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).
Inquiry into complaints of excessive oil consumption on Bentley vehicles, questioning if it is linked to the fitting of Aerolite pistons.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\3\ scan0034 | |
| Date | 22th February 1936 | |
| W/K.{Mr Kilner} c. to Va. (Paris). X1220 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/KW.22.2.36. From time to time we have heard complaints of the oil consumption being excessive on the Bentley. Recently statements have been made that the oil consumption has been worse since Aerolite pistons have been fitted. We have investigated the matter with our own Repair Dept. here, and find that in 24 cases of high oil consumption recorded, 21 took place with the old type split skirt pistons, and the remaining 3 were cured by fitting the rocker shaft round the right way, and not by modifications to the pistons. Will you please let us know whether you know of any authentic case where high oil consumption has been traced to Aerolite pistons, and furthermore, what has been done in such a case to overcome the trouble? We should also like to know the relative proportions of high oil consumption complaints with Aerolite pistons compared with the original standard pistons. We are of course aware that lead bronze bearings tend to increase the oil consumption, but these cases should be treated separately from those of the normal type bearings. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||