P.T.A. Conference
Page 46
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CONVINCING evidence of the economy in fuel which can be gained from the use of lowviscosity lubricating oils was given by Mr. H. Tennant, B.Eng., A.M.I.Mech.E., M.I.R.T.E., chief engineer of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., in a paper which he read at the Folkestone conference of the Public Transport Association on Wednesday.
His experience had shown that the saving in fuel costs, less the increa,,e in the cost of the lubricating oil, was £900 for every million miles operated. No allowance was made for higher costs of maintenance, because the indications were that they would not be incurred.
Mr. W. G. Copestake, A.M.I.Mech.E., chief engineer of Birmingham City Transport, in his paper, "The Development of Lightweight Buses," was sceptical of the wisdom of cutting down the weight of buses to such an extent that the present 15-year expectancy of life was reduced to 10 years. For those five years lost, he said, there was the possibility of a saving at the rate of only 1-1 m.p.g.
He did, however, show how much weight could be saved without reducing the vehicle to one of the loosely called lightweight class, a term which he thought was used for want of a better one.