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).
Letter discussing a customer's complaint about oil consumption, fair wear and tear under guarantee, and causes of cylinder wear.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 107\2\ scan0119 | |
| Date | 26th May 1938 | |
| W/S. (C). C. SE. C. RS.{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary} C. Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} C. GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} C. --- BY.13/C.26.5.38. B.129-DK. L.C. GRANT, ESQ. With reference to C.7/C.20.5.38. and attached letter from above customer, we cannot afford to pay charges ourselves, which legitimately fall under the heading of "fair wear and tear", one might as logically expect replacement of tyres within the period of the guarantee. The guarantee does not involve the Company paying for either :- (a). Fair wear and tear charges or depreciation. (b). Failure consequent upon bad driving or general mishandling. In this instance, the disputed point is under heading (a). We must keep the main facts clearly in mind, the customer at 27,000 miles complains of oil consumption. No disability resulted from the increased consumption other than the cost of the oil. There is nothing the matter with the engine itself, in the ordinary way every engine has an oil consumption above its average to start with, as we do not include in our testing heavy running in, having attained its average figure of round about 1000 miles per gallon the consumption then gradually increases as the result of cylinder wear and piston ring groove wear, this increase on our engine does not cause misfiring or even smoking at the exhaust, its only debit is increased cost of oil, this effect can only be cured completely by grinding out the bores, if the increased cost of the oil is faced it means that the car will do another 10,000 to 15,000 miles before regrinding is called for due to piston slap. The customer can be "finicking" over oil consumption and regrind to eliminate it or face increased oil expense, but he has one or the other to deal with on any make of car. There are two methods of driving which involve increased cylinder wear, they are :- (a). Short runs, the engine cooling down between each or (b). Hard driving, stopping the engine immediately journey is over, then starting out next day without any light, running straight from cold condition, and driving fast | ||