REMARKABLE JOURNEY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 11, 28 January 1918, Page 7

REMARKABLE JOURNEY

— $ MOTOR ECONOMY DEMONSTRATED TAR DISTILLATE FUEL THE PATER-SON PATENT CARBURETTOR, Tlie following detailed report, has been received from Mr. P, R. Olimie, supervisor of the recent trial run of thr, Paterson patent carburettor from Christchurch to Dunedin and return Report on Tar Distillate Fuel Consumption Test under Touring Conditions, from Christchurch to Dunedin and Return, January 19 and 20, 1918. Description of Car Equipment, A heavy model Chevrolet car was provided with two fuel tanks, on«* main tank being situated in rear of the rar and containing heavy tar distillate produced by the British Distillate Co., of Christchurch, New Zealand, and a small subsidiary, tank under the front seat of the car containing ordinary petrol. The induction or intake pipa was fitted with a two-way-valve controllable by a foot or hand lever operable from .inside'the car. Thus, when tho lever was in one position, the engine. would take in petrol gas from flic ordinary carburettor fed from the small petroi tank, and when the- lover was in the other position the engino would take in tar oil gas from the main tank through the Paterson patent carburettor, the oil being fed down into the carburettor from tho iisual "vac-uum-feed" tank fitted to most American cars. Method of Test. The test itself was carried out in the following manner: — Tho main talk was first emptied, and the feed pipe, the float chamber of carburettor, and- the "vacuum-feed'' chamber drained of all.fluid. As an extra precaution, I had the _ engino 'started on petrol and run until it was thoroughly warm, and the Paterson carburettor 'sufficiently heated to enable it to perform its necessary func-, tion -of vaporisation, should any oil still remain. The lever, which I will term -tho "fuel selection lever," was then moved over into what might be termed the "heavy oil" position, and the engine after giving a few turns came to a standstill. This operation was. repeated a number of times with the same result, and I was now satisfied that the main fuel supply system containing the Paterson carburettor was quite dry, and in a condition ready to receive tho heavy tar distillate to bo tested. Tho main tank was then filled ■with the distillate until it overflowed, and the tank sealed so t-liat it was impossible to remove tho without indicating that it had been tampered with. This preliminary operation was carried out the. previous evening so that everything would be in readiness for an early start tho next morning. Before leaving the garage m tho morning Inspected the tank seal and found it in order. Tho "fuel selection lever" was set in tho "petrol positon" and tho engine started. The car then proceeded to the Christchurch City Council weighbridge, where it wa3 proper!}' weighed with its full complement of five pasengors, luggage, threa spare tins of distillate, spare tyres, etc , the weighbridge reccipt showing 1 ton 15cwt. .2qrs. 141b. as tho correct weight. On arriving at the Christchurch Post Office, the car was brought to a standstill and the "fuel selection lever'.' changed -over to the 'h-eavy oil"' position, when it was found that the engine continued to nin without giving anv outward indication that change had been made. I examinee/, the exhaust gases and found them to be free .from smell with tho engine running at ordinary speeds, but with the engine "racing" thero wns a distinct smell of tar surrounding the rear of- the car- To m'alse certain that no petrol would find its way mto the in-duction-pipe. I. bad tile petrol shut off from the tank by means of a tap which was.not accessible to tho driver. The Journey. Tho car left Christchurch at 9 a.m., and after an uneventful tup arrived at the Post Office, Dunedin, Bbarp at 9 p.m., the same evening. No involuntary stops were encountered, the only stops being those macle loi refreshments and convenience, tlio actual running time being 10 hours io at the Dunedin Post Office the "fuel selection lever was changed over again to theP Pe r 0! position," and the petro tap turned on for tho first time after leaving Christchurch. The car then proceed- j ed on petrol to a garage for tlia night. The main tank still remained sealed, but the following morning tho seal was broken according to arrangement, to enable the fuel supply io be replenished, seven and a half gallons of tho "tar distillate" being carefully measured into the tank. The 1 fuel selection lew" still remained m tho petrol position" while the car proceeded to the.Post Office for the purpose' ot undertaking the return trip. On airiving at the Post Office tlicl fuel selection lever" was changed over to tho "heavy oil" position and the petrol shut olf by the tap, as was done at Obristchurcb. An extra passenger with luggage, weighing over all 171 stone accurately, was talsen in at Dunedin, thus making six passengers ior the return journey. The Return Journey. i The car loft tho Post at 10 a.m., and after a_ non-eventful trip arrived at the Christchurch Post Oifics at 9.15 p.m. the samo evening. No involuntary stops were encountered, the only stops being for refreshments and 'convenience, the actual rtuining time being nine and a half, liours exactly. It is perhaps worthy of note that both trips wore made: without any mechanical or tyre troubles of any kind, the engino running smoothly and pleasantly throughout the wholo journßOn arrival at the Christchurch Post Office, the car proceeded to a garogo for examination, anil for the purpose of determining the fuel consumption. To ascertain the latter, the main tank was again filled with tar distillate, when it was found to take in exactly 12} gallons. This amount added_to what was taken in at Dunedin (7i gallons) amounted to 19J gallons, and represents the total fuel consumption for the whole distance from Christchurch to Dunedin and roturn. Summary of Perfcrmanco, The following is a summary of the performance, and 1 would explain that in determining the weight for tho ton miles, I have taken the weight of car with five passengers and added on half the weight of the extra passenger considered over the whole distance. This, 1 believe, is a fair and equitablo basis to work upon. Distance 472 miles (spee'dometor rcadinc) ■Weistht of car with estimated load ... i.804 tons. Tar distillate conh nncd W-' 5 sallonp. Cost of tar distillate I <i per pallon. Runnintr time 19 hours 55 minutes Average speed J5.7 miles per hour Consumption of 'fuel 23.9 miles per gallon Ton. miles 44.2. Cost per car mile 'fuel only) 628<1. Cost per head of 5 •paEsensers 4/11. Engine Test. On testing the flexibility of the engine tho next day I found that it gave n range of speed on top of approximately four miles to 45 miles per hour, but'l am informed by the observer (who was my appointee) that as much as 47 miles per hour were at--1 tained during the return journey- from

