200hp oil cooler

[tmbg]

Looking at the two oil coolers van's sells on the parts site, they seem to hint at using the bigger 13 row cooler for 200hp IO360s, but they say it won't fit in the back baffle.

What are you 200hp folks running, and how's it working out?

[David-aviator]

Ian,

For an excellent education on oil coolers, read the 2 articles on the subject in Kitplanes, July and August issues.

There is a ton of information on this forum. I have been researching it and will give you the benefit of what seems to be the consensus with a 200 hp engine. The smaller Vans cooler won't provide adequate cooling year 'round. The larger cooler would but the problem is where to mount it, it will not fit on the baffle and will crowd any firewall except with the 10.

Both these coolers are draw cup, are relatively cheap and work ok, especially in places like Oregon where RV's come from. But if you want and need consistent cooling no matter the OAT, a bar and plate cooler will do the job, even one the same size as Vans small unit. Vans does not offer a bar and plate unit perhaps because they do not believe the extra cooling capability is necessary and they cost a lot more.

There also is an issue of too much cooling. I had a SW8403 in the 7 and its cost was a waste of money so I am trying to come with a cooler that will be just a bit better than the Vans Niagra unit and not cost $600.

[Toobuilder]

I'm quickly coming to the realization that the fixed geometry of the standard Vans cowl is creating problems we have to solve through other means. Sure, the standard vans cowl is simple, but is buying an oversize oil cooler a good trade?

I find the standard "small" cooler to work fine for a 200 HP in cruise even with OAT's substantially higher than standard. Like many, climb is the killer. So that indicates there is plenty of cooling capacity, just not enough airflow down low and slow.

[tmbg]

I'm going to be running the Sam James cowl.

I note that Spruce carries positech coolers, and they're considerably less expensive than even the Van's coolers. I've read numerous reports on here that their performance is underwhelming

I'm currently waiting on my baffle kit to arrive. I'm not doing a Van's FWF kit, as everything I'm doing is just a little bit different than Van's standard.

[scsmith]

There are previous posts with pictures if you search back, but I used Van's bigger 13-row cooler, mounted to the firewall on a plenum box similar to what Van sells for the RV-10, but the angle was adjusted to match the angle of my engine mount.

It is supplied with a 3.5" scat tube off of the back of baffle for cylinder #3. I have a throttle plate/butterfly valve in the flange connection at the baffle, for cockpit-adjustable cooler flow control.

Works great.

[Neal@F14]

Originally Posted by tmbg

I note that Spruce carries positech coolers, and they're considerably less expensive than even the Van's coolers. I've read numerous reports on here that their performance is underwhelming

Aero Classic coolers are nearly as inexpensive to buy as the Positechs, and IMHO have the cooling efficiency slightly better than NDM (stock Vans), but not as good as the super-expensive SW cooler. They are drawn cup design, just like the NDMs, and seem to be a very good value in an oil cooler. You can get them in 7, 9, 10 and 13 row sizes for the $250-300 price range. Spruce sells them, and you can also get them from the source... PacificOilCoolers.com. Aero Classic is also now making some new SW-style copies as well, for significant savings over the SW/Meggitt prices.

[tmbg]

Good info Neal, thanks!

Are the Aero Classic SW clones bar and plate?

Originally Posted by Neal@F14

Aero Classic coolers are nearly as inexpensive to buy as the Positechs, and IMHO have the cooling efficiency slightly better than NDM (stock Vans), but not as good as the super-expensive SW cooler. They are drawn cup design, just like the NDMs, and seem to be a very good value in an oil cooler. You can get them in 7, 9, 10 and 13 row sizes for the $250-300 price range. Spruce sells them, and you can also get them from the source... PacificOilCoolers.com. Aero Classic is also now making some new SW-style copies as well, for significant savings over the SW/Meggitt prices.

[David-aviator]

Originally Posted by tmbg

Good info Neal, thanks!

Are the Aero Classic SW clones bar and plate?

Yes they are.

[Neal@F14]

Aircraft Spruce's webpage has a good photo of them that you can zoom in and see the way they're made: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...soilcooler.php

[C-FAH Q]

11 row cooler on baffle behind #4 cylinder. temps never more than 205. You could hang the plane off this mount ! My friend Tom Martin made this for me



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