From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Response to an owner's complaint about engine overheating, discussing potential causes related to the radiator matrix and water pump.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0303 | |
| Date | 24th March 1938 | |
| To Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} 361. Referring to Owner's Complaint Report No.W.152 (3.B.U.-32 Eirhurst) in which it is reported that the water pump driving splines had failed causing overheating, we note that the radiator was dismantled (as a precautionary measure.) We would point out that the only way in which the radiator is likely to cause overheating is by virtue of its being silted up and as far as experience shows this does not occur with a Mk.Vl.{V. Lewis / Mr Valentine} type of matrix. The car in question, 3.B.U.32., was fitted with a Mk.Vl.{V. Lewis / Mr Valentine} matrix, as could be seen by inspection, and therefore there was no reason to suspect the radiator of being the cause of the trouble - this could be verified by inspection of the inside of the top tank and top of matrix via the calorstat flange in top tank. We do not think that a radiator with Mk.Vl.{V. Lewis / Mr Valentine} matrix should be dismantled thus entailing unnecessary expense, unless it has first been ascertained that the rest of the cooling system is in order - the water pump is known to be a possible source of trouble due to solder etc. getting into same, and its operation can be checked with the utmost simplicity by removing the radiator filler cap, running the engine and observing presence or absence of water flow in top, tank. In cases of Ph.III. overheating the procedure should always be (a) check that water pump is operating as above, (b) check that radiator shutters are functioning correctly, (c) check whether overheating complained of is high speed or idling, (d) if overheating is high speed check whether matrix is Mk.V. or Mk.VI. In the event of the overheating being an idling trouble, the only remedy is in higher speed five blade fan - in the event of it being a high speed one and points (a) and (b) being satisfactory, the remedy is a Mk.VI. matrix or re-conditioned Mk.V. one. As already mentioned, as far as we are aware, the Mk.VI. matrix is free from silting up trouble - if any trouble of this kind whatever is experienced with a Mk.Vl.{V. Lewis / Mr Valentine} matrix it should be brought to the attention of the Experimental Department immediately. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. | ||