FIJI EXPERIMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 215, 10 September 1940, Page 6

FIJI EXPERIMENT.

COCONUT OIXt AS TVEL, SUVA, Sept. 2. In view of the collapse ol the copra market and the necessity for finding other uses for copra to relieve the situation, an experiment made at Nasinu is of great interest. Vaixtg ordinary coconut oil produced locally two engines were used to make a test of the •suitability of this fuel to take the place of crude oil in the running of diesel engines. The first engine used was that of the excavator at the plant, and it was successfully started on coconut oil. At a subsequent test, however, it was found necessary to prime the cylinders with kerosene. The engine ran very smoothly on the coconut oil alone, and to make*the test effective, It was then put on full load, the scoop being put into action digging a trench. This appeared to be handled without difficulty by, the engine, and an interesting point in the experiment was that there was little carbonisation apparent in the exhaust gases when a deposit was taken and examined. A stationary diesel enginn normally used to drive the crushing plant was then tested with satisfactory results. It is understood that the Public Works Department is making arrangements to carry out experiments with coconut oil over a period, first running an engine on this fuel and then taking it down for examination. Comparisons will also be made with regard to the rate of consumption n<s compared with fuel oil: Among tlmse present nt the experiments at Nasinu were Sir Maynard Hedstioin, Hon. W. Wise, Director of Public Works, Mr. H. Sabhen, the mechanical engineer, Dr. H. W. Jack, Director of Agriculture, and the Government chemist, Mr. W. J. filackie. j