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).
Vehicle failures and comparing the performance of competitor cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 135\2\ scan0204 | |
| Date | 30th May 1941 | |
| Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager}1/SW.30.5.41. Sparking Plugs AC. KD.7A failed, now set fitted. 17564 miles. Big Ends failed 19361 " The oil consumption over the first 10,000 miles averaged 2,900 MPG, but latterly this consumption has fallen to 500 MPG. Examination of the engine has shown that we require a new set of main and big end bearings. Crankshaft journals require re-grinding and Cylinder bores have worn .010" which means a re-bore and new pistons. The body work has not given us a lot of trouble with the exception of the sunshine roof, which is always developing rattles and leaks and occasional adjustments to the doors to cure rattles. Incidentally Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}'s Vauxhall car which has only run 16,000 miles, has already had the rear axle differential assembly changed, and now requires another one, and both front road wheel ball races have failed. This definitely does not compare with the trouble-free running we have had on the Studebaker. With regard to the Morris and the Austin, they have only run 4,000 and 3,000 miles respectively, and no major troubles have, as yet, developed. The Studebaker oil consumption was 3,000 MPG, at the start, and is still giving 1,700 MPG. The petrol and oil consumptions of the cars are as follows :- PETROL OIL Vauxhall 32 MPG. 2900 to 500 MPG. Austin 39 " 4900 MPG Morris 39 " 4000 " Studebaker 20 " 300 to 1700 MPG. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} | ||