Dunedin with a'full load of six passongcrs aboard. These figures, oj course, arc speedometer readings, nut I believe them to be lairl.y accurate. During the flexibility test 1 endeavoured to mako the engino "knock, but failed in my attempt-. 1 believe this is characteristic, of Tar Distillate I'iis, and is duo to its density; providing « cushioning effect upon the pistons. In regard to the state oi the engine after running on lar Distillate, I am no!- prepared at this stage to roport. As soon as tho car can lie spared for the purpose, I intend to mako an inspection of the cylinders, valves, and other important parts, Jo see. what effect, if any, the distillate has had upon them. In the meanwhile the car is continuing to run on .distillate, consequently the postponement of the engine examination will have the advantage of this extra mileage. An examination of the plugs revealed no sign of deposit-, and they were clean and free from carbon. Tar Distillate Used. I have formed the opinion f rom superficial observations made ot ne Tar Distillate used for this performance that there is room for a good deal of further purification and distillation of the product. Solid matter which was probablv of a non-combust-ible nature, was m strong evidence, aud while this may pass through the. engine with little detriment to the latter, its' presence is surely avoidable. I noticed also distinct traces of what appeared to be napthalene. These impurities, however, have all played their part in assisting to make tho test a severe one for the carburettor, the performance of which_ under such conditions, I consider eminently satisfactory. Yours faithfully, (Sigued) P. R. CLIMIE. Further particulars and copies of the prospectus of Australasian Carburettors, Ltd., may be obtained on application to Messrs. A. T. Bate and Finch, sliarebrokers, Wellington — (Published by Arrangement.)