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).
Technical memorandum discussing serious spark plug trouble, potentially linked to the use of ethyl fuel.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0251 | |
| Date | 26th November 1936 | |
| 1282. Sg. {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 2/R.26.11.36. ETHYL FUEL & PLUG TROUBLE. Replying to Sg {Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} 10/E.25.11.36., we agree that this plug trouble is very serious. The peculiar thing is that since we changed to a more expensive aero type plug we seem to have had more trouble. This is particularly emphasised in France where, as you know, they have had lead petrol for a long time, and have only recently started to run into serious plug trouble. The elusiveness of the problem was well exemplified by Professor Dodds' case, he sent the car up here, and subsequently, our experimental tester paid two visits to London, but on no occasion could a silent trouble be demonstrated. A week later Professor Dodds came in and had his plugs changed. At the moment information from America indicates that the ceramic plug may be a solution. We have been experimenting with this for some time, but, of course, neither Lodge nor KLG manufacture them. The types we are testing are - AC, Champion and Bosch. KLG are shortly going to manufacture the Bosch type of plug. At present the customer's choice appears to lie between pinking or the possibility of plug trouble. The only other alternative seems to be for him to carry a spare petrol pump and run on Cleveland Discol. As owners might be slightly sensitive about petrol pumps at the moment, we hesitate to recommend the latter procedure. A Depot Sheet will be issued forthwith. Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||