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).
The investigation and testing of thin oils, specifically Arctic oil, in Bentley cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 131\2\ scan0258 | |
| Date | 21th September 1938 | |
| 1113 To By.. from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}12/N.21.9.38. File Bentley Thin Oil. With reference to your memo BY.22/N.16.9.38. the question of thin oils was taken up with Pk. during May of this year, and Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} wrote to Pk. confirming my verbal requests. No definate Owners have been requested to run on thin oils as upon looking through the files, a number was noted using Prices 'M' and Castrol 'CW'. I wrote and explained to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} what these Owners were using, meantime K.{Mr Kilner} promised to keep a check on these cars, which I am told is being done. Arctic oil was not mentioned. In view of your memo I got in touch with Mr.Cowen to obtain a resale car which we could try out Arctic oil, so that we can obtain any evidence of what may happen, before asking an Owner to use same. The points we have to watch from an Owners point of view are: (1) Oil consumption. (2) Vibration or smoothness of engine. (3) Oil pressure ( i.e. state of bearings). Mr.Cowen has allotted us B.82.GA. a resale car which we have now at the Depot. I have asked both JLE.{J. Lee Evans - Chassis Test Manager} and Bly.{B. W. Bleaney - Bentley Sales} for their assistance in obtaining suitable new Owners to use Arctic oil, promising them the supply of oil. Kingsbury have a small stock of Arctic oil but I would recommend that when two Owners can be found to run on this oil, a supply free of cost should be sent to Kingsbury. We are looking into the Ownership of rebores of 20,000 miles and as soon as I definately know, I will let you have chassis No. and Names. GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} | ||