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).
Cold weather carburation issues leading to poor starting and running performance.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 50\3\ Scan001 | |
| Date | 13th December 1920 | |
| X4305 Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from EP. {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} [strikethrough] c. to Ba. [/strikethrough] [strikethrough] c. to Ev. {Ivan Evernden - coachwork} [/strikethrough] [strikethrough] c. to H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} [/strikethrough] EP {G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} 5/F13.12.20. RE. COLD WEATHER AND POOR CARBURATION. The cold weather again brings forward the troubles we have with carburation on our present car, a point which I feel sure will be complained of seriously from America. The following is what happens - When starting up the engine a considerable amount of priming is necessary, and one does not seem to be able to supply petrol quickly enough from this source to keep the engine running even when starting. Apart from this, the petrol from this source does not seem to vapourise very satisfactorily, and is inclined to fill the engine up with petrol. The only satisfactory way of keeping the engine running is to lift the low speed jet, and it is quite a job to dash round from the starter button to the jet, and at the same time advance the ignition, and all before the engine stops. Having got the engine running, the car goes out but it is a considerable time before the throttle of the engine can be opened or power obtained from the engine without stopping it, as a continual "popping" takes place. If the driver runs slowly for a while, [handwritten insertion: the car] the induction pipe cools off and the carburation is again bad, so that when the driver accelerates, the engine "pops" and hesitates, and he invariably strengthens up the jets, with the result that the engine after some time commences to misfire very badly owing to the plugs sooting up. Trouble is also experienced with the engine knocking due to what would appear to be the oil being washed [strikethrough] away [/strikethrough]. These are actual experiences which customers are having, and on examination of the cylinders we have found them to be quite dry. America are recommending the "hot spot" principle and also that some exhaust jacketing to the induction piping | ||