Fuels and Lubricants for Internal Combustion Engines -An Historical Perspective

This paper briefly chronicles the history of fuels and lubricants for internal combustion engines in the United States. Actually, it is devoted primarily to fuels and lubricants for Otto-cycle engines. Needless to say, since books could be written on this subject, this paper provides only a high-spot review of those happenings that the author believes were particularly significant. No attempt has been made to discuss in any detail the technology involved in modern fuels and lubricants. That discussion is the function of the remaining papers in this series. The author has drawn heavily on his 46 years in the laboratories of the Ethyl Corporation as well as a variety of sources. Inevitably, the paper represents to a large extent the opinions of the author.