Vans oil cooler shutter

[theduff]

Anybody have some first hand experience using one of these to regulate oil temp. What is the actual thickness of the unit as I'm doing mockup today?
Duff

[Jrskygod]

Without measuring i believe it to be about 3/16" thick and it is avery nice piece. I have used mine for several years and it works great to regulate the oil temps between summer and winter.

[Bavafa]

I have also used it for a few years now and love it. I can regulate the oil temp very closely and has had no issues with it.

[rv6n6r]

I retrofitted with one because after operating for a few years it became clear that I need my cooler blocked in the winter not in the summer to keep oil temps where they should be. Works fine after several hundred hours of operations. Give some thought to how to control it but don't over-engineer either -- a simple bowden cable with a B-nut works fine. Mycockpit control, being retrofitted, is in kind of an awkward place (left side back and below the cockpit air vent) but on the other hand you don't want too many controls in your console cluttering up the more important stuff. One thing is the shutter a bit stiff but a little spray lube (just a little) now and then seems to do the trick.

[theduff]

Originally Posted by Jrskygod

Without measuring i believe it to be about 3/16" thick and it is avery nice piece. I have used mine for several years and it works great to regulate the oil temps between summer and winter.

Is 3/16" an estimate ? I've allowed 0.080" for mounting.,Sounds like I better make another spacer. I'm doing some custom ducting.
Duff

[climberrn]

Seeing that you live in So Cal, I'd wait on it. I've had mine on and off during testing over the last few months. My oil temps get up fine in winter temps down to the teens, but I have piston oil squirters. A pretty easy install on a flying plane if you feel you need it. YMMV.

[theduff]

Originally Posted by climberrn

Seeing that you live in So Cal, I'd wait on it. I've had mine on and off during testing over the last few months. My oil temps get up fine in winter temps down to the teens, but I have piston oil squirters. A pretty easy install on a flying plane if you feel you need it. YMMV.

Yes I may bit optimistic but I just want to leave the option open. My oil cooler install has it sandwiched between an inlet and outlet duct so I want to have enough room to install it later by fabricating a spacer the same thickness as the shutter.
Duff

[Aggie78]

Between open and closed, at least in the winter.

Oil temps still stay outta the bottom of the green (<165F) when it's fall/winter ops, even if fully closed.

I also used some metal tape to seal up the sides to keep air from leaking past, still...about five degrees is all she did.

Usually fly fully open this time of year.

It is a well-made piece of gear, and easy to install. Just not as effective as I had hoped...

Rob

[RV7A Flyer]

Mine is very effective (IO-360-M1B, stock baffles, stock oil cooler location on the aft left baffle). I can control oil temp to within a degree or two by adjusting it via push-pull cable in flight, and I have about a 20-30 deg F range between open and closed. My oil temps have always been fine, usually on the cool side (low 180s even in warmer weather, 150-160 when it's cold, but closing the shutter brings it right up to 180 or so). Stock oil cooler, too, and I fly WOT pretty much all the time.

I'm very happy with it.

[Aggie78]

Originally Posted by RV7A Flyer

Mine is very effective (IO-360-M1B, stock baffles, stock oil cooler location on the aft left baffle). I can control oil temp to within a degree or two by adjusting it via push-pull cable in flight, and I have about a 20-30 deg F range between open and closed. My oil temps have always been fine, usually on the cool side (low 180s even in warmer weather, 150-160 when it's cold, but closing the shutter brings it right up to 180 or so). Stock oil cooler, too, and I fly WOT pretty much all the time.

I'm very happy with it.

Wow, that sounds great.

If you have any pics of your install, I would love to see them. Maybe I goobered something up and am letting air bypass or something.

I am not seeing anywhere near the result you are getting from it; same engine, same oil cooler, same location.

Thanks,

Rob