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The discusssion was opened by Mr. A. T. Wilford (London Transport Executive) who referred first to Mr. Towle's statement “but the evidence is not vet sufficient to indicate whether heavy duty oil would show up better than those of the premium type in every day automobile use” and asked for the author's definition of “everyday automobile use”. London Transport had been carrying out large‐scale service tests with heavy duty type oils and the author's statement led him to wonder if they should not have tried premium oils before concentrating on the heavy duty oils.

A SUBSTANTIAL proportion of the expenditure involved in running a motor vehicle is attributable to the cost of the fuel which it uses. So far as Great Britain is concerned the great bulk of this fuel has to be imported. Moreover, due mainly to the imposition of further taxation, its cost to the user has recently increased by about 40 per cent in the case of petrol and 45 per cent for road diesel fuel. There is therefore every incentive to economise in the use of motor fuels.

IN A PAPER READ BY A. T. WILFORD, A.R.C.S., B.Sc., F.R.I.C., F.S.S., C.I.Mech.E., F.Inst.Pet., DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, LONDON TRANSPORT EXECUTIVE, TO THE INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM'S ECONOMICS AND OPERATIONS GROUP ON FEB. 13TH, the experiences of London Transport concerning fuel costs were the theme. The following is a shortened version of this paper.

In a paper presented to the Diesel Engineers and Users' Association on March 15th, A. T. Wilford, B.Sc, A.R.O.S., F.R.I.O., F.Inst.Pet. (Director of Research, London Transport Executive) discussed Maintenance of Road Transport Engines with Particular Reference to Smoke Emission. The following are extracts from this paper dealing with the maintenance practices for lubricating oil which are adopted by the L.T.E.

In a paper recently presented to the Automobile Division of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, MR. A. T. WILFORD, B.Sc, F.Inst.Pet., Chief Chemist (Road Services) of the London Transport Executive, outlined the results of considerable experience and testing with lubricating oils on C.I. engined public service vehicles operating in and around London. The following is a condensation of those parts of his paper which referred to oil change periods, effects on lubrication of high sulphur content fuel oil, advantages of low viscosity winter oils and results of tests using detergent oils.

MOST modern internal combustion piston engines when under power have such a contented purr that many people contend that no serious lubrication problems of a technical variety remain to be solved, and that the only problems worth mentioning are those which are solely of an economic nature. Such views are, in their own way, flattering to the oil manufacturer who has striven hard, in conjunction with engine manufacturers, to bring these engines to a high pitch of reliability in a relatively short time. However, complacency in a world of change can be a dangerous thing.

AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GEARING arranged by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in London from the 23rd to 25th September, a special session was set aside for the Discussion of Lubrication and the following papers were presented :—

Previous work has suggested that the adhesion between oil and metallic surfaces of an engine could be an important factor in determining crankcase cleanliness. It can be shown that it is only necessary to measure the spreading pressure of an oil on metal in order to get a direct measure of the work of adhesion, Surface tensions of lubrictaing oils vary very little and it can be assumed that the critical film pressure (C.F.P.) obtained with a given apparatus is an acceptable measure of the work of adhesion as well as of the spreading pressure. Oils of similar properties may vary tenfold in their C.F.P's. The addition of additives influences the spreading pressure, the largest increments in C.F.P. being given by dispersant and detergent additives.

The CONFERENCE ON LUBRICATION AND WEAR was arranged by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers at their headquarters, at 1 Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London, S.W.1., on October 1st to 3rd, 1957. Papers were presented and discussed here as well as in Church House, Westminster, in the Assembly Hall of Central Hall, Westminster, and in the Grand Council Chamber of the Federation of British Industries, The President of the Institution, Sir George Nelson, Bart., LL.D., M.I.Mech.E., M.I.E.E., opened the Conference and was supported by the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Dr. D. Clayton, M.I.Mech.E., who is also the Chairman of the Institution's Lubrication Group.

A comprehensive series of articles covering the duties and properties required of oil engine lubricants and circulating systems.