flyrotary@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

On Thu, May 13, 2021 at 4:01 PM Matt Boiteau mattboiteau@gmail.com <flyrotary@lancaironline.net> wrote:

I'm trying to tackle the oil cooling. Currently have a CX racing 11x9x2 (https://www.cxracing.com/oil-cooler-kit/OC-248-30-AN10)

On a 30C / 85F day in FL @ 2200rpm cruising
Coolant is 180 outlet / 170 inlet
Oil is 225-230 pan / 200 inlet / 215 PSRU.

I use Valvoline VR1 20W-50 standard oil, and have synthetic sitting on the shelf ready to go. Since we can't post much in pictures here, I put a video on youtube of the setup. The cowl inlet is 4" and the opening to the start of the wedge is 3". I added some turning vanes to help the wedge shape send more air to the front, but didn't change the temps too much.

The only thing left to do is increase the opening on the wedge. I could probably get away with a 5" opening. If that doesn't work, then time to source out a bigger rad. What sizes are you guys running?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONO4bJvw5rc

- Matt Boiteau

I believe that's the same size cooler that Tracy is running on his 20B, and the one I've got for my Renesis (which hasn't run yet). I think the only critical temp is at the return to the engine; pan temp will always be significantly higher because it's been heated by the engine. There's a guy over on the HomebuiltAirplanes forum who says he's raced a lot of rotaries; he says he runs ~200 degree oil temps in his racers.

The link to the youtube video says 'private', so I can't see it. Did you try tuft testing the output of the oil cooler core, to see if you're getting flow across the entire core?

Charlie