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).
Test report detailing the diagnosis of a petrol supply failure on a Phantom III vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\2\ scan0084 | |
| Date | 7th July 1937 | |
| Châteauroux. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}/4/JAB. 7.7.37 To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 3009 32-EX. PHANTOM III. Petrol Supply Failure. On the way down from Paris on Monday morning. the air temperature was 28°c. There was no sign of petrol starvation at speed. Shortly before arriving at Châteauroux, a halt of 10 minutes was made, followed by a quick get-away. The car accelerated to 55 MPH. without hesitation and then cut right out, until the speed had fallen to 40 MPH. when it began to recover gradually. Running was normal after 45 seconds from starting. 10 mins. slow running with no halt gave same results on accelerating away through the gears. After lunch we went straight out and repeated the test with the same result. We then took the wires off the L.P. pump on dash. This made no difference at all. We then replaced these wires and removed the ones to the H.P. pump in frame. On repeating the test with the petrol supply now as standard, the car cut right out at 40 MPH. dropped to 25 MPH. recovered to 30 MPH. cut out, dropped back to 25 MPH. recovered again to 30 and so on for several kilometres. The test was again repeated with the H.P. pumps working and the previous results again obtained, i.e. complete recovery in 45 seconds. During these tests, the tank contained 2-5 gallons of petrol. Yesterday, the tests were repeated with a full petrol tank and the parallel pipe system and L.P. pump disconnected to make sure this arrangement of pipes was not misleading us. The following results were obtained. The car was taken out cold to the Issoudun Road and then driven full speed for 12 minutes. Air 26°c, U.B.Air 60°c. 10 minutes halt - Air 30°c, U.B.Air 72°c. Petrol in tank 30°c. Accelerated to 60 MPH. dropped to 40 MPH. - 40 seconds to complete recovery. Car driven back along same road full speed for 18 mins. - Air 27°c, U.B.Air 60°c. 10 minutes halt, Air 27°c. U.B.Air 69°c. Petrol in tank 33°c. | ||