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).
Report page detailing performance on brakes, petrol consumption, oil consumption, and detonation.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 109\4\ scan0131 | |
| Date | 11th July 1939 | |
| -3- BRAKES (CONT'd). It was necessary to take up 5 notches of adjustment all round after about the first 1,000 miles, but this rapid wear was apparently due to the lining settling down, as after this no further adjustment was made. We do not think any major design modifications will be required to make the brakes on this high-powered long chassis car satisfactory for production. PETROL CONSUMPTION, AND PETROL SUPPLY. The petrol consumption over the whole mileage worked out at 12.2 m.p.g. A similar trip on 32-EX, one of the earlier Phantoms, averaged 8 m.p.g. Considering the way in which the high average speeds, generally speaking, were maintained on the car, we think this consumption is reasonable. The tank capacity is not large enough for the Continent. The average owner wishes to go from Paris to Lyons non-stop driving fast all the way. To enable this to be carried out at a consumption of 12 m.p.g., and have some fuel in reserve, requires a tank size of 27 gallons. We consider that such a petrol supply is entirely unnecessary for English conditions, but such a tank could, with advantage, be provided for Continental requirements at additional cost. At no time was there any suggestion of vapour lock on the car. OIL CONSUMPTION. Four litres of oil were added in 2,000 miles. This gave an oil consumption of something better than 2,000 miles to the gallon, which is somewhat remarkable for a new engine of this size driven at high speeds. DETONATION. The premium-priced fuels, such as Azure and Esso, were purposely avoided during this run, the car being filled up with an ordinary Tourisme spirit, and occasionally, in remote villages, with fuel of questionable pedigree. In only one case were detonations noticeable. Considering the very high atmospheric temperatures, this can be considered satisfactory, though of course there was not a great deal of carbon in the cylinder head. | ||