Medford mail tribune., March 17, 1961, Image 10

NUBXT. MAKCK IT, Itlt
Shell
One hundred and sixty-eight miles per gallon must
be a world's record. Like most records, it could never
have been achieved without the most painstaking
effort.
The two Shell scientists who hold this record have
given us a report on how they managed it. They
have also added some tips on how you can increase
your car's mileage. Not by using their own extreme
modifications and outlandish techniques. But by a
quiet marriage of careful driving and today's Super
Shell gasoline.
Unless you are a millionaire, the details are worth
reading.
Shell scientists are a competitive lot.
Their constant pursuit of top perform
ance has all the elements of a race.
... Some years ago, an argument as to who
could get the most miles out of a gallon of
gasoline boiled up into a challenge. And
Shell's Mileage Marathon was born.
Shell scientists have competed in this
Mileage Marathon for several years. Not as
publicity stunt. But purely as a private
contest of ingenuity. They use their own
cars. Their own time. Their own money.
Not for everyday use
The best mileage recorded so far is a resound
ing 168' miles per gallon.
Many of the things contestants did to
push mileage up to this world record are
positively not recommended for informal
marathons on the public highway. But they
do throw some light on what makes a little
gasoline go a long way. Mere are some details.
Record-breaking car cost $35
Shell's record-breaking car was a highly
modified 1924 2-passengcr coupd (see cut).
Jt was rescued from a junkyard for $35.
The only rigid requirements that had to
be met to qualify for the Mileage Marathon
. could be written on a book of matches.
77i ear had to have four rubber-fired
wheels. It had to weigh no less than
2000 founds. It had to have at least 100
cti. in. piston displacement. And it had
to list the same gasoline that anybody
eotdd buy at a Shell service station, with
no doctoring allowed.
After that, no holds were barred. The car
that won used a standard carburetor from
an old one-cylinder engine.
Tire pressures up to 110 pounds
Some Marathon contestants inflated their
tires at high as 110 pounds per square inch
to reduce road-wheel friction.
Such crazy pressures would, of course,
be quite unsafe under normal road condi
tionsand hideously uncomfortable, too.
But, under Shell's carefully controlled
Marathon safety rules, the only ill effects
Were a few rattled vertebrae, some broken
Research scientists reveal how they
.S8o47 miles per gallon
springs and an embarrassing bruise or two.
Pressure problems for (he champs
Dave Berry and Fred Schuettc, who eventu
ally set the existing record, had to be satisfied
with something less spectacular in the tire
pressure department.
Their 1924 car's beat-up tires couldn't
possibly take more than 50 pounds. And,
even then, they felt more solid than pneu
matic. But there was a helpful mileage divi
dend in the old, wood-spoked wheels.
They took tires that were nearly a yard in
diameter. This moved the car forward an
extraordinary 9Vi feet at every revolution.
What's more, these ancient tires were
worn so smooth that road friction was cut
to a minimum. Other competitors achieved a
similar result by bulling off their treads, till
only the slimmest strip touched the road.
safety note fhom the champs: Don't try
bulling the tread off your own tires. You risk
more than a puncture. It might mean a blow
out and a crash.
Muffled radiator and no fan
Many competitors went as far as to remove
their engine's water pump and generator to
save engine load. But Berry and Schuettc
grandly ignored this refinement.
1 Iowever, they did remove their cooling
fan to save energy. And they did mulllc
their radiator completely to save heat.
As anybody knows, all cars go better when
properly wanned up. And, because our mile
age champs used an "cnginc-off, enginc-on"
driving technique in the contest, they even
designed a special exhaust-heated air duct
that warmed the mixture as it was sucked
into the carburetor.
Incidentally, did you know that fast
warm-up is specially provided for in today's
Super Shell? Its formula contains a gasoline
ingredient called "Pentane Mix." This acts
in your engine much as kindling acts in a
log fire.
net result: Your car delivers top perform
ance in a hurry.
One push and wheels spin
for 30 minutes
Since the contest had nothing to do with
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Shell Research scientists, Dave Berry and Fred Schuette, in the rebuilt 1924
coupe which set the world mileage record. Its original frontal area was reduced
by about 75 per cent to cut down wind resistance. Shellzone anti-frceze was
wear, many daring liberties were taken with
lubrication systems.
