the pistons and rods
of imperative cylinders are left in
Gas Saving Varies.
The saving in gasoline or the In
crease in miles per gallon, the re-
port said, varies with the different
cars and with the driving condi-
tions. What was believed to be the
best picture of the increase in mile
age likely to be obtained by the
average car in average use was de-
termned by driving these cars con-
tinuously over suburban route in
volving city traffic, a little open
road and several moderate hills. A
broad average for all the cars un-
der these conditions showed a say.
ing Of approximately SO per cent
On open road driving, devoid o1
traffic light and where the speed
was held to a 40-mile maximum
the saving would be greater.
Miles per gallon of various types
OF cars were shown in the road test
report. One small va type cal
showed gain from 10 miles pe,
gallon on all its eight cylinders te
24.25 miles per gallon on four cylin-
ders. One six-cylinder car running
on all six showed 1877 miles per gal
Ion, but on only three cylinders /,
gave 23.45 miles per gallon. Another
car on six cylinders gave 1885 miles
per gallon, and on three cylineds
23.42 miles. A larger car, with eigh,
cylinders in line tested 1877 mile.
per gallon firing all eight and lit
using only four cylinders. Another
straight-eight car showed 1873 miles
per gallon on all eight; 1893 on -four
cylinders.
Latest reports at Philadelphia yes.
terday indicated that one of thu
test car during run had piled ur
as high as IS miles a gallon on {
split engine"