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).
Letter from The Automobile Association regarding complaints of fuel stoppages due to vapour lock.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149\4\ scan0094 | |
| Date | 26th October 1936 | |
| C O P Y THE AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION, Fanum House, New Coventry Street, London, W.1. N.483. FN/C/DT. 26th October, 1936. The Secretary, Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders, Ltd., 83, Pall Mall, S.W.1. Dear Sir, For some little time past we have been receiving complaints from members who have suffered from fuel stoppages when travelling in various parts of the Continent and North Africa. These stoppages are invariably intermittent, and although the information we receive is not always sufficiently detailed to enable us to reach a positive conclusion there seems every reason to believe that the trouble in each case has been due to a vapour lock. The conditions under which this has arisen are always such as to bring the whole engine to a high temperature, i.e. prolonged fast running under high atmospheric temperature or long and heavy pulls such as are met with in the Alpine Passes. We ourselves are inclined to think that the use of a mechanical pump mounted on the side of the crank chamber is largely responsible for the trouble, since there is reason to believe that this component reaches a sufficient temperature to vapourise the fuel sufficiently to stop delivery. You will understand, however, that we are without definite information to this effect and can only put the point forward as a possible explanation. In view, however, of the number of complaints of this nature which we have received and their wide distribution, the point would seem to be one deserving of investigation on the part of manufacturers, and we accordingly venture to bring it to your notice as a feature on which many car makers would like to improve. Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) F.{Mr Friese} NEWTON. M.I.A.E. Chief Engineer. | ||