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 concerning a seized piston and fluctuating oil pressure on a Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 89\3\ scan0103 | |
| Date | 23th March 1935 | |
| 1 4261 Telephone: Barlaston 51. The Manor House, Tittensor, Stoke-on-Trent. NHR/W. Sat., 23rd March,1935. Dear Bill, I have refrained from reporting on the behaviour of my "Bentley" until I had had an opportunity of running it in, as per your instructions, and had got some experience as to how the car was settling down. I am pleased to say it feels altogether different since I had it back from you, but I am still puzzled as to why that piston should have seized. The engine had done a sufficient mileage to discard the idea that it was not run in, and, as I was just completing a 50 mile journey, I do not see how it can be said it was cold oil that was the cause. I found, both on this car and my old one, that when the brakes are applied harshly the oil gauge frequently returns to zero, and on some occasions it takes some little time to return to its normal pressure. Of course, when one notices this, it is an easy matter to refrain from accelerating until the oil pressure is normal again, but I am certain that the pressure of the oil had nothing to do with the piston seizing in this case. Nevertheless, it may be the outcome of damage done on some previous occasion; otherwise, I cannot see anything to account for it. Cont. W.Rowbotham, Esq., Rolls-Royce,Limited, Derby. | ||