Winter Radiator/Cooler Mods

[jiott]

I know I could figure this out myself by trial and error, but hey why reinvent the wheel.
I fly in the Portland, OR area where winter temperatures rarely get below 25F and are usually in the low 40's. My SS7 has the 912ULS with the standard kit radiator and oil cooler sandwiched in front of the radiator. I do have the optional oil cooler thermostat, but no radiator thermostat.

My question is: about how much of the radiator surface should I tape off? Also should I tape off part of the oil cooler, or leave it alone because it has a thermostat?

Jim

[Dorsal]

Jim,
I have the same set up as you and fly in slightly colder temps. I close off the radiator up to the edge of the oil cooler, seems to work fairly well though still runs a little cool and very cold days. I may try closing it out over the oil cooler as well and see what happens. Winterizing my ship is this weekends project (too windy to fly)

[jamesmil]

have the highwing thermostat for the coolant system, works very well. use 1 piece of duct tape on the oil cooler when temp gets below 50 degrees.

[GaryNo]

You may want to check this out also. http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...?clickkey=7132

[kitfox2009]

I use a thermobob coolant thermostat to maintain 180F in any temps that I fly. Also tape about half the oil cooler when cooler than 10C
Installing the coolant thermostat seems to help with oil temps. Certainly faster warmups.
Cheers
Don
Vixen 912UL IVO IFA

[kmach]

Hi ,
I also use the thermobob on the coolant.
I like that it has a dedicated bypass line.

I have an oil thermostat, but still end up taping the oil cooler completely off when its cold -15 C .
The oil cooler is up front under the prop/gearbox so its easy to adjust the amount of tape , the first winter I kept records of temp and amount of tape required

[Paul Z]

I live in Texas, I leave about 1/4 of the Oil Cooler exposed.

I know I could figure this out myself by trial and error, but hey why reinvent the wheel.
I fly in the Portland, OR area where winter temperatures rarely get below 25F and are usually in the low 40's. My SS7 has the 912ULS with the standard kit radiator and oil cooler sandwiched in front of the radiator. I do have the optional oil cooler thermostat, but no radiator thermostat.

My question is: about how much of the radiator surface should I tape off? Also should I tape off part of the oil cooler, or leave it alone because it has a thermostat?

Jim