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).
Overheating issues with the Spectre model in France, detailing problems and proposed solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\4\ scan0065 | |
| Date | 1st July 1935 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} +300A Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/KW.S.7.35. Overheating of the SpectreCodename for Phantom III in France. The following troubles have been experienced on the SpectreCodename for Phantom III since it went to France. (1) Overheating climbing passes and also on the level; i.e., radiator water boiling. (2) Vapour lock in the petrol system. (3) Boiling of the petrol in the float chamber. (1) The grille fitted to the front of the car is undoubtedly responsible for causing the car to overheat at high speeds. From measurements that have been taken this raises the water temperature 12°. As there is no question of this being standardised, we have asked Hancock to remove it, which will give him approximately the same conditions as if the shutters, which have been standardised, were fitted. This should improve the cooling at high speeds and also, to a much smaller degree, at low speeds. In both cases it should reduce the under bonnet temperature slightly. If the low speed overheating persists, it will be necessary to increase the efficiency of the fan. The trouble about a fan which is efficient is that it absorbs a great deal of power at high speeds. Cadillacs overcame the difficulty by fitting a variable pitch fan, a sample of which we brought back from America 18 months ago. (2) You will see from his reports that Hancock seems to have overcome the vapour lock in the petrol system by putting the filter on the offside of the frame under the running boards, just underneath the change speed lever. He has got away with this without having to move the petrol pumps. | ||