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 to H.M. Hobson Components Ltd. regarding issues with Esso Ethyl fuel used in an endurance test, describing its gummy state and black deposits.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149\3\ scan0014 | |
| Date | 28th January 1939 | |
| 1263 EXPERIMENTAL DEPARTMENT. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JBD.{John B. Dixon - Fuel Systems}10/JH. 28th. January, 1939. H.M.Hobson Components Ltd., 47-55 Acton Vale, LONDON.W.3. For the attention of Mr. Hughes. Dear Sirs, We thank you for your letter of the 24th. The fuel we were using for the endurance test was Esso Ethyl; the quantity used was only about 1 gallon which has been used for several months the loss from evaporation being made up by additions of fresh petrol. Thus it must be in a very gummy state and mostly composed of the heavier fractions. We are sending you a sample as requested under separate cover for your attention. The black colour is due to the deposit. We must point out that we have only experienced this trouble on pumps in which the contacts are submerged in petrol. The amount of dissolved air in the petrol has probably been high owing to the continuous strain of petrol falling back from the delivery into the tank and this may aggravate the formation of soot due to incomplete combustion of petrol with this air. Yours faithfully, FOR ROLLS-ROYCE LTD. | ||