DIESEL ECONOMY WITH PETROL PERFORMANCE
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A NNOUNCED today is yet another IA version of the Bedford CA 15/17 cwt. van, this time fitted with the new Perkins 4.108 four-cylinder, 52 b.h.p.. diesel engine described in The Commercial Motor on May 28. Tested this week by us in longwheelbase form, the vehicle substantiated Perkins' claims that this engine is better than its predecessor, the 4.99, returning fuel consumptions better by 5 to 10 m.p.g. and, in general, showing more liveliness.
Pulling the higher of the two available axle ratios (4.625 to 1) the engine produced these excellent consumption figures even though the roads were awash throughout the test. With the exception of the high-speed runs, all the consump
lion figures were obtained on the section of A6 from north of Barton in the Clay to Clophill and with all stops lasting 12 seconds, during which the engine was idling. Results are shown in the panel (with the 4.99 figures in brackets) together with the acceleration figures, which in fact proved only slightly less favourable than those obtained with the petrol-engined CA tested by this journal on August 7, 1964; the 4.108 fuel consumption averaged 13 m.p.g. better than with the petrol engine on all the tests.
This new version of the van surmounted Bison Hill in fine style, taking only 1 min. 4-5 sec. to complete the 0'75mile-long climb which has an average gradient of I in 19 and a maximum of 1 in 6-5. During the climb the lowest gear used was second and this was engaged for 30 sec., while the lowest speed recorded was 18 m.p.h. With an ambient temperature of 13°C (55°F) the engine coolant was at 84°C (185°F) at the foot of the hill and when checked at the top it had risen eight degrees to 92°C (198°F); although there was a considerable amount of expansion evident, there were no' signs of excessive overheating.
Costing £125 more than in standard petrol form, the 4.108-engined longwheelbase CAL at £622 le 15 more than the 4.99 version which it supersedes.