Evening star., 1942-08-15

were stirred today to both optimism
and skepticism by the plan an
nounced yesterday by Sun Oil Co.
officials in Philadelphia for get
ting from 30 to 40 per cent more
mileage out of gasoline by operat-
ing only half of an automobiles
cylinders.
1T won't work" declared one
mechanic who is familiar with re-
pair work on all makes of automo-
biles. He admitted, however, he
had not tried to adjust a car by the
new system. To make imperative
any of the cylinders would throw
the car out of balance he thought.
This is something we've got to
get into and think about a lot" the
head of a big repair shop was quoted
as saying.
1T could be done" another me-
chanical expert said The motor
would work on the highways, where
it might be an Improvement. but
there would be an awful lot of vi
bration at slow speed, which would
make it impractical for driving
around town"
Proposal Explained.
Briefly, the proposal is to readjust
the motor SO that half of the CYL
inders will not work, their valves
would be closed all the time, the
| spark plugs would not spark, and
/ the carburetor would check the flow
| of gasoline.
Representa- tives of the Keystone
Automobile Club, who attended the
| press conference and demonstra-
ton of the oil firm officials in Phila-
delphia yesterday, told The Star
they were keenly interested, but un-
willing at this time to commit
themselves on the merits of the
plan.
Il saw an eight cylinder car, OF
popular make, which had been re-
adjusted to the new plan, running
smoothly on only four cylinders, as
it idled," said William j. Merrell
head of the Road Service Depart
ment of the Philadelphia Keystone
Club.
Club Studies Scheme.
I'VE were deeply interested in the
demonstration, but unfortunately
at this time" he added, we are
not in position to say what the
keystone Automobile Club thinks
of the plan. There are some more
things to be considered. and expert
mented with before we wish to make
statement There are too many
unknown factors at present. WI
may have statement by the enc
of next week"
The Sun Oil research experts hat
been experimenting with cars 0
four, six, and eight cylinders, Mr.
Merrell said. To cut two out of tn,
four cylinder car did not prove sat
. isfactory. he said, But the expert
claimed that TO cut three cylinder
out of six cylinder car. and fou
cylinders out of An eight cylinde
. car did work satisfactorily.
= The one l saw appeared to b
working very we'll" Mr.. Merrell sale
"idling at what must have been
speed equivalent to 18 miles an houl
1t fired on only four Of its eigh
cylinders
Floyd D Akers, of the Washineto
= Cadillac Co. expressed deen interes
=. in the proposal, but was somewhe
. skeptical Of the results.
- Il don't see how 1t could sav
much gas. even if half the cylinder
we're blocked Off he said 1T
barely possible, Of course, I hav
talked it over with my shop fore
man. and we are much interested
It don't look feasible at first blusl
but I'm for anything that will sav
e gas. and I am sure the people al
for anything at all that will impro>
our efficiency in the war effort. TT
car owner is taking better care {
his own automobile. now than ev'
before to make it last"
" Carl Withhoids Comment.
- Ed Carl, of Call Carl, Inc. e,
g. pressed much interest in the pls
e but was not ready to commit hin
GO self on its merits.
se At the local office Of the Sun con
"a panv, further details of the metho
q for blocking OFF the cylinders we
Oh received from Philadelphia hea
quarters this morning. The con
= pany is turning over details Of
IN. research to the automotive al
-- petroleum industries.
-- Although first announcement
-- the general idea was made publ
-- several days ago in an advertis
- ment published by The Star al
G. other newspapers, the first deta
o came to light yesterday in Phil
-- delphia when officials held a pre-
- conference.
--- The system was described by t
--- Associated Press as simple, i
- expensive trick, discovered years az
--- and forgotten in Americas m
rush for speed, and power on t
to highways" .