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).
Petrol starvation tests conducted on car model 35-EX, under various temperature conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149\4\ scan0302 | |
| Date | 31th May 1937 | |
| To E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} 1263 Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JBD.{John B. Dixon - Fuel Systems}6/JH.31.5.37. Petrol Starvation on 35-EX. This is of two kinds (1) Temporary shortage of petrol on a fast get away (2) Reduction of maximum speed. This car is fitted with the additional third pump on the dash, the filter mounted on the back X member and no bonnet louvers. Temporary starvation on get away. This was obtained almost at will by driving hard and standing 10 minutes, when the under bonnet temperature rose about 6°C to between 50-57°C. A full throttle get away through the gears brought complete starvation in 10 seconds then intermittent petrol supply and finally recovery, the time for complete recovery being used for comparison. The recovery time varied from 30 seconds to over 2 mins. according to the temperature conditions existing under the bonnet, on the pipe line, and in the petroltank. Fuel Esso. Temperature Petrol in Time for complete Air U.B. at Pump. tank. recovery. 17 47/53 21°C. 45 seconds. 17 49/55 26 70 seconds. 18 50/55 32 75 seconds. 20 52/56 37 Over 2 mins. Max of 40 M.P.H. Temperature Petrol in Time for recovery. Air U.B. pipe tank. 18 50/55 28°C. 68 18 51/57 32 105 20 52/55 36 Over 2 mins. After 15 mins. stand, and an ordinary get away in a village there was no cutting out owing to shortage of petrol but in reaching a straight road the car would only do 50 M.P.H. for perhaps three minutes, the speed gradually working up to 70 then 80 with the following temperatures. AIR U.B. Petrol in tank. 21°C. 62°C. 42°C. Admittedly the previous tests were done with the object of producing starvation with a view of getting at the cause. | ||