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).
Complaint case regarding a car overheating, diagnosed as a faulty thermometer giving a misleadingly high reading.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0103 | |
| Date | 31th May 1937 | |
| STEADMAN Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}..... from H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} c. to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} 361 H5/H31.5.37. COMPLAINT CASE. 3-BU-148. G.H. WHIGHAM. ESQ. The above owner, who, a week or so ago complained of overheating of the cooling water on his car in London traffic and for whom we fitted the latest type matrix, called in to see me to-day to say that in his driver's view the overheating was actually worse now than before and that, although very highly experienced (certificated RR. man) he had expressed some anxiety about driving the car in view of the fact that the thermometer needle passed the 100° mark by a considerable amount. Having asked Mr. Whigham whether any water was being lost and having heard that this was not the case, I told him that we rather feared the thermometer was connected to a hot pocket in the jacket at the back of the engine where it gave a misleading reading and that we were contemplating altering this. I informed him that the driver need not be anxious if he were not losing water and that I would arrange for Frith to investigate the matter fully to-day. Also that the overheating seemed worse to him because the atmospheric temperature has been at least 10 to 15° higher than when the car went to N. on the previous occasion. EF. called during the driver's lunch-hour and made an interesting experiment, as follows : Keeping the radiator shutters closed he and the driver ran the engine until the indication of the thermometer had it been graduated so far would be about 140°. He then removed the radiator cap and there was no sign of boiling. Both he and the driver were able to put their fingers in the water in the radiator without getting scalded. This, of course, indicates that as the thermometer is now connected it shews an utterly inaccurate temperature for the cooling water and is merely alarming both to the customer and driver. While it is obvious that the circulation round the jackets at low speeds is defective and a hot pocket can form, we might until that is put right connect the thermometer at some other spot where it will not alarm customers. | ||