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Oil Temp question for RV3's & 4's

FireMedic_2009

Well Known Member
The builder installed an oil cooler shutter with the oil cooler installed on the rear baffle behind Cylinder #4. I've closed the shutter fully and the temp is still in the 174 deg F range. I've heard you can remove the oil coolers from the RV3's and 4's. FYI. My oil temp sensor is a UMA brand and I called the manufacturer and got the ohm values for various temps. The ohms vary about 0.5 ohms per 5 deg F, if I remember correctly. The manuf stated a min of 20 gauge wire should be used and the connection should be soldered instead of using connectors to extend the leads of the sensor. I noticed my oil temp before starting the plane was about 17 deg F higher than the OAT. After changing the wire gauge from 22 to 20ga and removing the connectors the oil temp was close to the OAT temp before starting.

How many of you don't have temps above 180 deg F?

How many of you don't have oil coolers and what are your temps in the summer?

Thanks
 
Oil temps

I have the same setup on my -3B and when I close the shutter my oil temps go up about 5 degrees, typically from around 165 or 170. I struggle to keep oil and cylinder head temps warm enough. I should probably remove my oil cooler and save some weight and space…

Dan
 
Same with my 3B, even in summer I close the oil cooler shutter in cruise to get the oil temp up to 170. Takes forever to get the oil warm enough for takeoff in the winter. O-320 with oil cooler behind #4.
I have considered removing the oil cooler. Hope some one who has a 3 without an oil cooler will chime in.
 
Vernatherm

Have you guys thought about removing your vernatherm valve and checking it on the stove suspended in a pan of water with an accurate thermometer? The vernatherm is just a thermostat for oil and should control oil temperature by controlling when and how much oil is sent to the cooler. If it were to be failed in the open position you would have the symptoms you describe with long warm ups and a struggle to maintain oil temperature. If it functions properly the oil cooler shutter should not be necessary.
 
Takes forever to get the oil warm enough for takeoff in the winter..

You may want to re-think your minimum oil temp, especially if using a multi-vis oil. I do not use 100* like many, but instead use a minimum CHT (I do worry about differential expansion rates between piston and cyl wall creating scuffing). From my research, there is simply no rational justification for a 100* minimum OT on a non-radial engine running 20W50 oil. I fly a lot in the Midwest winters and couldn't imagine idling on the ramp for 15-20 minutes like some of my neighbors. My 320 has 800 hours now and oil pressures haven't dropped at idle since overhaul, so unlikely I am trashing the bearings in my engine. I do use oil pan heaters and my OT at take off, after getting the CHTs that I want, is usually between 70-85 in the winter.

If I was running straight 100 oil in the winter, I would think differently. The 100* min OT guideline has been around for many decades and keeps perpetuating eventhough oil technology has vastly improved. You will not find that recommendation in the Lyc Operators Manual. I am guessing it is a hold over from the radial days before multi-vis oil was created, but it is nowhere to be found in the Lyc documenation. The Lyc manual is clear on what oil grades to use based upon ambient temps though and they do not recommend 100 oil in winter temps.

Larry
 
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So, did anyone remove the oil cooler entirely?

I went thru this exercise a year or two ago but from the opposite angle. My oil temps (RV-4 O-320 160hp) have always been high/hot during the summer months. I think you'll find some people have no oil temp issue and just the opposite with others. Lots of variables.

I eventually moved the oil cooler off the cylinder baffles to solve my problem. I'm fairly certain removing the oil cooler on my setup would be a bad thing. However; I did not actually try that.

I did replace the vernatherm and there was no change. It's been awhile but as I recall, it was fairly easy to hit 225 degrees cruising at 8,500' DA, 2450 rpm, and 70 OAT.

20210321_095400-600x450.jpg


Full write-up at: http://jdfinley.com/solving-high-oil-temperature/
 
So, did anyone remove the oil cooler entirely?

I got the answer myself. We removed the cooler and went for a test hop in the -3. Temps, on a cool, dry day were heading past 400F when I terminated the experiment. The cooler is back on.

We wanted to remove the cooler to allow better access to the oil screen. Oil temps have always been on the cool side, and we thought we could get away with no cooler.
 
I got the answer myself. We removed the cooler and went for a test hop in the -3. Temps, on a cool, dry day were heading past 400F when I terminated the experiment. The cooler is back on.

We wanted to remove the cooler to allow better access to the oil screen. Oil temps have always been on the cool side, and we thought we could get away with no cooler.

I hope you mean CHT when you say temps were trending towards 400*F, because if you let the oil get anything close to that you may have actually hurt something.
 
Oil Temps

Interesting subject, what engine do you have.

This is my experience.

My RV 3 has an O-235-F2B (125hp), no oil cooler fitted.
Inverted oil system.
When I bought this aircraft the oil temp was always low and oil pressure was running at 60 psi.
After an engine rebuild, for other reasons I bypassed the breather side of the inverted system so the breather went straight out.
On the test stand the oil pressure was set to 65 PSI
On re-install in the RV 3 I had again low oil temps and 60 PSI
I then removed the 3 way valve from the system and returned the engine arrangement to a standard non aerobatic engine. This meant that the oil did not have to travel through the 3 way valve.
Oil pressure went up to 65 PSI, in conclusion it was obvious that the suction head increased which allowed the oil pump discharge head to increase. Note new oil pump fitted on rebuild.
Oil temps now raised to where they should be in an O-235-F2B.

In conclusion the three way valve attached to the firewall was enough to cool the oil and lower the suction head to the pump.

A bit of a ramble but this is what I have found on my RV 3

Rob
 
Oil temps

I bought my RV-3 in 2014, the oil cooler was installed at the FRONT of the right side intake (when facing the prop spinner). I could not get my temps up much past 150 deg F on moderate days in California.
I purchased and installed the VANS oil cooler shutter and fly with it totally closed until ambient temps are over 90 deg.
Fully closed on a cool day I can easily get the temp up over 170 deg, never had any low temp problems since.
I dont see temps like you get in the midwest in winter.
I trim the position of the shutter to maintain around 200 deg oil temp.
On a 100 deg day i have it full open and I can see temps climbing out over 220 deg but it settles down at cruise.
My -3 also has a custom cowling and reduced air inlet (round shape, 4" dia) like a Sam James cowl or SR-22. Under the cowl is a carbon fiber plenum which seals to the baffles and creates excellent cooling for CHT's.
So I am probably moving less air with a better pressure differential but I cant support this with any engineering...It just works. And less frontal area is more slippery.....faster!
Phots by PM if interested.
Dave
 
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