Maybe some of my fellow BITOG folks can help me with my quest. I have been researching rotary (Wankel) engines for some years.
In the early 1970s GM was preparing to make rotary engines for use in cars, as some of you may remember. A little-known fact is that the lubricant GM was planning to use would have been Dexron II ATF, and the Dexron II specs were originally written to include use as oil in GM's rotary engines. Think about that next time you fill your tranny with Dexron! The Hydramatic division, which also headed automatic transmission development, was in charge of the rotary engine project, which probably had a lot to do with the choice of ATF as engine oil.
SAE papers published by GM researchers in 1974 referenced two GM papers published the previous year by the Fuels and Lubricants Department. They are--
"Rotary engine test for lubricant evaluation", June 1973.
"General Motors procedure for rotary engine approval of Dexron-II and additives", November 1973.
At the time, these papers were evidently available to the public directly from GM. When I e-mailed GM through its main website about them recently, however, I was given the number for the GM library. The library in turn told me that it does not respond to outside requests and that its contents were for GM staff only. I also heard that the Detroit Public Library had copies but could not confirm this through its website, nor would its staff respond to my e-mails. A Canadian friend tried to get copies faxed to him from the Detroit library but never received the faxes after (supposed) repeated attempts.
So now I throw the issue to BITOG members. Can anyone supply a copy of these two papers or know for sure how I may get them? Many thanks for your help.
In the early 1970s GM was preparing to make rotary engines for use in cars, as some of you may remember. A little-known fact is that the lubricant GM was planning to use would have been Dexron II ATF, and the Dexron II specs were originally written to include use as oil in GM's rotary engines. Think about that next time you fill your tranny with Dexron! The Hydramatic division, which also headed automatic transmission development, was in charge of the rotary engine project, which probably had a lot to do with the choice of ATF as engine oil.
SAE papers published by GM researchers in 1974 referenced two GM papers published the previous year by the Fuels and Lubricants Department. They are--
"Rotary engine test for lubricant evaluation", June 1973.
"General Motors procedure for rotary engine approval of Dexron-II and additives", November 1973.
At the time, these papers were evidently available to the public directly from GM. When I e-mailed GM through its main website about them recently, however, I was given the number for the GM library. The library in turn told me that it does not respond to outside requests and that its contents were for GM staff only. I also heard that the Detroit Public Library had copies but could not confirm this through its website, nor would its staff respond to my e-mails. A Canadian friend tried to get copies faxed to him from the Detroit library but never received the faxes after (supposed) repeated attempts.
So now I throw the issue to BITOG members. Can anyone supply a copy of these two papers or know for sure how I may get them? Many thanks for your help.
