----- Original Message -----
From: "John Slade" <sladerj@bellsouth.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 28, 2004 10:07 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Another precautionary landing


> I've just had a thought. What if I reconnected the oil pipes to the
coolers
> the wrong way around. That would cause a restriction, wouldn't it? The oil
> comes OUT of the front housing near the alternator pulley, then into one
> cooler, on to the other cooler, then back to the filter block at the back
> (pusher) of the engine. The [stock 3rd gen] oil coolers have a thermostat
> type device on one port. Is that the in port or the out port?
> John (starting to think positive already)
>
>
 Certainly a possibility to consider.  However, with my 2nd gen oil cooler,
it will operate with oil coming in the wrong way - I know because that is
how mine is currently connected.  It turns out the oil thermostat is a
by-pass type.  When the oil is cold the thermostat opens and by passes some
of the oil cooler channels.  When the oil temps increase the thermostat
closes and forces all the oil through the cooler.  So while the thermostat
might not open at the expected temperature point if installed backwards,
once it does close all of the  oil is forced through the cooler.

I would presume that if the thermostat was defective and does not ever shut
then you could have some of the oil by-passing the cooler fins.  OR it there
is no thermostat in the cooler you would have continuos by-passing of the
oil cooler (for some of the oil).

Ed Anderson