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).
Engine fading issues possibly linked to the use of Ethyl petrol versus standard R-R petrol.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0178 | |
| Date | 28th August 1936 | |
| X1282 S/W Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} C1/C28.8.36 With regard to the question of the use of Ethyl, about which we had some correspondence recently which you will remember, and your anxiety that this should be used as being the most advanced petrol; in the circumstances I was rather surprised to read the following extract from a report from Mr. Waldron to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} and would like your remarks thereon:- "Re B.75.GP..G.B.Forwood,Esq at Watson & Co.,Birkenhead. Engine fading out 50 m.p.h. Shock absorbers leaking oil. I tested the above car on the road, and at first believed that the trouble was due to petrol starvation, so I cleaned out and inspected the carburettor generally, also changed the petrol pump; but these jobs did not cure the trouble, which had become very elusive. I took the sparking plugs out of the test chassis and tested them in B.75.GP, and the trouble disappeared. I could get the maximum revs. and the engine was quite healthy. Ethyl petrol was being used in this car. I fitted the plugs in the test chassis, and the trouble re-occurred and was like this for about 40 miles afterwards; I could get even firing at all speeds. This rather points to the fact that with Ethyl petrol some action or deposit had formed, and with the standard R-R petrol the plugs had cleaned themselves." C. | ||