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).
Letter discussing the differences between American and English gasoline, referencing distillation curves and anti-detonation additives.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 77\2\ scan0132 | |
| Date | 15th August 1921 | |
| RRAInc OY - PROBLEMS REF FUEL I 40/50 IN USA. X.3008 OY CJ CC Mr. Belnap Mr. Nadin Oy4 - G 15821 August 15, 1921 Mr. Claude Johnson, Managing Director, Rolls-Royce Ltd., London, England. Attention: Messrs. Royce & Hives. Dear Sir:- Re: Gasoline COPY In order to make clear the essential difference between american and English gasoline, we send herewith to Mr. Royce and Mr. Hives, cuttings from "Automotive Industries" of July 14, 1921, and attach blue print distillation curves. The cuttings have to do with an attempt to run a Liberty engine on commercial gasoline, which was found impossible because of detonation, without the addition of an anti-detonator, Xylidine being used for this purpose. The commercial fuel used is about ordinary summer-quality fuel. Its comparison with the winter-quality Socony fuel, is shown on the blue print. We are about to test our own supply of Socony summer-quality fuel, and will send curves when this is done. It will also be seen from the blue print that Mr. Hives' low test paraffin mixture, while worse than American gasoline at the light end, is a good deal better at the heavy end. It would therefore be an excellent fuel to test starting devices with, but would not give the same results as American gasoline in crankcase dilution, nor probably would it give as bad results as American gasoline in detonation or the formation of carbon. It will also be seen that the American aviation spirit corresponds closely with English petrol, as distilled by us from a sample found in the bottom of the tank on an English chassis. The petrol is better than the aviation spirit at the light end. | ||