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 pinking, the use of ethyl fuel, and the urgent need for a suitable spark plug to resolve the issue.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0270 | |
| Date | 12th January 1937 guessed | |
| -2- It would be much easier for us frankly to tell customers to use straight spirit and why and to ask them to retard their ignition for pinking until we can get over it either by getting plugs suitable for ethyl or by redesigning the cylinder head or whatever it may be that is required. The power will fall off as he retards, of course, but it won't fall as it now does either with foul plugs or faulty pumps spoiled by Discol (and both diaphragms may go together! ) There are one or two things also to remember. One is that many people do not like Ethyl. Probably a prejudice arising out of its original smell but also to the discoloration it causes and the risk of lead poisoning (in cuts, etc.) often mentioned. Another is that we really want a cure which can be applied retrospectively and cheaply on a good many cars. If then pinking can only be got over by using Ethyl fuel we want a plug at once which will stand it. This we understand must have a porcelain core. Is there no plug we can buy now? English or perhaps American? Is the Champion the right size and length? You may not like it or recommend it for our products but it has got to be a pretty bad plug to be worse than our present ones when they are leaded up. H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} | ||