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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).
Test report on high oil temperatures, ignition issues, petrol supply, and lap speeds for cars 18-EX and 19-EX.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 12\7\  07-page081
Date  25th June 1930
  
HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/ml/MT25.6.30 Contd.

-4-

reaches is rather excessive (Graph (4). We have recorded
temperatures as high as 110°C. after a prolonged burst of
speed on the track with atmospheric temperatures of only 20°C.
As the ignition advance of the car is dependent on the relay
which in turn is likely to lose efficiency if the oil
viscosity is very low, these high oil temperatures seem
dangerous from the point of view of causing retarded ignition
and hence overheating. It will be observed that the
figures in graph (4) were taken with a ventilated undershield.

Lap speed of Cars.

We had difficulty with the petrol supply of both
18-EX and 19-EX.

After one lap full throttle the mixture weakened off,
causing pre-ignition. We found that we could overcome this
by running on "reserve" in the autovac. Presumably the pump
does not quite keep pace with the engine requirements for
sustained maximum speed. We were running at 3250 engine
revs. We are confirming this trouble on the test bed.

The maximum lap speeds recorded were :-

18-EX C.O. Open. 73.5 M.P.H.
19-EX C.O. Open. 84.5 M.P.H.
American P.I. No cut-out 71 M.P.H.

We were astonished at the speed of 19-EX, which is
a Cabriolet weighing 48 cwt. empty. We think its performance
  
  


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