Effects from Bulk-filtered Mr. Barnes : Pioneer Oil in U.A.S.
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Buses of Eleetries QEVE.NTY-FIVE vehicles at a depot s-1 of United Automobile Services, Ltd., have been operating for nearly a year on lubricating oil reclaimed by bulk filtration. Statistics show that at this depot, faults attributable to poor lubrication, such as piston and big-end failures and cylinder wear, are not more numerous than at garages where the buses use only new oil.
Mr. H. N. Tuff, chief engineer of United until his appointment as general manager of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., Harrogate, mentioned this experiment in a discussion at a Leeds meeting of the North Eastern Centre (Automobile Division) of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
He cited this evidence in favour of operators' reclamation of lubricating oil by bulk filtration, when commenting on the paper by Mr. A. Towle, director of research to Anglamol, Ltd., Hazelwood, on " Some Factors Governing the Performance of Crankcase Lubricating Oils." ,Mr. Tuff agreed, however, with Mr. Towle's caution that the normal bulk-filtration processes used for reclamation did not remove the ..liquid contaminants, such as unburned fuel or acids, formed during combustion.
Crankcase Dilution
As to unburned fuel, it would appear that diluents reached an optimum figure when the heat of the crankcase drove off the light fractions. The make-up on crankcase ullage, allowed by daily additions of lubricant, also promoted this. Concerning acidity, his experience was that 0.25 per cent, was a normal figure.
Raising a query on Mr. Towle's statement that chromium-plating of the circumference of piston rings had been found to reduce materially the rate of abrasive wear, Mr. Tuff said he did not know that the improvement brought about by chromium-plated rings had now been localized to the saving of abrasive wear. Cylinder wear occurred at the top of the stroke when piston velocities were at their minimum; yet half-way down the stroke, at a point where abrasion should have its greatest effect, the cylinder wear was extremely small. Surely this point alone, he said, indicated that the wear was not caused by abrasion, and that if chromiumed rings were effective, it was in the prevention of causes other than abrasion.
Mr. T. H. Parkinson, of Leeds Passenger Transport Department, championed operators' reclamation of used straight lubricating oil by bulk filtration. He said that although such filtration was not capable of removing diluents, regular tests had not yet within his knowledge indicated a dilution of more than approximately 1.3 per cent., and he scarcely thought that would he held to be serious.
Experience at Leeds After many years of oil reclamation, Leeds Passenger Transport Department had not experienced any adverse effect from the admitted increase in viscosity. As to the increase in acid content, he thought it was threefold at the most, twofold in the case of the average oil. If there were fairly lengthy periods between oil changes, logic indicated that the oil's reclamation value in terms of mass of the reclaimed material would be low; but when oil changes were made monthly, irrespective of miles covered, he thought it was possible with one proprietary filter to get a yield of plus 90 per cent.
In reply, Mr. Towle stressed that he did not completely disapprove of reclamation by bulk filtration. The more an operator drained and filtered his oil the better; but, in addition, the operator must pay regard to dilution possibilities.
So far as normal running conditions were concerned, he agreed with the 1.3 per cent, dilution figure quoted by Mr. Parkinson; hut 30 per cent, or more dilution had been seen in the occasional instances where a leak developed in the injection system.
Mr. Towle forecast that within the next few years the 'big operators would return used lubricating oil to the oil company for full reclamation, not only for economy, but because of the difficulty of importing the best oils into this country.
The increase in fuel at present consumed by commercial vehicles, compared with that in 1938. is estimated at 50 per cent. SPEAKING at the Electric Vehicle Association's annual luncheon in London, last week, Mr. Alfred Barnes, Minister of Transport, claimed to be a pioneer in the employment of batteryelectric delivery vehicles when he introduced them into the fleet of the Stratford Co-operative Society, of which he was chairman at the time. Mr. Barnes considered the growth in the use of battery-electrics tp be slow, but thought the advantage of an untaxed fuel should help the industry.
Mr. Peter Rochs, chairman of E.V.A., said that the Association had been striving for complete exemption of purchase tax from battery-electric vehicles. He contended there was no great export market for battery-electrics, but they served their purpose on the home market by saving dollars. Those electric vehicles already in use saved 14,250,000 gallons of petrol, or 2,500,000 dollars annually.
BETTER ROADS FOR S., WALES
PRESENT industrial prosperity in South Wales may not last unless road communications with the Midlands, are improved. Mr. C. T. Brunner, M.A., made this statement at a British' Road Federation luncheon in London, last week.
South Wales formerly exported much of its coal and steel, but as .Bnitairt's economic pattern now necessitated the increased manufacture of finished products, more of South Wales goods had to be sent to factories in the Birmingham and West Midland area, he said.
A.E.C. ELEGANCE
AT last week's concours d'eleganc.e, held by the Measham Motor Sales Organization, a 1938 A.E.C.-Burlingham coach, entered by Messrs. M. and M. Coaches, Kidderminster, took first prize in its class. A 1949 Crossley coach, entered by Ripponden and District Motors, Ltd., Halifax, came second.
GUIDE TO BODY FITTINGS rOACHMALDERS find the new '..."catalogue issued by Stedall and Co., Ltd., 164, High Holborn, London, W.C.1, of great value. This company is one of the leading distributors of body components, and the full range of its stocks has been listed.