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 cooling and water circulation issues, highlighting radiator blockages from water quality and a specific chassis case.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66a\4\ scan0284 | |
| Date | 10th May 1929 | |
| X8250 BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}1/WT10.5.29. Ex/W....from PN.{Mr Northey} Copy to Sge Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Herr H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} ENGINE COOLING AND WATER CIRCULATION. I think we are all agreed that we have sufficient difficulties to deal with in connection with the satisfactory running of our cars, without running into trouble more or less knowingly. I have in mind the somewhat tight position I feel we are in with regard to the circulation of water and cooling in connection with our present chassis engines and those contemplated. In order to increase the effectiveness of the radiator and reduce the amount of weight carried we are producing a very nice looking radiator having a large cooling area, but unfortunately always having a tendency to water-space between tubes becoming more restricted in extent. This consideration would not matter if the original water-space could be relied upon to remain intact, but it happens that when motor cars have to be used under all sorts of conditions in all sorts of countries, and a man cannot select his water supply, he cannot make sure of using water which is not hard or does not contain some component or other of a harmful nature which would tend gradually either to restrict the flow of water as a result of deposit on the tubes, or damage the tubes mechanically because of chemical or electrolytic action. An extreme case of trouble which one hopes is of an abnormal nature is that of Chassis 72-OL, owner - Sir Alec Black, Grimsby, reported in Hm{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs}/NHC9/HW7529 in this case an entire blockage of water occurred after the radiator had been used four months only. The trouble appears to have taken place almost entirely with the top row of tubes, which were not only practically blocked up by deposit, but eaten away so that a pin could have been pushed through many of them. Evidence and careful testing of the water and deposit has not shown adequate explanation for this extraordinary incident, but we hope that further information will be available which will throw light on the whole matter and enable us to avoid such a thing recurring at any time. If somebody had viciously put a few ounces of | ||