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).
Comparing overheating issues and cooling system performance between the 'Silver Ghost' and the 'Hispano Suiza'.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\L\2April1924-June1924\ Scan65 | |
| Date | 4th May 1925 | |
| R.R. 493a (50m) (D.B. 175 25-9-24) J.H.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. -4- Expl. No. REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/LGL4.5.25. large part in the cooling system. On the 'Silver Ghost' if the fan belt stretches and is not adjusted, the car is likely to boil under the most temperate atmospheric conditions. It is probably this fact that accounts for the highly contradictory reports on overheating which we are perpetually receiving. When such a small item as a slack fan belt can change a car from behaving normally to boiling on the slightest provocation it is hardly surprising some cars over-heat and others do not! It may be argued that the Hispano Suiza is over-cooled. We have carried out careful and comprehensive road tests which shew that the Hispano is not over-cooled considering every condition under which we know it and Rolls-Royce cars have to operate. We have evolved a standard test on the road which enables us to measure accurately the benefit which we derive from our fan, shutters, louvres, larger radiator face area etc. We have also compared the relative overheating prospects of the Hispano and Silver Ghost on the road. All our tests shew us how prone to over-heating the Silver Ghost must be and how relatively small are the improvements at our disposal. We should like to repeat a few of the results obtained and given in our report Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rml/LGSB.11.24. Driven at 30 m.p.h. under full throttle conditions the Hispano Suiza will boil in time if the air temperature exceeds 34°C, the Silver Ghost if the air temperature exceeds 21°C, unless bonnet ventilation is provided and used. If the Hispano fan is out of action, contd :- | ||