With
thermostat removed, bypass plugged, new accessory belts and
alternator pulley installed, we retested the new rotary installation.
On
first climb out water temperature reached only 195F, compared
to 230F on very first flight a week ago. With the water temperature
okay we did
2 touch and goes then shut everything down and checked under the cowl …
no broken belts, no leaks that’s a relief.
On
the subsequent climb outs the water temp was about 185F; on
approach the water cooled to 150F. I guess with the approach momentum
you spend
less time at full throttle on a touch and go. Some other numbers of
interest,
6300 rpm, 1100 fpm, outside air temp 30F, oil temp 110F.
So
I would say that the water cooling system is still not good enough
(at 80F that 195 could go to 245F) on the other hand my oil is too cool.
For
present winter operations I’m wondering … put
the thermostat back in, which may help the oil … I don’t like the
cooling to 150F on approach, or should I keep the systems separate?
Plug the
oil cooler air intakes or outlets? Or should we first fly at cruise
speeds for
10-15 minutes to see how things stabilize?
Jeff
Whaley
(I
call it an airplane now)