Rolls-Royce Archives
         « Prev  Box Series  Next »        

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).
Contribution to a paper on oil filtration, discussing engine wear, superfinishing, and filter performance.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 136\3\  scan0102
Date  20th November 1940
  
re Filters oil

1139

Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}10/ML.20.11.40.

CONTRIBUTION TO DISCUSSION OF MR. T.C.WORTH'S
PAPER ON OIL FILTRATION.

Mr. Worth's paper has ventilated a subject which must become of increasing importance as the duty of the petrol engine becomes more arduous.

To obtain increased durability, the machine tool specialist has been constantly improving the surface finish imparted to the working parts of the motor, until recently his acheivements have been publicised under the heading "Superfinish".

It seems evident that some means of super oil filtration is required if this ultra-finish is not to be destroyed by impurities in the lubricant.

On their chassis, Messrs Rolls Royce run their new engines in with a full flow filter, backed up by a centrifugal oil cleaner, which ensures that the very large full flow element has a reasonable life.

Having removed, as far as possible, the foreign bodies produced during manufacture, the car is delivered to the customer witha very coarse oil strainer, in the form of a floating gauze, on the suction side of the pump and a by-pass filter in the system on the pressure side of the circuit.

The by-pass filter, fitted to a 4¼ litre engine, the element of which is approximately 4½" diameter x 4½" long, will keep the oil close to it's new condition for 5000 miles. If the filter element is renewed at this mileage, the condition of the oil will not deteriorate.

We have handed the author a test-tube containing a sample of oil that is taken from the crank-case of a car that has done 15,000 miles without the sump being drained. The sump holds two gallons and during the mileage in question, gallons of oil have been added. We have also given him a sample of oil after a similar mileage without a filter.

An analysis of the filtered oil would be interesting as visually, it appears to be in a perfect condition.

- Continued -
  
  


Copyright Sustain 2025, All Rights Reserved.    whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