NEW MOTOR FUEL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 March 1928, Page 15

NEW MOTOR FUEL.

MANY ADVANTAGES GAINED.

Ethyl, the new and much-discussed motor fuel in England, has now been made available lor British motor vehicle owners by the Anglo-Ameinan Oil Company. This new fuel is an ethylized brand of petroi. The ingredient in this mel which, it is claimed, overcomes the propensity of inghcompression engines to- “pink” or “knock,” is tetraethyl, a colourless compound made from alcohol and lead, and though twice as heavy as petrol, readily dissolves in the latter in all proportions. The proprietors state that the new fuel is the result of scientific and chemical research and tests, carried out over a period of some i 5 years. To many the name ' ’Ethyl’ ’ may have little or' no significance, or at the most signifies a property which eliminates engine knock or “pinking” experienced when running on ordinary fuel spirits, particularly when starting with a heavy load and with the ignition too far advaiued. Whilst the ability to eliminate knocking is undoubtedly possessed by this new fuel, and constitutes its chief claim, the composition of ethyl petrol is designed and claimed to afford other advantages. By virtue of its ability to eliminate knocking it will be easily realised that certain additional. dependent advantages are gained. In the first place, it renders the formation of carbon innocuous, so that it is unnecessary to have the cylinders de;arbonised —a cause of expense. In addition, as ethyl fluid neutralises the heating qualities of carbon, the increased compression due to the presence of the latter is conducive to higher volumetric efficiency. Thus it is claimed that more power is p r-o----cluced, particularly on hills, so that gear changing is reduced, with resu.tant fuel economy. It is stated also that by the use of the new fuel an engine will accelerate more quickly. It iS also claimed that- ethyl fluid requires no special carburettor setting, no special mixture or heating devices, nor, it is stated, does it affect rubber, paint, and cellulose finish any more than ordinary petrol. Whatever merits a new motor fuel may be said to possess, motorists as a- who.e, are not easily inclined to test it. Yet its recent introduction into Great Britain by one 0/ the leading motor spirit importing companies should be sufficient guarantee of its suitability as a motor fuel for general use. A motor fuel less prone to “pinking” than are some brands at present in use, if satisfactory in all other respects, is desirable. If out of the travail which appears to have resulted from an attempt- in this direction fuels which will more efficiently meet the present and future needs of mot iring are evolved, so much the better for motorists.