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).
Engine testing concerning spark plugs, overheating, and gasoline comparisons.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 75\2\ scan0222 | |
| Date | 27th April 1921 | |
| Oy3 - G 27421 Mr. Hives - sheet 2. We used Champion plugs of our standard type A.63 (Metric Detachable) and also A.C. Titans (metric standard), both porcelain plugs. A mica plug might not have preignited, but since they are only obtained with difficulty in this country, it was no good trying them. At the same time it was evident that matters were getting too hot under the bonnet with these types of pipe. There was an increasing smell of hot metal, and on stopping the engine the pistons groaned as they came to a standstill due to increasing tightness in the cylinder. We felt that we had been sufficiently warned off and therefore went to the type of pipe which had behaved well in all the tests, namely no pre-ignitions, very little loading up tendency, and no appreciable loss of acceleration, hill-climbing or maximum speed. If you do not get pre-ignitions, does it not prove a considerable difference in the petrol? We are working on gasoline tests, comparing the figures you recently gave us with the figures for American commercial gasoline. Could you not obtain from one of the oil companies in England an exact equivalent of the ordinary commercial stuff they are serving to us? I may add that for the last two months we have had practically no cold weather, spring having come remarkably early, so our winter starting and slow running tests have been cut off short. We are now in an excellent position to test for over-heating and pre-ignition, so that we will push forward with a test of the 1" pipe, taking blast from Nos. 1 and 6, and let you know the result. OY. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley CC Mr. Nadin Mr. Bagnall Mr. Hulley Mr. Southern | ||