World survey of gasolines
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• A wealth of data relating to the ranges of gasoline grades obtainable in 149 countries, including the USSR. is provided by the 21st 119691 edition of World Wide Survey of Motor Gasoline Quality prepared by the Associated Octel Co. Ltd., 20 Berkeley Square, London WIX 6DT. Areas are divided into Europe, Africa, South .West Asia, Orient, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, South America, Central America, Caribbean Area and North America.
The survey gives the octane ratings (research method and motor method) of the grades obtainable in each country together with the lead content, sulphur content, specific gravity and distillation details of the fuel. In Europe. North America and other more advanced countries. the research octane number of the lowest gasoline grade available is normally better than 80/85. apart from East European countries, and the best grades exceed a rating of 96/98, including fuels sold in East Europe.
The range in some backward and developing countries is such that the highest grade available would only be suitable for lowcompression engines. In Ecuador and Bolivia, for example, the octane numbers of the two available fuels are in the region of 60/63 and 80/82. while in many African countries the lowest and the highest are around 79 and 83.
In many cases a single grade covers a considerable "spread" of octane ratings and lead contents. For example, in the U.K. two
three-, fourand five-star grades cover rating spreads of 90.1 /92.8, 95.5/96.3, 98.0 /99.7 and 100.2 /101.5 respectively, and lead contents (millilitres of tetra ethyl lead) of 0.8/2.1, 1.5/2.3, 1,5/3,0 and 2.0/2.9 respectively.
In general sulphur contents are relatively low throughout the world but a very high sulphur content is is characteristic of a small number of grades in some countries. While sulphur contents of between nil and 0.08 represent the extent of the range in Europe, fuels marketed in a number of African countries and one or two countries in other areas have contents as high as 0.25 per cent.
Also representing a spread of values that can influence performance, the range of specific gravities covered by a single grade can vary considerably. The specific gravities of UK fuels are fairly typical, the spread in the case of two-star petrols being 0.731 /0.746 and that of the five-star fuels varying between 0.739 and 0.755. • P.A.C.B.
Sound advice from Vauxhall
• A new booklet produced by the Service Department of Vauxhall Motors Ltd., Luton, will be welcomed by very many oPerators. Its contents not only include guidance on strictly servicing matters but much more general advice on the selection of vehicles and the operation of a fleet. Particularly welcome is the exhortation to industrial management to give its fleet operation the same thought, backing and professional direction that is applied to its manufacturing functions—not least the need to appoint a transport manager with proper authority and experience.
Entitled Selecting and Maintaining Vauxhalls and Bedfords the booklet deals primarily with commercial vehicles but devotes space to fleet car work as well. Selection of the right truck is given considerable attention, with charts to show how to assess the correct axle ratio, engine/gearbox combination and tyres. Vehicle costing and replacement are dealt with, other subjects being body mounting methods, fifth-wheel fitting, weight distribution, maintenance and spares service.
There are also useful tables of typical commodity weights. H.B.C.
Ford turbine truck
• The Ford W1000 gas-turbine-powered tractive unit, which has been under development in America for some years, is to be in Frankfurt at the time of the Show which opens on September 11. It will not be exhibited in the Show but plans of the German Ford company include Press demonstrations with a semi-trailer.
The Ford turbine truck has been used by Ford in America on duties such as inter-factory transport and has covered almost 80,000 miles on this work as part of its development programme.