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| Mercedes-Benz said it can save some R6 000 in diesel over 10 000 kms on its trucks using more efficient hypoid axles. |
TWO
Mercedes-Benz Actros 6x4 truck-tractors, fitted with the latest Mercedes-Benz
RT440 hypoid rear axles as standard, have achieved significant fuel savings of
more than five percent in test runs in the Eastern Cape.
Kobus
van Zyl, vice-president of MBSA commercial vehicles, said the poor quality of
local diesel in SA limits the company to improving the performance and total
cost of ownership using mechanical refinements, like improved hypoid
axles.
Hypoid
gears offer larger contact areas to mesh against each other, which helps the
axle to transfer more of flywheel’s torque to the wheels.
Mercedes-Benz
trucks product manager Christo Kleynhans said over the steep 9 920 km route,
their new RT440 hypoid rear axles delivered “the most fuel efficient
Mercedes-Benz 6x4 truck tractors of all times”.
A
fuel saving of 5,67% was noted on the 2644LS/33 tractor and 5,37% on the
2654LS/33 tractor.
To
non-truckers, even a modern truck consumes almost a litre per kilometre in hilly
country. At the wholesale diesel prices truckers pay, a five percent diesel
saving on 10 000 km translates into some R6 000.
Engineers
monitored the refuelling along the route, which covered some of the most extreme
conditions on the Eastern Cape’s roads. The test route of 620 km started in East
London and then followed the N2 over the Kei River back onto the N6 and over
Penhoek Pass (1 884 metres above sea level and maximum gradient of 10%) before
returning to East London. The
accumulated climbing height for the total route of 620 km is an impressive 9 389 metres.
accumulated climbing height for the total route of 620 km is an impressive 9 389 metres.
