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 from Vacuum Oil Company regarding boiled linseed oil coatings on gearbox and axle housings and the formation of deposits.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 173\2\ img003 | |
| Date | 29th December 1933 | |
| understand was applied to the castings of the gearbox and back axle housings, and we should certainly expect that action would occur which would loosen this coating to such an extent that it formed deposits as found. The same action would also occur with Mobiloil "D". Reviewing the foregoing, we think it is very reasonable to offer the opinion that the boiled linseed oil is the actual cause of the deposit, and to check this we would suggest that one of the castings in which this deposit has occurred be thoroughly washed with petrol, which will effectively remove Mobiloil "EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}" but will not attack the coating of boiled linseed oil. With the gearbox cleaned in this manner, we should expect that examination of the internal surfaces would give a fair idea as to whether the coating of boiled linseed oil was in its original state, or whether it has been acted upon by the lubricating oil. Quite possibly the coating will have disappeared entirely in places, and this could be checked by taking scrapings from the inside of the box and analysing them. We have discussed suitable coatings which could be used in place of boiled linseed oil, and we feel that the best alternative is some form of cellulose paint. Our Chief Chemist is not familiar with the particular brand of oil-resisting paint mentioned in the letter received from Messrs.Rolls-Royce Ltd., dated the 20th instant, and whilst this may be quite suitable, it is felt that, as a result of some tests which were recently made, a cellulose base preparation would be likely to be more resistant. This is a matter which can best be proved by an immersion test in the hot oil. VACUUM OIL COMPANY, LIMITED Chief Engineer Automotive Department AD/LEB 29-12-33 | ||