How does 14.53mpg (or 14.531893mpg to be strictly precise) grab you for the fuel return of a 40-tonne artic? Not bad says Biglorryblog (I usually achieve that with a 44-tonne going downhill northbound by the Stoke turn-off on the M6...but that's another story...)
Anyway word reaches BLB that in an unusual "Truck fuel efficiency drive" in Nardo, Italy, last week a new Mercedes Actros (that's it on the left being fuelled up by the tanker on the right) set a new record for the world's most economical series-production truck with the 40-tonne Actros artic and box trailer consuming 19.44 litres of diesel per 100 km (or 14.53mpg if you like your fuel figures in 'old' money) , which is the equivalent of less-than 0.8 litres per hundred tonne-kilometres (tkm) over a seven day round-the-clock test drive covering 1,272,894 kilometres.
Apparently this record-breaking feat has already been witnessed by observers from the Guinness World Records who have recognised it with a world record entry in "The most fuel-efficient 40 tonne truck" category. So there. And how do I know all this? Because Shell was the exclusive supplier of fuels and lubricants for the recordbreaking run and they've told me all about it and the part they played. Now click through here tio find out all about it.....
The fuel consumption test took place under what's described as "ideal conditions" (by that BLB assumes they mean high temperatures, low wind, no rain etc, etc,) at the test site in Nardo and was designed to show what state-of-the-art vehicle technology can achieve. The new Actros used Shell's new diesel with its fuel economy formula as well as the latest fuel-saving Rimula R6 LME oil.
Ruth Cairnie, vice president Commercial Fuels at Shell tells BLB: "Both our new Shell Diesel and Shell Rimula have been proven to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions, thereby helping fleet operators to minimise their costs." Moreover, Shell insists: "Internal comprehensive heavy-duty engine tests indicate that new Shell Diesel with fuel economy formula can save up to 3% of fuel in commercial vehicles while similar 'internal tests' have also shown that Shell Rimula R6 LME saves fuel, and independent testing has shown a saving of 1.1% of fuel. Even bigger savings have been demonstrated with a full suite of driveline lubricants too."
So if you're wondering how you can get the most from your go-juice when it's knocking on the door of £1.30 a gallon you'd better go and talk to the man from Shell. However, at the risk of sounding like an old sour-puss (who me?) I just wonder what kind of result Biglorryblog would get driving a new Actros around Commercial Motor's Scottish test route at 40-tonnes....14.53mpg..? I should cocoa. I'm good...but not that good.
Comments (5)
1.2 million kms in 7 days ?
Was the speed limiter working ?
Posted by suresh | June 4, 2008 12:17 AM
Posted on June 4, 2008 00:17
think it should also get the record for the fastest production truck as well, average 7142kph. Dont think so. someone has got there figures wrong somewhere.
Posted by Donald Munro | June 5, 2008 12:20 AM
Posted on June 5, 2008 00:20
£1.30 a GALLON !!!! i'll have a tanker load please
Posted by Billy Bunkup | August 4, 2008 12:23 PM
Posted on August 4, 2008 12:23
Well, Rimula R6 LME 5W-30 is a solution for very rich trucker even if this is quite true that with its HTHS really close to 3.5cP and it viscosity at 11.3 cSt, you can achieve good fuel savings !
However, for people which are not so rich (like myself), I can see that Total has got also an ACEA E6, MB-approval 228.51, M3477, VDS-3, RLD-2 product (so same type of level of performace as this Shell product...) achieving same Fuel Economy performances due to same viscosimetric characteristics : 3.5cP of HTHS and 11.2 cSt at 100°C. OK, it is a 10W instead of a 5W (explaining the clear difference of price... but this difference can only have an effect in cold starts... and on a truck, this os only usefull during the first 10 minutes (where there is certainly a Fuel Economy gain... but negligeable....)).
Posted by John the Cure | October 10, 2008 9:16 AM
Posted on October 10, 2008 09:16
I have just found the name of this Total product for those who cannot afford this Rimula : TOTAL RUBIA TIR 8900 FE 10W-30
Posted by John the Cure | October 10, 2008 9:20 AM
Posted on October 10, 2008 09:20