DIESEL-ENGINED TRUCK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17953, 3 December 1932, Page 13

DIESEL-ENGINED TRUCK

A GISBORNE VISITOR REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN A truck* driven by a Diesel engine which runs on heavy oil is a novelty for New Zealand. It is at present on view ill Gisborne, and it is pointed out that the design embraces some revolutionary features. • The Diesel engine, which is of Crossley manufacture, is pf six cylinders. 'One of the features is its simplicity. There are no sparking plugs and no carburettor, the fuel oil being carried to the cylinder heads in tubes and ignited under high compression. The fuel oil used 1 is of the golden brown color of the same hue as ordinary crankcase oil, but it is nearly as thin, as kerosene. Economy in running costs is one ot the main points of interest in regard to the vehicle. The claims made in this respect may sound extravagant, but a pressman who inspected the vehicle at Messrs, j. J. Niven and Company’s premises, Kaiti, to-day, was, assured that the statements were backed by carefully computed figures. It is elaimad that tire running costs of the Grossley Diesel engine truck arc lower than those of the average motorcycle, and it must be remembered that the unladen weight of the chassis is over four tons. The running costs for fuel are computed at one-third of a penny per mile. The difference between the cost of running a Diesel engined vehicle and a petrol-driven bus of tho 'same size over 50,000 miles shows a saving «f £6OO in favor of the Diesel engine on to-day’s fuel prices. Although' this is the first truck of its kind in New Zealand, tho Diesel engine for road transport is well past the experimental stage. Thirteen corporations have been using the Diesel engine in England fpr the past two years, and tho Manchester Corporation alone has M them in use. Tho Crossley Diesel engine is a little bigger and heavier than an ordinary six-cylinder job. The chassis on which it la at present • mounted is designed for a 31-passenger bus. It arrived in Gisborao to-day, and will bo on view at Messrs. ,T. J. Niven and Company’s premises all day oh Monday.