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).
Testing and approval of alternative gear oils for hypoid rear axles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 171\1\ img185 | |
| Date | 14th February 1930 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AJL. 14.2.30. GEAR OIL FOR HYPOID REAR AXLE GEARS. We have for a long time been looking for an alternative oil to Whitmore's for use on Phantom ll rear axles. Prices' and Wakefields' have been approached on the subject and Prices' have submitted a Gear Compound Oil which has proved satisfactory in five axles on the standard production Dynamometer test. This oil gives results equal to Whitmore's in the Laboratory tests and appears to be superior in respect of settling out, and building up the axle casing. We understand that this oil can be supplied by the makers immediately and that the cost is a fraction of that paid for Whitmore's oil. The Dynamometer tests we regard as being very much more severe than an extended road test and in view of the good results obtained on the five axles tested, we should recommend that this oil be standardised immediately as an alternative to Whitmore's. In the mean-while we propose to use this oil on the two cars which are shortly commencing 10,000 mile tests in France, viz: 14-G4 and 23-EX. Wakefields' have submitted a second oil which is giving satisfactory results in the Laboratory. We are proposing to try this also on the Dynamometer test. In addition to the question of alternative oils we are examining the possibility of using a higher oil level in the axle. With regard to the question of "topping up" axles with ordinary oil, our experience has been that once an axle has satisfactorily passed through its dynamometer test it will not suffer under road conditions by the addition of oil other than Whitmore's. We are at present running a Hypoid axle on Price's Amber 'A' oil with satisfactory results. It has completed 4,650 miles on the road and in addition has run a severe test on the Dynamometer. In the first instance of course the original Dynamometer tests was run on Whitmore's oil. We should say that the trouble experienced on the two cars in service was due to a shortage of oil owing to the difficulty of obtaining Whitmore's oil, rather than because of the addition of ordinary oil. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/AJL. | ||