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).
Starting difficulties with 4¼-litre Bentleys and the recommendation of using thin oils.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 118\3\ scan0213 | |
| Date | 5th January 1938 | |
| W/K Pk. from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. Ey. c. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} Rml/R.5.1.38. STARTING 4¼-LITRE BENTLEYS. Mr. Vandervell, who has a Bentley car, was up here yesterday, and he said that quite recently he had helped to start 2 - 4¼-litre Bentleys by towing or pushing them off. We regard the 4¼-litre Bentley as being an exceedingly good starter, and, therefore, were somewhat surprised when Vandervell gave us the impression that this car had a bad reputation for starting in London. We have a Cold Chamber at the Factory and when starting with 'Castrol CW' there is no difficulty whatever in starting a Bentley under conditions of 25° of frost if a winter oil is used. 'Castrol CW' is the thinnest oil mentioned in the Bentley Instruction Book, and at the present moment we are also recommending 'Mobil Arctic'. Such thin oils are specifically recommended for conditions such as Mr. Vandervell mentioned, and we should be interested to know whether customers, generally speaking, are aware of the marked effect of oil viscosity (Mr. Vandervell had not the slightest idea that oil had any bearing at all on ease of starting.) We should like to have your views as to whether it is necessary to circulate customers living in London with regard to the value of thin oils for starting, or, alternatively, whether the information can be imparted to them from Kingsbury without an official pronouncement on the subject. There is no doubt whatever that where starting is not a primary consideration the car is better run on the ordinary oil, such as XL, and, therefore, we want to avoid people going on the Continent & forgetting to re-fill with XL or some other similar lubricant. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||