Rolls-Royce Archives
         « Prev  Box Series  Next »        

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).
Letter from the Vacuum Oil Company discussing engine oil viscosity and S.A.E. classifications for winter use.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 145\1\  scan0176
Date  5th September 1936
  
BY APPOINTMENT
VACUUM OIL COMPANY LIMITED
TELEPHONE WHITEHALL 1010 (14 LINES)
TELEGRAMS VACUUM · PHONE · LONDON
GARGOYLE
CAXTON HOUSE · WESTMINSTER
LONDON
S·W·I
REFERENCE
B1/MSD
Handwritten: K.W. Please write & ask him to forward necessary oil
5th September, 1936
Messrs. Rolls-Royce Limited.,
Derby.
For the attention of Mr. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham
Dear Sirs,
With reference to our Mr. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Russell Sharp's conversation with you on the 1st instant and your interest in engine oils of low viscosity, Mobiloil Arctic meets both S.A.E. 20 and S.A.E. 20W classifications whilst Mobiloil Arctic Special meets S.A.E. 10 and S.A.E. 10W.
S.A.E. 20 and 10 are both regular classifications on the S.A.E. List whilst 20 W and 10 W are tentative only and have not yet been adopted as standard. The reason for 10 W and 20 W is that the earlier S.A.E. 10 and 20 classified the oils by Saybolt viscosity at 130°F but as both these oils are intended for use in winter conditions and in fact the S.A.E. 10 is for extremely cold weather, it is quite obvious that the viscosity at 130°F will have very little relation to the viscosity at 0°F and it is this latter figure which is of interest when starting engines from cold.
The two tentative classifications S.A.E. 10W and 20 W were therefore introduced, these having definite viscosity limits at 0°F.{Mr Friese}
We do not market Mobiloil Arctic Special in this country as normal winter operating conditions do not demand an oil of this character but if so desired we should be pleased to procure a 10-gallon drum of this grade for you from our friends in New York. We are already making supplies of Mobiloil Arctic to you and 8 x 10-gallon drums of this grade were delivered in July last against your order number 20643.
We therefore await your further instructions before taking any action.
Yours faithfully,
VACUUM OIL COMPANY LIMITED,
SNGR/DJH
UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE ALL OILS ARE QUOTED AND INVOICED PER UNIT [...] ALL QUOTATIONS ARE MADE WITHOUT ENGAGEMENT.
  
  


Copyright Sustain 2025, All Rights Reserved.    whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