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).
Investigation into an overheating engine for Mr. R.W. Fitz Aucher's chassis 3.AZ.34.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 146\1\ scan0040 | |
| Date | 15th October 1937 | |
| CHASSIS 3.AZ.34 - Mr. R.W. FITZ AUCHER --------------------------------- REPORT - OP. N°. 3389 - Mileage 14726 As instructed I went to Soissons in Company with Driver Antoine in chassis B.60.GA, in order to attend to the above owners complaint that the engine was overheating. Upon our arrival we immediately got into touch with the owner who informed us that during normal running from Boulogne to Amiens the thermometer reading was about 95° C. and that during the run from Amiens to Soissons the thermometer reading showed a reading of about 90° C. We then asked the owner to let us test the car in order to try and find out the cause of his complaint. Mr. Fitz Aucher then informed us that as he had an important meeting in Geneva the next day, he therefore wanted to sleep in Troyes the same evening, and in view of the above , he said there would be no time for us to try the car. In view of his decision we were not able to try the car in Soissons. I then decided to accompany the owner as far as Troyes Before starting on the run to Troyes I asked the owner what petrol he had been using and he informed me that he had used "Shell Touriste", we then filled up with AZUR petrol. After we had travelled about 15 kilometres Mr. Fitz Aucher asked me to drive the car as far as Troyes. During the evening run to Troyes , we travelled between 60 and 78 miles per hour and the water temperature varied between 82° and 90° C. the maximum temperature of 90° was reached when the car was slowed down. The acceleration and the general behaviour of the car was very good. We stopped at Troyes for the night and in the morning I looked over the engine. I examined the petrol filter, I also examined the water pump for debit, the water circulation through the matrix of the radiator appeared to me to be on the slow side. I also observed that when the engine was cold that there was a water leakage past the cylinder head joint of the two cylinder bloks between the 2nd. and 3rd. and 5th. and 6th. cylinders, the leakage however appeared to stop when the engine was warmed up. I also increased to the maximum the opening of the radiator shutters. ..... | ||