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).
Summary of facts about Ethyl Petrol, its properties, economy, and safety as determined by a Government Committee.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 150\1\ scan0301 | |
| Date | 12th April 1930 guessed | |
| ETHYL—THE FACTS SUMMARISED 1. What is Glico Ethyl Petrol? It is highest grade petrol with Ethyl Brand of Anti-Knock Compound added to eliminate “knocking,” even in high-compression engines, and to improve the performance of all motor-cars. 2. Why is it red? Red aniline dye is used in minute quantities for the purpose of identifying Ethyl Petrol. 3. How much “ETHYL” Fluid is in a gallon of Ethyl Petrol? About a teaspoonful to a gallon—in no case more than one part of tetraethyl lead to 1,300 parts of petrol. 4. What is that “knock” that Ethyl Petrol eliminates? High-efficiency engines developing a large power output with a small fuel consumption tend to knock from high compression. Other motor engines also tend to knock, either from accumulation of carbon in the combustion chamber, or from over-heating from obstruction of the water-cooling system, or both. Under these conditions, the charge is liable to burn in an uncontrolled manner, causing sudden excessive pressure which is expressed in detonation or knocking, and when this occurs the maximum amount of energy in the fuel cannot be converted into useful work, and the power output consequently falls. [Page 2] ETHYL—THE FACTS SUMMARISED 37. Is Ethyl Petrol an economical fuel? Yes. Besides all that it adds to the pleasure and utility of car ownership, it more than pays for itself in (1) freedom from the expense of carbon removal; (2) elimination of the engine wear and tear that “knocking” causes, and (3) more power from each gallon of fuel. FINAL REPORT of Government Committee ETHYL IS SAFE. EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT: “Even garage workers who are engaged on repair works or on filling petrol tanks . . . cannot be regarded as subjected to any danger.” “There is no danger in streets from the lead . . . from the exhausts of motor vehicles.” “If Ethyl Petrol were used universally . . . neither pedestrians nor drivers would be likely to inhale dangerous quantities of lead.” “There is no danger to water supplies from the use of Ethyl Petrol.” “We apprehend no danger of the absorption of lead tetra-ethyl through the skin.” “There is little danger of the lead from this source” (cylinder and exhaust pipe deposits) “getting into the atmosphere as dust.” “There is no serious danger to health from the spillage of Ethyl Petrol, even in the case of confined spaces such as closed garages and repair shops.” [Page 11] | ||