OIL COOLER AIR FLOW CONTROL
ON OCCASION TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A GOOD TAILWIND I THROTTLE
BACK TO ABOUT 1800 RPM AND THE ENGINE IS QUITELY SIPPING FUEL AT ABOUT
5 GPH MY OIL TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW THE RECOMMENDED 180 DEGREES. AFTER
TALKING TO A LYCOMING TECHNICIAN I WAS TOLD THAT AS MUCH AS
1/3 OF THE ENGINE COOLING WAS HANDLED BY THE OIL SYSTEM AND THE OTHER 2/3
BY THE AIRFLOW AROUND THE CYLINDERS.WITH THIS IN MIND, I MADE A SCOOP 2" X 4" AND MOUNTED
IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ENGINE AIR INTAKE, I THEN MADE A BUTTERFLY VALVE
WITH BAFFLE MATERIAL ON THE EDGES TO SEAL.I CONNECTED THE VALVE TO THE
PLANS CABIN HEAT VALVE HANDLE AT THE CENTER ARM REST. TO CONNECT TO THE
BUTTERFLY I USED A CABLE RELEASE FROM NAPA AUTOPARTS THAT WAS TEFLON LINED.
THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT SHOWS THE LOCATION OF THE
OIL COOLER AIR FLOW CONTROL VALVE ABOVE THE CARB. AIR SCOOP. THE RIGHT
PICTURE SHOWS THE AIR VALVE WITH DETAILS OF THE BAFFLE MATERIAL SEAL AND
CABLE RELEASE ATTACHMENT, THE 3" DUCT LEADING TO THE OIL COOLER IS TO THE
LOWER RIGHT OF THE RIGHT HAND PICTURE. I AM NOW ABLE ADJUST THE OIL TEMPERATURE
UNDER ALL OPERATING CONDITIONS. P.S.; MY OIL COOLER IS MOUNTED UNDER THE
LOWER LEFT ENGINE COWLING.
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