MR. TAUB predicts that the time for intensive work on the fuel-economy problem, such as has been done recently in England, is near at hand because of the imminence of increased fuel taxation. Tank mileage, he explains, depends on the ability of an engine to utilize lean mixtures- not just lean mixture from the carburetor, but modification of an engine to burn these lean mixtures without interference with flexibility or performance in any way. A study of what happens in the combustion chamber is cited as the major opportunity for engineering improvement in the ability to burn lean mixtures.
In his discussion of his work at Vauxhall Motors, Mr. Taub considers wide gaps and their effect on ignition lag, long-reach spark plugs, tappet adjustment, effect of higher compression ratios, variation per cycle, detonation, and means of forecasting combustion roughness. Volume distribution through plaster-cast technique is compared with other methods - symbolism is contrasted with theoretical thermodynamics.