Oil cooler on Baffles

Tbone · #1 12-23-2016, 07:12 AM

For those that have a oil cooler on the baffles, what cooler did you use and do you have any pictures of the installation? I have a 7 taildragger with a 180 hp Superior IO360. I live in the humid south with summer temps close to 100 degrees and humidity levels 95% and up. Those that are familiar know how hot those days take the get up and go out of you! I have a new SW8432R (FOR SALE) but find no way to use it due to the outlet configuration. My theory is bigger the better but looking for insight. I would like to get feedback from those that have installed theirs on the baffle with type and what are your results? Pictures would be great. PM if needed.

rv8ch · #2 12-23-2016, 07:33 AM

Hi Terry, there are a lot of pictures of other's installations - just google image search for "oil cooler on baffle". For the RV8 I found that following the plans exactly does not work well. The oil cooler needed to be lowered a bit and shifted inboard.

I copied Randy's design which he nicely documents here:

http://www.romeolima.com/RV8/FirewallForward.htm

Here's mine:

YMMV on the RV7.

Tbone · #3 12-23-2016, 08:09 AM

Thanks Mickey,

I have looked at his configuration but that is for an 8. The 7 motor mount is configured differently and i guess the question is mostly for the -7 drivers. I have searched the google and several great ideas but most are wrapped around initial build and they may have had cooling issues during flight testing and changed after the fact. Im looking for tried and true data on the 7 taildragger (motor mount extra tubing near cooler location). 7A drivers can also respond if it is pertinent to cooling issues or ideas.

N941WR · #4 12-23-2016, 08:28 AM

Terry, I found the "standard" Niagara oil cooler I installed SW 10599R cooler.

It has slightly more cooling capability than the Niagara and has worked out fine here in the South.

The only problem with it is the holes are just a touch wider than the Niagara cooler and I believe that caused my baffle to crack.

Take a look at this page and scroll down a few posts, you will see some pictures of my solution to the cracks. I widened the plate nuts slightly when I installed the new baffles and the stiffener. I'm talking about an 1/8" wider, not much at all.

I see you are concerned about your -7 engine mount; although this is on a -9, it is a taildragger and that is an O-360.

grubbat · #5 12-23-2016, 08:43 AM

Bill,
Do you have piston oil squirters on your engine?

N941WR · #6 12-23-2016, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grubbat

Bill,
Do you have piston oil squirters on your engine?

No, I do not.

grubbat · #7 12-23-2016, 09:06 AM

The reason I ask is that I have a piston squirters on my deal and I am running a 3" scat tubing to a firewall mounted oil cooler. The cooler came off a Robinson and its rather large and takes up a lot of space as well as several quarts of oil. I was thinking about going the baffle route and maybe save some weight. I didn't know if the 10599r on the baffle would handle mine. There are a lot of posts about different oil coolers but not sure if anyone preferred one over another. Interesting note, my twin commanche has baffle mounted oil coolers and they have not shown any evidence of cracking. Simple and effective.

Tbone · #8 12-23-2016, 12:34 PM

Craig, how are you fabricating your firewall cooler mount. I haven't found a way to do it effectively on the taildragger? Any pics?

SuperCubDriver · #9 12-23-2016, 02:50 PM

I posted some pictures of my larger oil cooler installation some time ago, see the link. Meanwhile I have over 600 hours on it without any sign of wear or cracking on the baffles.

http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...supercubdriver

Lars · #10 12-24-2016, 10:29 AM

I have an RV-7 powered by a Superior XP IO-360 (vertical draft, P/A fuel injection, dual Lightspeed Plasma III ignitions, 8.5:1 compression, ignitions timed per LSE specs and verified at every ci) with stock Van's cowl, stock Van's baffling and the factory-supplied oil cooler mounted on the baffles. I bought my firewall forward kit in 2010, so the cooler is the model they supplied then. I beefed up the cooler mounting to avoid the cracking problems others had reported (410 hours later, no cracks). Prop is a Hartzell B/A.

Our summer temperatures here in the Sacramento Valley can match those in Mississippi, though not the humidity. The only oil temperature issue I experience is failure to warm up adequately in the winter. During slow flight on really hot days I've seen 210 degrees, but more typically on those days it's in the 190 degree range. I also rarely see CHTs trending toward 400 except on the hottest of days during max power climb. My performance numbers tend to match or slightly beat Van's published values.

I got totally OCD on cowl and baffle sealing and added a small half-round lip at the bottom of the firewall at the cowl exit in the hopes of smoothing airflow over what appeared to me to be an ugly transition. Otherwise I guess I just got lucky.