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).
Investigation into alleged trouble with sparking plugs due to the use of Ethyl petrol.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0185 | |
| Date | 31th August 1936 | |
| W/S - C. X1282 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}13/KW.31.8.36. Ethyl Petrol. Replying to C.1/C.28.8.36. The alleged trouble with sparking plugs due to the use of Ethyl is being investigated. We have had more than one case of the same kind; in particular Professor Dodds made a similar complaint. As we have previously pointed out, we have been running all our Experimental cars on Ethyl petrol for about three years without having any signs of this trouble. We therefore at present conclude that it may only occur after continuous traffic work, which of course we do not get at Derby. The trouble is most elusive and all investigations so far made by experts have failed to discover that Ethyl can have the slightest effect on the sparking plugs. We enclose a copy of a report from the Ethyl Export Corporation on some sparking plugs which we submitted to them. Clearly this misfiring, if it is due to Ethyl, cannot be incurable; otherwise the situation in America would be quite impossible as practically no other petrol is used there. We hope to have some more information on the subject later on. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||