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).
The causes of overheating in Phantom III radiators and the proposed solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 94\3\ scan0155 | |
| Date | 19th March 1937 | |
| 340. W/S To C. c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.3/AP.19.3.37. PHANTOM III. RADIATORS. Referring to your C.7/C.11.3.37., we have looked into this matter and are of the opinion that the overheating in question is due to the following causes. - 1. Formation of corrosion deposit which causes the choking - since the cylinder liners are plated to resist corrosion, this can only result from corrosion of the iron hot spot box in the presence of aluminium - we are surprised that sufficient corrosion of this part can take place in the mileage which the cars you mention have covered. The only instance of corrosion and consequent choking of a radiator which we have had on Ph.III. was on 34-EX., and was due to this car running with unplated cylinder liners. 2. Waterways in the radiator matrix of insufficient outlet aperture due to deficiencies in manufacture. This applies only to Mk.V. type matrices. 3. Damage to pump rotor by solder shaken loose from bottom tank. As regards items 1. and 2., we have asked RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} to send Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} three Mk.Vl.{V. Lewis / Mr Valentine} matrix units (as requested by Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}) and in case of any further complaints which are suspected to be due to silting up of radiator, one of these units should be fitted to the car and the defective matrix unit returned to the Works without being cleaned or touched in any way (marked for the attention of Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std.) After examination we shall clean these radiators, open up the waterways and return them to Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} for any further replacements. As regards item (3) we have issued a standardisation sheet for a gauze filter which fits on the water pump inlet and which will prevent any solder entering the water pump. We do not anticipate any silting up trouble with the Mk.Vl.{V. Lewis / Mr Valentine} matrices which have been and are being fitted to cars - the waterways on these matrices have been corrected before the radiators have been built. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Std. | ||