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).
Issues with Phantom radiators becoming choked in service.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 15\1\ Scan118 | |
| Date | 25th July 1929 | |
| PLEASE FILE FOR REFERENCE X7250. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 2/MJ. 25.7.29. R.{Sir Henry Royce} from HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. to S. c. to DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to UM. Not Circulated RADIATORS. ---------- Recently we have received a several number of disturbing reports of Phantom radiators becoming choked in service. The trouble appears to be almost entirely confined to the cars in F.2B series and onwards i.e. cars having the aluminium head and radiator with tubes 4.25" long. In one case at least an owner had used earlier Rolls-Royce cars under similar circumstances without trouble, i.e. the water available for topping up the radiator had not affected Silver Ghost or V series cars. Trials car 29-CL during its recent continental run had to have a new radiator fitted after 20,000 miles. Expl. car 10-EX has recently given indications that it is suffering from the same trouble, but this has run 70,000 miles. We have had the deposit in one radiator that choked after four months service, analysed. The aluminium content x is certainly high but not overwhelmingly so (See attached analysis) The characteristic of a partially choked radiator is that at high speeds the car rapidly reaches boiling point, and subsequently takes a long time to cool down. This is because the pump will not circulate hot water when there is a excessive depression on its suction side. | ||