Hello Eric,
Welcome to both Cozy building and rotary aviation!
I installed a heater radiator and squirrel fan (from a Honda Civic) in the nose when I built my Cozy IV. I never did get any significant heat out of it.  The heat was there, but the drafts in the nose and cockpit blew it all away before it got to me. My other problem was the possibility of being suddenly surrounded by steam and very hot water if one of the lines fractured - not a comfortable feeling.  I think I would have been even less comfortable using oil.

I'm doing the annual now and heater is coming out (even though I now live in Vermont). I'm sealing up as many of the drafts as possible around the nose gear, elevator holes and canopy and plan to get electric seats, foot warmers, gloves and possibly an electric powered heater to deal with the cold.

I'm just south of you in Rutland, VT (at least for the next 4 weeks or so).
Regards,
John Slade
 

On 9/13/2010 11:19 AM, Eric Deslauriers wrote:

Hi all,

 

First post ever, as I indicated, I’m at the start of this long road, building a Cozy IV. Being in Montreal, I’m planning on having a radiator in the nose for heat.

 

My question is: what would be the better option, plumbing engine coolant to the nose or engine oil? What in your opinion would result in a lighter/safer install?

 

Thanks,

 

Eric Deslauriers, CMA

Directeur principal / Senior Manager

Juricomptabilité et évaluation d'entreprises / Forensic accounting and business valuation

Demers Beaulne S.E.N.C.R.L.

1100, boul René-Lévesque Ouest, 20ième étage

Montréal (Québec) H3B 4N4

Téléphone :   (514) 878-0290

Mobile :         (514) 887-2136

Télécopieur : (514) 874-0319

mailto:edeslauriers@demersbeaulne.com

http://www.demersbeaulne.com

 

 

---

De : Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] De la part de Al Gietzen
Envoyé : 13 septembre 2010 10:19
À : Rotary motors in aircraft
Objet : [FlyRotary] Re: Radiator cap - system pressure

 

Chris;

 

More pressure doesn’t translate to more cooling, but it does increase the temp at which it will boil, and reduce the probability of cavitation in the pump.  And recognizing that pressure caps are differential pressure valves (the absolute pressure on the coolant decreases with altitude), it’s good to use a cap with a relatively high pressure, maybe about 25 psi. I’d also suggest that the plumbing should be such that the pressure cap is on the inlet side of the water pump.

 

Probably the first thing affected by higher pressure would be coolant system hoses. If you use good quality hoses, and change them every few years or 100 hours, pressures up to 30 psi should not be an issue.

 

Al

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On Behalf Of Chris and Terria
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 2:56 AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Radiator cap - system pressure

 

Gents,

 

What pressure caps are you running with?  What maximum should be used?  I currently have a 16 lb cap, but have found ones up to 29 – 31 lbs.  I know more pressure means more cooling, but is there a maximum limit before hurting the engine?

 

Chris