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).
Question and answer document summarizing the facts about Ethyl Petrol.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0305 | |
| Date | 22th July 1937 guessed | |
| ETHYL—THE FACTS SUMMARISED 17. Does Ethyl Petrol burn, warp, pit or have any other effect on valves? No more than ordinary petrol. However, the natural carbon deposit found on the valves of a car using Ethyl Petrol, being reddish brown or brownish in colour, is sometimes mistaken by garage men for signs of burning, pitting or rust. If the valves are ground in the usual way they will be found to be unharmed. 18. Must valves be cleaned when using Ethyl Petrol? Certainly. No motor fuel will grind valves. Do not blame Ethyl Petrol if the valve itself is defective or made of inferior material. 19. Are the carbon deposits on valves harder to remove? Slightly. The carbon deposits in the Ethyl-using engine cling to the metal parts with a little more tenacity than ordinary carbon deposits. When the deposits are brownish in colour they should not be mistaken for iron rust or as due to overheating. 20. Are these deposits harmful in their action? No. Do not be misled by any statements to the contrary. The only difference they make is to change the colour of the materials involved. 6 ETHYL—THE FACTS SUMMARISED In fact, the traces of lead bromide in the cylinder walls have a beneficial effect in that they increase the smoothness of the sliding surface by filling up the microscopic voids in the cast iron. Faults in the materials and design of engines have been blamed on Ethyl. This is misleading to the car owner. Some of the biggest motor car manufacturers in the world not only approve, but recommend the use of Ethyl Petrol in their motor cars. 21. Does Ethyl Petrol overheat engine parts or the cooling system? No. By converting more of the heat units into power, Ethyl Petrol cuts down the number that enter the cooling system and exhaust gases and thus actually makes the engine run cooler. 22. How does Ethyl Petrol convert more of the heat units into power? Because the “ETHYL” Fluid acts as a combustion governor. A motor is designed to operate at a certain maximum temperature. As carbon forms, the temperature in the combustion chamber increases, for carbon is a non-conductor of heat. When ordinary gasoline is used in a carbon-choked car, the fuel explodes too quickly, so that more heat units are sent into the cooling system and the exhaust gases. 7 | ||