On the winning car the transmission and
wheel bearings were lubricated with light
engine oil instead of with heavy oil and
grease, to reduce drag. It worked,
When the front wheels were jacked up
and given an experimental push, they
continued to spin for half an hour!
Of course, no Shell serviceman would ever
approve of such liberties being taken with
your own car's lubrication. And he would
be right.
A Marathon car is a Marathon car. And
nobody minds if it breaks down al ter it wins.
But your family car is a different matter.
Trust your Shell serviceman's advice on
all lubrication problems. He's an expert
and he's got the finest tools, charts, lubri
cants and gasoline to give your car the maxi
mum mileage it was designed to deliver.
The champs' "on-and-off" driving
Shell's record was set in two trips over an
11.94 mile course. The run was almost a
walk.
The winning car was accelerated to 20
miles per hour, at which point the driver cut
his engine and coasted in neutral.
Only when the "speed" dropped below
5 miles per hour was the engine restarted
and the cycle repeated. All acceleration was
done in high gear and at nearly full throttle.
There was little choice. All other gears were
removed prior to the contest.
Serious-or scientific fun?
You already know the result of all this eccen
tric tinkering and mad-hatter driving.
But, since "on-and-off" driving is illegal
on the public road and since most Mara
thon mollifications are jiositirey dangerous
for normal use you may be wondering if
Shell's Mileage Marathon has any point.
Is it a serious test? Or is it a piece of semi-
scientific fun that is just an excuse for a pic
nic? The answer is a bit of both..
Knowledge passed on
When Marathon Day rolls around at Shell,
there is certainly a picnic atmosphere at the
testing grounds.
The somewhat bizarre parade of vehicles
coughing and jerking and puffing around
the track has a Mack Scnnett quality about
it. You expect the Keystone Cops to arrive
at any minute.
But remember that the Marathon itself is
only a climax to months, and sometimes
years, of serious and ingenious work. Not
everybody sets a world record. But every
contestant learns a little more about the
care and feeding of automobiles. Which,
after all, is Shell's main job.
Eventually, every bit of this knowledge
whether it comes from the Marathon, the
workshop, or the lab is passed on to you
in the form of better and better products.
Today's Super Shell is a shining example.
Thanks to continuous engine studies and
mileage tests, Super Shell now contains a
special mileage booster called Platformate.
Among Platformale's extraordinary
super-energy components are benzene,
toluene and xylene. These three com
ponents alone release 11 per cent more
energy per gallon than the finest 100
octane aviation gasoline.
The lesson is obvious. The first thing you do
to get extra mileage from your own car is to
put extra energy into your fuel tank, by
using today's Super Shell. Then, if you want
to boost mileage even more, take these tips
from Shell's experts.
Seven tips that save gasoline
1. Don't race your engine when stationary.
Every revolution is pure waste unless it is
taking you somewhere.
2. Avoid jack rabbit starts. In the long run,
got
used as a coolant, And free-fitting aluminum alloy pistons were installed, each
of which had only two piston rings to reduce friction. Special shock absorber
were the sole concession to comfort.
they waste gallons of gasoline by holding
automatic transmissions in low gear too long.
3. Drive at moderate speeds. Your car uses
about 40 per cent more gasoline at 60 mph
than at 35 mph.
4. Keep an even speed. Ragged driving uses
fuel without using the power it generates.
5. Pace yourself to traffic. Don't be the fast
est or the slowest. It traps you into wasteful
spurts and slowdowns.
6. Keep tires up to their proper pressures.'
Soft tires soak up power the way a blotter
soaks up ink.
7. Get your Shell man to make these
checks. Your carburetor should be adjusted
periodically. Spark timing should be correct.
Fuel filters and air cleaner should be clean.
Brakes should be properly adjusted. And
your thermostat must be in working order.
Follow these simple rules and you'll
probably be suqiriscd at the extra mileage
you get with today's Super Shell.
Many car-owners report up to 30 extra
miles per tankful. We can't guarantee this
saving. But, unless you're a millionaire, it's
worth thinking about.
A BULLETIN FROM SHELL RESEARCH
wher. 1,997 cl.ntiat arc working
to mak. youNir go battar and batter.
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