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).
Analysis of customer complaints regarding excessive oil consumption and over-oiling in Bentley chassis.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 144\3\ scan0112 | |
| Date | 1st September 1936 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c to Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} c to GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} X1220 Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}8/HR.1.9.36. re EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND OVER-OILING. Bentley Chassis. With reference to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}15/KW.31.8.36., we can only give you an analysis of the 28 complaints referred to, as they were received by us from customers. 21 of these complaints were of excessive oil consumption, varying from 600 to 900 m.p.g., the remaining 7 being complaints of oiling up plugs. The 21 complaints of excessive consumption were dealt with as follows:- 9 were improved by reversing the rocker shafts. 9 were as good as we could hope to get and the Owners were told accordingly. 1 was improved by fitting new piston rings. 1 was fitted with new cylinders and pistons. 1 was re-bored and fitted with new pistons. The latter was reported to you from Paris on reference Sr/VA9/ET.20.5.36., in reply to which you recommended fitting some special piston rings for dealing with customers' complaints. With regard to the third paragraph of your memo, we think perhaps you have overlooked our Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}/SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}6/HR,17.6.36., in reply. You will see that the point which we wished to emphasise on the Quarterly Complaints List was that our general experience of the Bentley when driven hard, shows that the consumption is in the region of 600 to 800 m.p.g. If it is agreed that this figure is reasonable we cannot do much more. One difficulty is that whenever we fit new piston rings on new cylinders and pistons we -continued- | ||