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).
Investigation into oil cooler failures, phase three.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\1\ scan0318 | |
| Date | 7th September 1937 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}/Std. c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} c. Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} c. Sr. OIL COOLER FAILURES - PH.III. On Wednesday of last week we received a notification (Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/HER.2/JB.1.9.37) than an oil cooler had failed on chassis 3.AX.81, and the oil cooler was returned for examination. Examination of the cooler and its number E.598 indicated that it was the latest dip soldered type - Records showed that this was the third oil cooler failure reported on this car. We therefore arranged to go to Cricklewood and examine the car to see whether anything on it could account for these failures. However, the returned cooler was tested on our pressure test and found to be perfectly sound - no leaks up to 200 lbs/sq.ins. Enquiry at N. elicited the information that the complaint of oil in the water system was not made by the customer but was discovered during repairs at N - we are of the opinion that the presence of oil in the water system on this car was due to insufficient cleaning of the system after previous oil cooler failure (10.6.37). We cleaned out the water system by the procedure given on attached sheet (1) and have requested N. to examine the car in approximately a month's time and let us know whether any appreciable oil leakage into the water has taken place. We also checked up on the maximum oil pressure to which the cooler is subjected on this car starting from cold - this agreed with our own experimental figure of 60 - 65 lbs/sq. in on the inlet to the cooler. Further, we examined the oil relief valve valves for signs of sticking, dirt etc., - these were perfectly satisfactory and no signs of any sticking could be detected. While at N. we examined the coolers from two other cars which had oil cooler failures - 3.AZ.84 and 3.CP.16. These were both genuinely leaking at the edges as usual and were numbers E.5 and E.183 - both old type hand soldered coolers. continued | ||