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).
Negative effects of Ethyl petrol on spark plugs, causing misfiring and customer complaints.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0237 | |
| Date | 30th October 1936 | |
| COPY. S/W. {Sales / Derby Works} Hd. {Mr Hayward / Mr Huddy} ..From H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} H18/RH. {R. Hollingworth} 30.10.36. re EFFECT OF ETHYL PETROL ON SPARKING PLUGS. -------------------- As you know we have had a number of assurances from W. that Ethyl lead spirits can be used with impunity on our present engines, and that it has no effect on sparking plugs. We have therefore advocated it use a great deal in the many cases of complaints of "pinking", especially on Bentley cars. We have done this in the face of a considerable body of opinion amongst car users that it undoubtedly has an effect on plugs and causes misfiring. We still get from customers frequent suggestions that the misfiring from which they are suffering is due to their use of Ethyl. That was the position when about 10 days ago we received a complaint from Mr. P. Hicks of his 25/30 HP. chassis No. GTL-20. The car was sent to N. and was tested by Mr. Hancock and Mr. Messervy, and I understand they agreed that the symptoms are such as have been found to develop when Ethyl petrol is used. We also understand that experiments are being carried out, presumably at W., as to the effect of Ethyl, but we have been obliged to return Mr. Hicks' car to him with the suggestion that he should use either straight petrol or a Benzole Mixture. C. has asked me to write to you in the first instance on this matter for two reasons:- 1. Because we do not know where we are over this matter generally, and 2. Because we think undoubtedly you must have had in the Repair Department, a number of cases especially on Bentley cars to investigate, cases in which you have found the owner convinced that Ethyl spirit affects the plugs. For instance, we think you may recall B.71-GP. H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} M. {Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Agnew. H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} | ||