THE PETROL SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1432, 6 May 1912, Page 5

THE PETROL SHORTAGE

KEROSENE AS A SUBSTITUTE. A WORD OF WARNING... It was recently'suggested' in a U'li'urnm from Christehurch, concerning the s.'ioiiago of motor spirit, I hat kerosene might bo tried in a .substitute for henginu nr petrol. Tho following hinbi may- jsrnvo useful to any amateur motorists ivSiu might experiment with their cars—vxperienced motorists will not need to be tola the effects of kerosene on motor-car engines, At tho present time all the iiiotor-mumifacturiiiK firms turn mil "standard" cam, nnu recently some of 1 be larger firms have a special standard lor colonial use. Therefor*, unless a car is expressly built to order, it will be built to a certain standard. Tho carburetter fitted to these curs is either the maker's own or a standard one, such as the "Claude! Holwm," the jet of which is made for the uso of petrol. Consequcutly, if kerosene- is used, (ho aperture itf the jet will not bo large enough to admit Iho thicker fluid. To show! the difference between tho two fluids, it is interesting to pour first some petrol find then Fosne kerosene through a fine, gauze strainer, such as is used for straining petrol, and it will then be seen how much thicker kerosene is than petrol. There are hardly any carburettors of the standard types that will work with kerosene. A special carburetter, however, may bo fitted for about .£lO, which will admit kerosene. Even this is not advisable, as kerosene makes the engine very dirty- and U'lmlb to pit the valves; also the smell from the exhaust pipe when kerosene is used is far from pleasant. Kerosene, being less inflammable than petrol, is of course much slower in "firing." Mention was mode in the telegram of. whisky having once been used as a .substitute' for petrol. There is a story, dear to chauffeure, that one of the reigningIndian princes uses nothing but alcohol So run his cars, lie was to have teetotal cliauflcnrs, as lie found that the .others, were in tho habit of drinking from tho motor tank. There is no doubt that if it was not so expensive alcohol would be an ideal motor spirit, as it is highly inflammable and very clean, more so than petrol. So if anv wealthy motorists run , short of petrol they might" be well advised to try alcohol rather than kerosene.

STEAMERS EN ROUTE, POSITION IN AVCKLAXE. (Bj TelcEraDh.—Snccial CorrecDondcnt.) ~ ' Auckland, May .V. ilThe shortage of benzine is not being' very keenly felt in Auckland, ami, although prices me higher, the stocks in liaml look like holdiiig-'out. The taxi-cab [ drivers say they have no. fear of being I driven off iho road, us they have to a I degree anticipated the shortage. (By Telegraph—Press Association.") Auckland, May 5. The steamer Hoheni'els, which arrived at Melbourne yesterday en route for Aucklaml, has 5(100 cases of petrol aboard for this port. The steamer Anglo-Saxon left Xew Vork on April 25 for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttriton, ami Dmiedin. She has 45,000 cases of oil on board for Auckland, including: 18,001! cases of petrol, and ft 'pToportioniitp'cargo for the southern ports named. She is dun here on July i. SPECULATION IN CHRISTGHURCH. RISE IN WUCKS. (Br TeleeraDh--Press Association.! Christchurch, Aluy 5. Nothing lias clionged in connection with the petrol famine, "except thP'Muality ot motor fuel available, which has decreased, and the price of spirit, which has increased. The lowst price qiiotetl-'is'-lOs,, but some fivnis are obtaining 45a. One or two cars have been kid up, but Hie litliuber of ears, has not changed- appreciably. One of tho difficulties of (he position is the amateur fiiuinciw who has been operating , in petrol. A number of private people, who received information of an. approaching shortflgo iv week or so apo Invosted in petrol, buyiug for a rise. I'liomj amateur manipulators aro now holding for grenter profits.