British Oil Engine Tested in Australia A PARTICULARLY interesting test of
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a Dorman-Ricardo four-cylindered oil engine, of the 4jUR-type, is being carried out in the gold fields of Western Australia. The power unit was mounted in a Cadillac 1926 car, weighing 2 tons 11 cwt., and having a final-drive ratio of 4.5 to 1.
As this vehicle was required to traverse desert regions where fuel supplies are almost unprocurable, an extra tank was fitted at the back, giving a range of 840 miles without refuelling. ,Installation was carried out by G. W. 'Kelly and Lewis (Fty.), Ltd., of Melbourne, the Australian agent of W. H. Dorman and Co., Ltd., Stafford, and delivery had to be made to the buyer at Wiluna, which is situated 2,800 miles away. For more than half this mileage, the roads were practically unmade, so that the road surfaces varied from macadam to rocky ridges and
sandy plains, whilst the weather was excessively hot.
The oil fuel was obtained in Melbourne at 7d. per gallon, against Is. 8d. per gallon for petrol. The average consumption proved to be 28.6 m.p.g. and the total cost 42 18s.
The vehicle was handed over in perfect order and, since taking delivery, the owner has travelled 20,000 miles, largely over unmade roads.
Further orders from the gold fields are now in hand, and the advent of the oil engine will have the effect of making " out-back" transport in the arid regions of the north and north-west of Western Australia much more economi cal and practical. In 'view of the remarkable economy obtainable, the aforementioned Dorman agent has, in addition, converted to oil power a number of cars to be used by its sales and service staff.