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 detailing performance issues with fuel pumps and an exhaust valve under various temperature and driving conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 108\1\ scan0118 | |
| Date | 27th August 1937 | |
| ( 2 ) brought to a complete standstill. Temperatures were as follows:- Air 17.5°c R.Water 96° U.B.78° Oil 95°. The under bonnet thermometer was left still mounted on the A.C.pump for comparison with previous figures. Running was continued on the S.U. pumps for the rest of the trip and subsequently petrol shortage was experienced which limited the speed to 48 MPH. in 3rd gear with Air at 23°, Water 76°, Pump 58°, Oil 80°. As no starvation had been experienced previously with similar temperatures, I suspected an air leak and after tightening up a union on the suction connection had no further trouble. This leak was confirmed when we got back but as it was only on the temporary pipe coupling up the dash pump and cannot have adversely affected the operation of the A.C. pump during the tests, though it may have been present with the S.U. pump all the time. I am more inclined from previous experience to think that it worked loose after the climb. Air temperature rose to 30°c yesterday and the H.P. electric pump in the frame was tested, but it was not possible to get any high speed starvation using only one unit with Air at 30, R.Water 87°, U.B.64°, Oil 91°, nor after a 10 minutes halt and a full throttle get-away with Air 30°, R.Water 80°, U.B.56°, Oil 100°, could any hesitation be recorded. Both units were used for this test. The A.C. pump was then connected up but the air temperature fell to 28°c. No high speed starvation could be obtained but after a 10 minutes halt, hesitation on get-away lasted 5 seconds with Water 89°, Pump 62°, Oil 70°, followed by complete recovery with Maximum M.P.H. Failure of N° 3 cylinder exhaust valve prevented a comparison being made with the S.U. dash pumps, and has stopped any further work on the car. The weather during these tests has never been as hot as that previously experienced, namely 32°c and 37°c, and with the exception of the failure at high altitude already recorded with the A.C. pump, we have not been able to reproduce a failure which would cause inconvenience under ordinary driving conditions. All previous reports of failure made by Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} were influenced by a blockage in the stand pipe in the tank. Earlier tests at lower temperatures gave symptoms of petrol shortage, and I subsequently removed a large piece of solder which was loose in the pipe and cleaned the main filter which was very dirty. This car is not fitted with engine side shields, as owing to difficulty in fitting at Works, the car was sent out without them. All tests were carried out without a fan owing to | ||