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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).
Engine overheating issues and potential solutions for the 40/50 and Goshawk models.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 24\4\  Scan066
Date  19th January 1923
  
To BJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce}
c. to CJ. LHS.{Lord Herbert Scott}
c. to EY. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}
c. to HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}
c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design}

X766

R5/M19.1.23.

RE. OVERHEATING. X.766
X.3499 X.274.

I understand that we still fear overheating on 40/50 and Goshawk, under exceptional circumstances. Possibly them the cure is worse than the fault.

It should be realised that we cannot afford (for cost and weight) to increase the already large and extremely efficient and costly radiator we are fitting to each car.

We understand it has also been proved several times that considerable inefficiency arises in the cooling system through air not being able to get away sufficiently quickly. Naturally immediately the simplest thing to do is to fit louvres to the bonnets, but one would think the right thing to do would be to improve the undershield all that is possible to get the air away underneath the car, as far as this can be done practicablly. The third alternative is to fit shutters to the front end of the bonnet. If these could be done it would be thought the very best scheme because shutters could only be opened when the weather is warm, and the car would keep hot when standing, better than with louvres.

All engines, RR. and others, can be made to boil their water by hanging on a high gear up a long hill, with the throttle fully open, and the engine turning slowly. RR. engines do this so well that we always run more risk than others.

As regards corrosion of the iron, solder, and pitting
contd:-
  
  


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