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New Fuel Developments in France Q TATE action with regard to the use

20th March 1936, Page 29
20th March 1936
Page 29
Page 29, 20th March 1936 — New Fuel Developments in France Q TATE action with regard to the use
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

of alcohol in motor fuels in France has already been mentioned in The Commercial Motor. Importers and wholesale distributors of motor spirit are required by law to purchase large quantities of commercial alcohol from the Government, the amount being in proportion to the voluble of petrol which they handle during, a year. This is by way of a subsidy to agriculture, as the State buys• alcohol in the open market at a fair price and sells it at a loss to the petrol concerns. Distributors are not, of course, legally obliged to mix alcohol with their spirit, but unless they do so they cannot make a profit at ruling fuel prices.

Poids lourd—or grade 2—spirit now Contains over 30 per cent. of commercial alcohol, and, whilst this mixture gives fairly good results with most vehicles, there are certain engines to which it is definitely unsuited. Brands of pure petrol, guaranteed free from alcohol, are still available almost everywhere in France, but the price rules them out for commercial-vehicle use. In these circumstances the appearance of a new motor fuel with an alcohol basis, but guaranteed harmless to any engine, has aroused a good deal of interest.

Marketed under the name of Djavol, this fuel was the subject of a paper read recently before the Aero Club de -France technical committee by its producer, M. Desparmet. This paper attracted the attention of the Air Ministry and the War Department, as the constituents of Djavol are all

obtainable within France. - Prolonged engine tests have been made with Djavol fuel, and reports issued by the Arts et Metiers, Bureau Veritas and A.C.F. laboratories are certainly encouraging. Reduced fuel consumption, with an increase, of power, and no effect of any kind upon cylinder heads, are the chief claims made for it

The chief trouble caused by poids lourd fuel; with its large alcohol content, is said to be ovalization of cylinders, whilst in certain engines cylinder heads and valves are seriously affected.