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 Ethyl Export Corporation concerning customer complaints about leaded fuel causing spark plug issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0261 | |
| Date | 8th January 1937 | |
| CABLEGRAMS: ETHYLPORT, LONDON. TELEGRAMS: ETHYLPORT, SOWEST. ETHYL EXPORT CORPORATION Incorporated in the State of Delaware, U. S. A. {Mr Adams} with limited liability. THAMES HOUSE, MILLBANK LONDON, S.W.1 Telephone: VICTORIA 1441 Head Office: 135 EAST 42ND STREET NEW YORK, U.S.A 8th January, 1937. W. A. {Mr Adams} Robotham Esq., Experimental Department, Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., Nightingale Road, DERBY. Dear Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} , One of the oil companies has passed on to us a copy of a letter which has apparently been issued by Conduit Street to one of your customers, and I quote herewith an extract from it:- "Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd. desire to advise those of their customers to whom they may have recommended the use of fuels containing lead (commonly known as Ethyl) that difficulty has been experienced with sparking plugs. Owing to an increase in the lead content, misfiring is caused by a lead deposit formed on the insulation of the plugs, especially when cars are used on traffic work. Special sparking plugs are being manufactured, but until these are available, Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd. advise the use of any No.1 grade petrol which contains no lead." I have always appreciated your difficulties, but I think there has been some doubt as to whether or not Ethyl fuel has been the direct cause of your trouble, since we can say pretty definitely we are not having it elsewhere. I think it a bit unfair of Conduit Street to write letters to their customers which puts the blame primarily on our product. The second paragraph of their letter definitely infers this, but as the lead content was increased at the beginning of 1935, mainly because of a general demand for a fuel around 80 octane, I hardly think we are to blame because two years have passed and we have not had any really serious complaints since that time due to increased lead concentration. If I were in your position I would do exactly as you suggested when I saw you last, that is, tell those customers of yours who are experiencing trouble to lay off leaded petrol until you can give them the O.K. to use it again, but I do think that Conduit Street might have worded their letter more happily. | ||