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).
Car's performance and issues during a road test from France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\1\ scan0241 | |
| Date | 3rd October 1933 | |
| x465 Hotel de France. Chateauroux. Indre. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. I. B. IV. We sent you a telegram upon arrival here yesterday: CAR RAN WELL - HANCOCK Before leaving Folkeston we filled up with Pratt High Test Petrol. This lasted us to within 100 miles of our destination. The engine ran very well. There was no sign of missfires or preignition. Our petrol consumption worked out at 16 M.P.G. With an average speed of approx 50 M.P.H. We had considerable fog for the last 100 miles. The maximum oil temp. reached was 94°C, the average Oil temp. was 88°C. During the run at speeds over 70 M.P.H. a very bad rattle from the pedals came up. We presume this is from the spherical mounting of the shaft. There was no sign of the half crankshaft period but at 90 M.P.H. the engine is rough making everything vibrate that is possible. ELECTRIC PUMPS There was no sign of starvation. We get the pumps fluttering when nearing the reserve with approx. 4 gallons of Petrol in the tank, especially after cornering. ENGINE GEAR RATTLES x We did not perceive any rattles, when idling or on the pick up. We have not again experienced the dull thud, after a run when idling. CUTOUT This most definately causes fumes to come into the body. It also causes a deafening boom at approx. 60 M.P.H. There was no sign of rattles from it when closed. The suspension of the silencers gave no trouble. OIL CONSUMPTION The oil consumption came out at 546 M.P.G. The leak of oil from the rear of the Distributor drive occurs on the road. STEERING This was not so good as previously. The front damper loading is probably the chief cause as the front of the car was continually on the bounce. Thus we have checked very carefully the toe in of the wheels and found actually they were toeing out 1/16". We are correcting this. The bottom bearings | ||