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).
Informational leaflet promoting 'Miracle Oil' and its benefits for the lubrication of internal combustion engines.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 32\4\ Scan137 | |
| Date | 8th January 1923 guessed | |
| 2.—It absolutely prevents carbon deposit. No phase of automobile trouble compares with carbon formation on parts which are exposed to the combustion of the fuel mixture. This oil will help to remove carbon already formed and will prevent carbon forming. 3.—It produces more power, speed, pick-up and mileage per gallon of petrol. 4.—It prolongs the life of the motor by lubricating every vital part which is not reached by mechanical means, and which has heretofore worn out quickly. 5.—It decreases friction and consequently greatly increases the life of the motor. 6.—It increases the mileage. This saving alone more than pays the cost of the oil. 7.—It is invaluable because most troubles are caused by carbon formation. 8.—It is the most perfect lubricant known. The owner driver in particular will experience the extraordinary feeling of the silkiness of running and the entire absence of knocking. MIRACLE OIL VALUABLE FACTS WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THE LUBRICATION OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. The various existing systems of lubricating internal combustion engines work perfectly in respect of the crank shaft, big and little end bearings, etc., and the lower half of the cylinders, but neglect and leave a vitally important part, viz.: the upper half of the cylinders (where the friction and heat is greatest) perfectly dry. Thus the piston rings are working over a dry surface at a great temperature. Valves, stems, and guides are also working without any form of lubrication. The only provision attempted to overcome the above defects is the theory that sufficient oil is forced past the rings to lubricate these parts. Practice, however, immediately condemns this theory, for many reasons. To make this quite clear to even the non-technical mind, we need but call attention to the fact that piston rings are provided for the purpose of preventing the escape of gas past the piston. The rings, therefore, should be a perfect fit. If, however, oil can be forced up past the rings, gases (the result of the explosion) can be forced down past the rings. These gases then enter the base of the engine, and have a most detrimental effect on the lubricating value of the oil there. The above goes to show that, to retain these gases above the piston, the rings must fit well, and it is left to chance whether or not oil gets by to “lubricate” the upper end of the cylinder. It does not, and in consequence the walls of the cylinders become worn, and an excess of oil then gets forced up, and gases are blown down, past the piston, hence carbonisation, loss of power, bad lubrication, and larger petrol consumption. Analyse, for example, the present splash system. Oil of a low flash point (eminently suitable for the lubrication of bearings) is used, and does its work well in respect to crank shaft, etc., and the lower half of the cylinders, this being the coolest part of the engine, as it is farthest away from the combustion chamber. A certain amount of this oil is, say, forced past the piston rings in a crude attempt to lubricate the cylinders, higher up. What happens? The oil (which has only sufficient body to retain its lubrication properties and fulfil its function in respect of crank shaft, etc., and lower half of cylinders) as it is gradually carried higher by the piston comes in contact with an ever increasing temperature, and becomes thinner and hotter, and rapidly loses its value as a lubricant. By the time it reaches dotted line “A” on diagram below:— [Diagram 1 Text] (a) Any oil that may be carried up with the piston, by the time it reaches this point, is valueless as a lubricant, owing to excessive heat, the oil being naturally of a low flash-point. (b) This is as far as lower lubrication is effective. It is of no value whatever, instead it has developed into a grave menace to the efficiency of the engine, as this oil is burnt (instead of remaining and lubricating) and forms a deposit of carbon on the piston head, under and around the piston rings, on the valves, stems and guides. Further, in endeavouring to get oil up past the rings to the upper chamber, the oil level has to be kept up to the highest point, causing excessive internal heat (an additional load thrown on the cooling system), to say nothing in regard to the unnecessary additional cost in oil. To condense the foregoing— The lack of a proper oil for upper lubrication, viz., that above the piston rings, means cylinder walls wear at the top, resulting in a noisy engine, loss of power (through loss of compression), carbonisation, dirty plugs, larger petrol consumption, pitted and carboned valves, and worn guides and stems. Friction is power’s greatest enemy. By reducing the friction in upper cylinder chambers the wear on the cylinder walls, piston rings and valves is alleviated. The elimination of friction where it is greatest means a cooler, smoother running engine, fewer repairs, more miles per gallon of petrol, and increase in longevity. The result of seven and a half years experimenting along this line is MIRACLE OIL. This oil has been put under every possible test, and has unfailingly fulfilled all our claims for it. Miracle Oil does not leave any trace of residue at any temperature. [Diagram 2 Text] This carbon condition exists in all cars after a short time if upper lubrication is not used. Gases escaping past Piston Rings due to excessive wear from lack of upper lubrication. Valves and valve stems are left entirely without lubrication. Lower lubrication cannot pass this point. Oil in crank case is destroyed by gases escaping from upper cylinders. The use of Miracle Oil in upper lubrication is a remedy for the above. Miracle Oil is a combination of four mineral oils treated by a secret process, and has a fire test high enough to endure, without combustion, the temperature of petrol explosion. The benefits derived by using this Oil may be summarised as follows :— Piston heads—Elimination of Carbonisation. Top wall of cylinders—No wear. Piston rings—No lost compression, no dirty or oily plugs, no carboned or broken piston rings. Valves—No carboned or pitted valves, or worn stems and guides. No internal friction, which means an increase of 10 per cent., or more, in mileage per gallon of petrol. HOW MIRACLE OIL WORKS. By pouring into the petrol tank a certain quantity of Miracle Oil (precisely one ounce to every two gallons of petrol or benzol) a perfect system of upper lubrication is resultant. The lower parts are lubricated by the splash or present system as before. Every drop of petrol drawn from the carburetter into the combustion chamber through the inlet valves contains a sufficient proportion of Miracle Oil to ensure adequate lubrication for that stroke of the engine. While the fuel is being drawn up through the inlet valves, same are lubricated, then at the time of explosion the oil is released from the gases and sprayed over the piston head and the upper end of the cylinder walls. Having a higher fire test than the gases, the oil is not burnt, but lubricates these parts. It is then blown out through the exhaust valves, and lubricates valves, guides and stems during its passage. The use of this Oil in the petrol not only prolongs the life of the engine, makes it run more smoothly, and gives a saving in petrol consumption, but it also eliminates carbonisation. By keeping a constant oily surface on these parts the carbon cannot settle and bake into a hard cake, but is kept in the form of soot, which is blown out through the exhaust valves. Any carbon deposit formed before the use of this Oil is introduced will, after a short period, be partially | ||