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 from a chauffeur detailing experiences with a radiator solution and issues with piston assemblies on a Phantom III.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0389 | |
| Date | 10th May 1939 | |
| COPY. 89, REDINGTON ROAD, LONDON. N.W.3. 10th May 1939. Messrs. Rolls-Royce, Ltd., DERBY. Dear Sirs, re CHASSIS NO. 3.AX-97. ----------- Some months ago, my employer handed me a tin of No-Co-Ro{C. C. Rose - Export Manager} radiator solution, which you had sent to him for use in his Phantom III, and I gathered from the accompanying letter that you would be glad of a report of my experience with the solution. I have had occasion to use it three or more times, and on each occasion when topping up the radiator after it has been in circulation several days, I have noticed a thick rusty coloured scum accumulated in and around the filler orifice. The scum, when removed, revealed that the water below was very clear and clean. It appears to me that the solution has the effect of clearing the radiator passages and water jackets of impurities and accumulation of grease - grease that has probably worked into the system through the gland and bearing of the water pump, and which would eventually clog the radiator and impair the efficiency of the cooling system. I have used it on my other cars with the same results. I would like to mention another matter relating to my car, which might be of interest to you. When I first took over my Phantom III I experienced for some time, trouble with the functioning of the pistons operating the rocker eccentrics, and although I took great care to keep the rocker filter clean, the valves in the pistons continued to stick and function erratically. I eventually dismantled the rocker shaft and piston assemblies, and when washing the pistons out, discovered a considerable amount of black carbon-like flakes, but which were obviously not carbon when viewed through a magnifying glass, by reason, amongst other things, of its flat and shiny appearance. It was when I was washing the piston return springs in Benzol mixture (I had run out of paraffin), that I came upon the solution. I put the spring in the sun to dry and the spiral grew "leaves" as I watched it. It seems that the springs are dipped in a black japan enamel, and the Benzol did in a few minutes what the oil -continued- | ||