AN OILER TESTED OVER 62,600 MILES
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ONE of the most important road trials of a modern oil-engined lorry so far carried out under official supervision has been completed. A Saurer six-cylinder lorry chassis with a singledeck bus body—the weight in running order being approximately 9 tons 12 cwt.—was submitted for test to the French Automobile Club by the Societe des Huiles Andre Fils, of Paris, with the object of proving the suitability of its Spidoleine engine lubricating oil for such vehicles.
The official report of the trial, which has lately been issued by the French Automobile Club, shows that the event commenced on September 1 of last year and terminated on February 9. The vehicle covered 62,605 miles ; the daily runs ranging from 375 miles to 438 miles, the average working out at 389 miles per day and the average speed at 321 m.p.h.
The sump of the engine was drained at an average of every 1,885 miles, and a fresh charge of lubricating oil added. The total consumption during the whole run worked out at approximately 191 gallons, equal to 327.7 m.p.g. Deducting. the 93.3 gallons of oil drained off, the net consumption worked out at 97.7 gallons, equal to 640.8 m.p.g.
The report adds that no serious engine troubles were experienced during
the long run, but that the rear bearing of the propeller shaft had to be renewed at the end of 18,420 miles and again at the end of 28,569 miles. When the road trial was over, the engine was submitted to a bench test, when 102.8 b.h.p. was developed at 1,750 r.p.m.
The engine was then dismantled, when all the compohents, with the exception of the rear crankshaft bearing, proved to be in good condition. Little carbon deposit was found; indeed, there was only a slight Elm on the piston heads, which could be easily wiped oil with a rag. The valves and all parts of the injector were also found to be quite clear.