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 development and types of automotive oils, antifreeze, spark plugs, and batteries.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\4\ scan0135 | |
| Date | 17th December 1927 | |
| 4 OILS (Definite measurement of "oiliness" is required.) Present oils cover following types:- Straight petroleum oils. Oils adapted from the "fatty acid" theory of Wells and Southcombe. Compounded oils, using fatty oil blends. Oils compounded with metal soaps. Non-chatter oil for Fords. Equilibrium oils designed to minimize fuel dilution, and promote easy starting in cold weather. "In addition to various mechanical devices for preventing dilution and also special engine design, a series of equilibrium oils has been developed with a view to balancing the amounts of diluent absorbed and removed during operation of the car." ANTIFREEZE See my letter OY2.R.12.17.27 re properties of ethylene-glycol (Eveready Prestone) SPARK PLUGS For details of development of present American spark-plug insulators it is necessary to refer to the report. "The first step was to produce an artificial magnesium - aluminum silicate-------. This work was undertaken by the U.S. Bureau of Standards----. The best results were obtained with a mixture containing about 10% magnesium oxide, 27% alumina, and 63% silica ----- mixed with pure clays and pulverized with artificial mullite ---. "The product is our present-day spark plug which is so successfully meeting the demands of the automotive engineer." (This confirms our experience with American spark plugs, costing a few cents each, which are so definitely superior to other types that we have been able to "forget" them entirely as an essential part of the car.) BATTERIES "The wood case,--- was more or less attacked by sulphuric acid which leaked from the cells. "This difficulty has been eliminated by the use of molded unit-containers. "These containers at the present time are of two types- hard rubber which is possibly more universally used, and the asphalt compositions, which are a more recent development. "These new containers have given the automobile owner more miles of uninterrupted battery service." We have yet to develop a unit-container battery suitable to our installation - this is in hand in connection with he flush-sided valance. (Continued) | ||