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).
Progress on resolving piston knock issues, focusing on lubrication with castor oil.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\2\ scan 115 | |
| Date | 1st September 1919 | |
| To EH. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to CJ. " " BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} " " Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} " " EFC. " " BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} RE PISTON KNOCKS. Thank you for your memo EH&/LG29/8/19 with reference to piston knocks. I am pleased to hear that considerable progress has been made in finding the cause of variation from one piston to another. I do not think for a minute that we can purposely upset the alignment to reduce the tendency to knock. I have much more faith in the general design of the piston and the method of lubrication. I am very pleased to hear that castor oil and the continued action of the cylinder lubrication, even at light loads, is a distinct improvement. I am sure that with this extra quality and quantity of lubrication, both the engine and the pistons will wear better. The extra cost of the oil is very little indeed considering how little the engine consumes, and I shall be pleased if you will let me know the relative cost of the vacuum Company's oil, and castrol, at such prices as they would be supplied to the car owner. In conclusion, the next car put on a long test should be run with castrol and castor oil, which ever you recommend should be used by the owners, there being just the possibility that these oils may not remain in condition long enough in the crankchamber, considering the great number Contd. | ||