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).
Investigations into complaints of excessive oil consumption on several Bentley chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\3\ scan0037 | |
| Date | 24th February 1936 | |
| conf. X1210 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} D E R B Y Levallois VA9/ET.24.2.36 Sr.is absent Re: OIL CONSUMPTION ON BENTLEY CHASSIS With reference to your memo Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/KW.22.2.36, the following is a full report concerning the cars which we have attended to during the last six or seven months: CHASSIS B.54.EF - Mileage 8989 Kms. - Complaint of engine detonation and excessive oil consumption. Engine found to be badly carbonised up, owing to the rocker shaft having been fitted the wrong way round. Since we decarbonised the engine and fitted the rocker shaft the correct way round, the car has covered a further 6985 Kms. and there is now no complaint from the owner of excessive oil consumption. CHASSIS B.38.EF - Mileage 9213 Kms. - Complaint of engine detonation. Engine found to be badly carbonised up owing to the rocker shaft having been fitted the wrong way round. Since we carried out an R.10 engine clean on the 15.11.35, we have had no further complaint from the owner. CHASSIS B.160.EF - Mileage 1829 miles. Complaint of excessive oil consumption, due to rocker shaft having been fitted the wrong way round. We have come across a considerable number of chassis on which the rocker shafts had been fitted the wrong way round. We attended to all cars as they became available. CHASSIS B.85.EJ - Paris Trials Car - Our Trials Driver reported that, during a trip from Paris to Amsterdam, the engine had consumed 4 litres during a run of 1200 Kms. We reported this to Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} who pointed out, as per his memo Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}2I/HR.7.2.36, that as the oil consumption worked out at something like 840 miles to the gallon, this could be regarded as quite reasonable on a Bentley. CHASSIS B.196.EF - Mr. Balay - This owner, who resides in Lyons, complained once or twice that the engine consumed a lot of oil. While the owner was recently in Paris, we carried out a thorough oil consumption test. The car was tested at a fairly high speed over a distance of 130 Kms. and we found that barely 1/4 litre of oil had been used. Up to the time of writing, we do not know of an authentic case where high oil consumption has been traced to Aerolite pistons. CHASSIS B.174.CR{Mr Cra???ster / Mr Chichester} - The owner informed us that, after we had attended to the bearings of his car, the oil consumption was higher. We fitted a set of L.B.B.s. He did not, however, give us any figures. | ||