Hi All,
I am trying to figure out oil hose mounting. I mounted my oil cooler on the engine mount to decrease vibration damage. Several folks had talked about cracking of the oil cooler when mounted on the rear baffle per plans. I carefully measured and ordered integral firesleeved oil lines from PHT. They did a very nice job and made them right to spec.
When I installed them, I discovered that the lines are considerably less flexible than the fuel line I used to mock them up. I can wrestle them into position, but it is something of a battle. The issue is that I need some slack to make up for the engine shake. That requires a bend in the line. Bending the size-eight line requires no small amount of force. I am concerned that this sort of pre-load might lead to failure or cracking of the fittings at the oil cooler or where they enter the cooler. The engine fittings are steel and pretty solid. The oil cooler fittings are also steel but the cooler is less robust that the engine block.
Is this a normal issue? Should I think about taking down the oil cooler mount and repositioning with less tension? I am not sure if these lines will "relax" into position after they have been there a while or are going to be a significant hazzard to engine safety over time. Anyone have insights and experience on this?
Regards,
Michael Wynn
RV 8 Finishing
San Ramon, CA
I am trying to figure out oil hose mounting. I mounted my oil cooler on the engine mount to decrease vibration damage. Several folks had talked about cracking of the oil cooler when mounted on the rear baffle per plans. I carefully measured and ordered integral firesleeved oil lines from PHT. They did a very nice job and made them right to spec.
When I installed them, I discovered that the lines are considerably less flexible than the fuel line I used to mock them up. I can wrestle them into position, but it is something of a battle. The issue is that I need some slack to make up for the engine shake. That requires a bend in the line. Bending the size-eight line requires no small amount of force. I am concerned that this sort of pre-load might lead to failure or cracking of the fittings at the oil cooler or where they enter the cooler. The engine fittings are steel and pretty solid. The oil cooler fittings are also steel but the cooler is less robust that the engine block.
Is this a normal issue? Should I think about taking down the oil cooler mount and repositioning with less tension? I am not sure if these lines will "relax" into position after they have been there a while or are going to be a significant hazzard to engine safety over time. Anyone have insights and experience on this?
Regards,
Michael Wynn
RV 8 Finishing
San Ramon, CA