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).
Royal Automobile Club Certificate of Performance for a 10,000-mile trial of National Benzole fuel.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 1\2\ B001_X 53-page23 | |
| Date | 7th January 1920 | |
| ROYAL AUTOMOBILE CLUB Certificate of Performance No. 441 (UNDER THE OPEN COMPETITION RULES OF THE R.A.C.) 10,000 Mile Trial of "National Benzole." October 8th, 1919, to January 7th, 1920. This is to Certify that samples of “National Benzole” were entered for a 10,000 miles trial by Messrs. National Benzole Company, Ltd., of 30, Grosvenor Gardens, S.W. 1. Description of Benzol.—The fuel was stated by the entrants to conform to the specification issued by the National Benzole Association. Samples of the fuel were taken and chemically investigated, and the results of such investigation are given below, together with the published specification. Specification. 1. Specific gravity - .870 to .885 2. Distillation test - 75 % to 80 % at 100° C. 90 % at 120° C. 100 % at 125° C. 3. Sulphur - shall not exceed 0.40 % 4. Water - no trace 5. Colour - water-white 6. Rectification test - 90 cc. of the sample shaken with 10 cc. of 90% sulphuric acid for 5 minutes should not give more than a light brown colour to the acid layer 7. Benzol shall be entirely free from acids, alkalis and sulphuretted hydrogen 8. Benzol shall not freeze at 25° F.{Mr Friese} below the freezing point of water Result of Test of Samples. 1. Specific gravity - .8718 2. Distillation test - 87 % at 100° C. 97.5 % at 120° C. 100 % at 122° C. 3. Sulphur (total) - 0.27 % 4. Contained only a negligible trace of water 5. The colour was water-white 6. The sample when tested in the prescribed manner imparted a light brown colour to the acid layer 7. The sample was entirely free from acids, alkalis and sulphuretted hydrogen 8. The sample froze at 30° F.{Mr Friese} below the freezing point of water In general the sample was found to consist wholly of commercial benzol of good quality, entirely free from added volatile combustible liquids (e.g., ether, petrol) of any kind. It was of a grade the commercial supply of which can be maintained. Record of the Trial.—The fuel was tested upon a 40/50 H.P. Rolls-Royce (1915) open touring car which was standard. The carburettor was water heated, having two jets (controlled from the steering wheel) and an automatic air valve. The carburettor was standard except that it was adjusted (the design was unaltered) for using benzol. In order that the effect of the fuel upon the engine might be observed, the latter was dismantled prior to the trial and the general condition recorded. Cylinders, pistons, valve-chambers, valves, &c., were thoroughly cleaned before the engine was re-assembled for the trial. The weight of the car, unladen, but ready for the road was 5070 lbs. (i.e., 2.3 tons). The average running weight of the car per day, including load, throughout the trial was 5387.7 lbs. (i.e., 2.4 tons). The car was driven throughout by the same driver, who was not an employee of the entrants. The car did not “coast” down | ||