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 to Count Carlos de Salamanca in Madrid regarding fuel substitutes for an engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 32\1\ Scan044 | |
| Date | 29th January 1918 | |
| R6/W29.1.18. X.1555 January 29th 1918. Count Carlos de Salamanca, 3, Ventura Rodriguez, MADRID Dear M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} de Salamanca, Regarding the question of fuels as substitutes for petrol in the running of the R.R. engine, we have delayed answering your letter in the hope that we could find some information that would help you. Speaking generally, the best policy would be to try everything yourself which is available, as we have no supply of similar materials in England and can only speak with certainty after we have made prolonged tests. Regarding the risk of damage to the engine we should think that this is not likely to be very great, providing the mixture is tried in an engine which is carefully watched, to see whether there is any effect of pitting, through acids corroding the cylinders, pistons or valves, and the oil which is in the crankchamber should be carefully watched to see whether this also is becoming acid. Regarding the heavy fuels such as paraffin, it has not usually been considered very satisfactory in England and coal gas has been used in preference, either compressed into strong steel cylinders or carried in gas bags (balloons) on the top of the carriage. This fuel here is not available for any distance, but seems to be in fairly general use for about town work. Contd | ||