Return-Path: Sender: (Marvin Kaye) To: flyrotary Date: Mon, 19 May 2003 10:21:51 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from ms-smtp-01.southeast.rr.com ([24.93.67.82] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 4.1b6) with ESMTP id 2353232 for flyrotary@lancaironline.net; Sun, 18 May 2003 07:15:27 -0400 Received: from mail5.carolina.rr.com (fe5 [24.93.67.52]) by ms-smtp-01.southeast.rr.com (8.12.5/8.12.2) with ESMTP id h4IBALhA022409 for ; Sun, 18 May 2003 07:10:22 -0400 (EDT) Received: from o7y6b5 ([24.25.90.99]) by mail5.carolina.rr.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC(5.5.1877.757.75); Sun, 18 May 2003 07:12:08 -0400 X-Original-Message-ID: <004001c31d2f$deb0c120$1702a8c0@WorkGroup> From: "Ed Anderson" X-Original-To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" References: Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: coolant / thermostat X-Original-Date: Sun, 18 May 2003 07:23:13 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1106 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 I tried a thermostat twice and could not get it to cool properly on the ground in either case, so gave up and have flow 200 hours with no thermostat and no problem. Ed Anderson ------------------ ===> Was it OK in the air without the thermostat? The way it looks to me, if you have a properly working radiator system, a thermostat is a good thing. Since you have no electric fans, your radiators aren't working "properly" on the ground, so removing the thermostat could certainly help. On the other hand, the fact that removing it helps your ground cooling proves that it's better to do without the thermostat if possible. I also wonder if there would be less chance of pump cavitation at higher RPM's without the restriction of the thermostat. Have you ever had a problem with temps being too cool? How about when descending from freezing altitudes at low power? Still leaning toward trying it with the thermostat first. I'll have one or two electric fans for ground ops. Thanks for the comments. Rusty Actually, the engine cools fine on the ground without the thermostat as it does have a BIG fan out front. In the air, on cold winter days at modest power settings (like cruise), the coolant temp can drop down to 150F which is a bit on the cool side. Cowl flaps would likely be the answer to maintaining the temps up around 180F. So a thermostat might be more than an option for those of you living in the northen climates. Not saying don't use a thermostat, just saying I tried twice and for whatever reason (poor cooling system design?) did not have success. Almost cooked my engine twice, so decided it was not worth messing with. Ed