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 bearing wear, its causes like abrasives, the role of clean oil, and the limitations of oil filtration.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 25\3\ Scan066 | |
| Date | 18th March 1921 | |
| contd. -3- R6/C18.3.21. remarks regarding the wear of bearings can be definitely traced to particles of some abrasive, probably emery, or carborundum, being found embedded in the white metal of the bearings. Nothing will remove such matter expect scraping, and it was for this reason that I recommended that all new engines, after their test, should be stripped and scraped in the bearings so as to give a clean and bright surface to the white metal, Of course we are always open to grit getting in the engine through the induction system, and down the cylinder walls, but this should not occur to any marked amount in England, where the road dust is less in quantity than in France or America, and I feel sure that in all our cases of worn bearings in new engines they are not due to road dust. To avoid wear in the bearings it is necessary to use clean oil, and good quality, and in many cases the oil in the crankchambers is extremely dirty, and not fit to lubricate a high speed engine. In this way we suffer more than most makers as our engine loses and wastes very little oil, so that what is there is likely to become more dirty than with other engines. "Regarding the subject of the filter, it should be realised that no filter can be effective against the fine grit found in the crankchamber, and we have never made an attempt to really filter the oil in the engine more than sufficient to take out the large particules, as it would be impossible for us to provide a suitable filter that was effective for the smaller particles, and that would pass sufficient oil to the pump. I think Mr. Hall's remarks are very instructive, and contd. RROC D (12-1-61 '950 S/L 66) V22E 'M'R | ||