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).
Concerns about engine operating temperature due to thermostatically operated shutters.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 39\4\ Scan201 | |
| Date | 22th November 1930 | |
| X3499. To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. to Wer. c. to EX. c. to BP. RECEIVED 24 NOV 1930 PN.{Mr Northey}1/CP22.11.30. Dict. 21.11.30. re. Thermostatically Operated Shutters. I received your memo.)Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}1/MJ20.11.30. At first I felt certain that a clerical error had been made in the third line, the figure 6 appeared to have been typed by mistake for the figure 8, but apparently this is not the case from your further remarks. I am really very much concerned at this proposition as I feel we have at least our share of troubles without going out to look for them. During the whole period of our manufacture of Phantom Cars it has been held to be urgently desirable that the temperature of the water should not be habitually allowed to fall below 80º or 75º in view of the immediate detrimental affect this low temperature has on carburation, thus affecting the sweet running of the engine, fuel consumption and power curve. At Derby when I have been testing cars, if I happened to criticise performance and it was then noticed that the temperature was low, I was immediately reminded of this fact to account for the indifferent performance. From my own observation on our demonstration cars I should certainly not get the best running conditions if the temperature be allowed to fall as low as 60º. I cannot understand what cataclysmal changes may have taken place to justify one in reversing one's experience or views in this respect. I fear that unless some modification, of which I am not aware, is proposed in connection with either the heating or carburation of our demonstration cars, I cannot agree to instructing that they should be run at a temperature which will handicap the impression which we are striving to give to would-be customers. I remember that after the 10,000 miles test in France on 24-EX, when I had the car in my hands for some hundreds of miles in this country I made it quite clear that I did not approve of the fact that the thermostatic control prevented the temperature of the water ever rising above 75º; in fact, it stood mostly at about 70º and I was then assured that this criticism was quite appreciated and that I need not worry - 1 - | ||