7-row or 9-row oil cooler? Parallel valve O-360

rmartingt · #1 05-10-2020, 08:36 AM

Going to be making a Spruce run this week and figured I should go ahead and pick up my oil cooler as part of the order. I?m trying to decide between a 7-row and 9-row cooler as they?re the same price, though I suspect the 9-row will be more challenging to fit.

My engine is a parallel-valve O-360. My dad has basically the same engine on his -6 and uses a 7-row, and has occasionally run into some oil temp issues (e.g., the OSH arrival and subsequent taxi). However, his cooler is firewall-mounted with a fairly long 3-inch duct and I suspect there?s an efficiency hit on the cooling airflow from that.

Much as I?d prefer to mount it remote (with a bigger duct), I?m probably going to have to go with a reinforced baffle mount as I?m tight on firewall space (2 batteries) and the taildraggert engine mount looks like it might cause some trouble with duct routing.

My inclination, especially considering the negligible price difference, is to go with a 9-row as I?m in the deep south (hot summers, mild winters) and I can always throttle it back. But that makes installation even more challenging.

Any suggestions? I posted here instead of engines due to the taildragger engine mount considerations...

FasGlas · #2 05-10-2020, 09:00 AM

Bare in mind.. Not all cooler cool that same. You can do a little research on the forum and see which ones perform better. I have seen the difference between coolers. And the price range is wide.

Raymo · #3 05-10-2020, 09:07 AM

My 7 row is behind the #4 cylinder and I have to cover about 1/4 during the summer to keep temps up above 180. I don't recall the brand but it came with the engine from a Piper Archer.

N941WR · #4 05-10-2020, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FasGlas

Bare in mind.. Not all cooler cool that same. You can do a little research on the forum and see which ones perform better. I have seen the difference between coolers. And the price range is wide.

Also, if you have piston squirters, you will have more waste heat to get rid of.

I have a Stewart-Warner 10599R eight row cooler on my O-360 and have never had cooking problems.

Carl Froehlich · #5 05-10-2020, 11:25 AM

If you can, do firewall mounted. Here is my setup on the RV-8. Standard 3? hose to the Airflow 2006X. The butterfly valve is normally shut some to keep the oil temp up (so far this spring at least).

This is the second build using this cooler - I recommend it.
Carl

rmartingt · #6 05-11-2020, 05:53 AM

No squirters on this engine, or on Dad?s.

I really do like the idea of a firewall mount?but I also have two batteries to squeeze onto the firewall, and the mountings that so many use for a remote oil cooler on -8s and -As doesn?t work as well on the -6 and -7. The landing gear mount and extra bracing tubes in that area really cut down on access and ability to run ducting (and also really limit options for battery mounting), and I also don?t want to blow hot air right onto a battery. That?s what?s driving me to the baffle mount; it?s tight but it should be effective and I know it?ll fit. I?ll definitely have to reinforce everything surrounding it though. And I guess I probably have to wait till the cowl is fit and the baffles are trimmed before locating it...

Dad pulled off a firewall mount like Carl?s, but his battery is aft of the firewall and as noted, I?ve seen some oil temp issues under certain conditions.

I won?t completely rule out a firewall mount yet, but based on my attempts so far using dummy batteries and a 3D printed oil cooler mockup, I just can?t find a way to fit it that doesn?t blow hot air directly on a battery.

agent4573 · #7 05-11-2020, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl Froehlich

If you can, do firewall mounted. Here is my setup on the RV-8. Standard 3? hose to the Airflow 2006X. The butterfly valve is normally shut some to keep the oil temp up (so far this spring at least).

This is the second build using this cooler - I recommend it.
Carl

I only count 10 rows, the airflow 2006x is listed as a 13 row cooler. I'm considering the same question as OP and am debating between the 10 and 13 row cooler.

Carl Froehlich · #8 05-11-2020, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agent4573

I only count 10 rows, the airflow 2006x is listed as a 13 row cooler. I'm considering the same question as OP and am debating between the 10 and 13 row cooler.

Sorry, his is the 2004X cooler - I used the 2006X cooler on the RV-10 with a 4? SCAT hose. The RV-8 uses a 3? hose. The cooler on the RV-10 worked so well I decided to stick with the Airflow brand.

But - recommend using a butterfly valve to control cooling air. Every day is not 90+ degrees OAT.

Bob - I don?t like firewall mounted batteries for a variety of reasons. Is there just no other option?

I do know an RV-14A can have two firewall mounted PC-680 batteries as well as a firewall mounted oil cooler. Perhaps you can as well.

Carl

Bavafa · #9 05-11-2020, 12:17 PM

As a reference, my RV7A with IO360-M1B had the standard 7 row oil cooler mounted on the FW (#4 Cyl) and in hot summer of N. CA, I would see 185, maybe 190 but cruise temp would come down to 180. I had a oil cooler shutter installed that it was about half way closed most of winter time.

jibby212 · #10 05-11-2020, 02:33 PM

I went with the aero classics 9 row baffle mounted on my O360. It would be hard to go any bigger but it fit pretty easily. I mounted it as high as I could to keep it away from the cylinder. I had to notch the one flange for the motor mount tube but I am comfortable with clearance. I am not flying yet but so far I am happy with my choice. I can send pictures if you want.