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RV-6 oil cooler

pawnee2

I'm New Here
After 19 years I notice that the oil temperature now runs about 10 deg higher than what it used to.
Cylinder temps have not changed...
I decided to replace the oil cooler and get better heat transfer with a brand new one.
The problem is the Positech P20004C that I originally installed is no longer available. Vans offers an oil cooler for the 4 cylinder Lycoming's which almost identical and about 1" shorter.
Has anyone had the same experience as I have?
Any installation problems swapping these oil coolers?
Will appreciate any feedback guys.
Thanks a lot
Eduardo Iglesias
s/n 60014
Waller, TX
 
Have you thought about taking the oil cooler to a radiator specialist and getting it flushed out. It may just be some of the channels are blocked with gunk thus reducing the cooling efficiency.
 
Have you thought about taking the oil cooler to a radiator specialist and getting it flushed out. It may just be some of the channels are blocked with gunk thus reducing the cooling efficiency.

+1

The lyc design is a bit poor as the oil goes to the cooler before the filter/screen. The passages in the cooler are very small and can get blocked with debris. Flushing it with a pro like pacific coolers will likely bring it back to original performance.

Larry
 
oil cooler question

Thank you fellas.
I am in the process of doing the suggestions now. I have just in case a new oil cooler coming from Vans.
Baffling looks good. Cooler has no external debris. I also need to check the resistance of the Westach sensor at 100 deg C. This could also have drifted off the calibrated curve.
Again, thanks a lot.
Eduardo Iglesias
N23EJ
 
Flushing it with a pro like pacific coolers will likely bring it back to original performance.

Another RV'er at our airport reported that when shipping is included, the flush service made the cost almost the same as just buying a new one, and there is no doubt about the new one and you get some sort of warranty. Something to consider.
 
Another RV'er at our airport reported that when shipping is included, the flush service made the cost almost the same as just buying a new one, and there is no doubt about the new one and you get some sort of warranty. Something to consider.

I wouldn't doubt it...a local trans shop would probably a relatively cheap(er) option but I'm with you, I might just bite the bullet and buy a new one, in fact I might get a 10 row and err on that side of the equation.
 
I’m not sure if the OP is still engaged but this might be helpful information for others…

Excessive blow-by will raise oil temps, sometimes considerably. A 19 yr old engine like the OP has is a prime candidate for ring wear and blow-by. An increase in oil consumption is another good indicator of ring wear.

Cheers
 
I can tell you that I took a perfectly good oil cooler to a big shop that does the oil coolers and other coolers for the airlines in DFW and when I installed it after they cleaned it I figured it would cool even better. I took the plane for a short flight and was going to continue a little longer but something told me to land and check everything since it had just come out of annual inspection. When I landed I had oil everywhere, the oil cooler was leaking. all I got from the shop was a refund of what I paid them to clean it, they didn't charge me for ruining it.

If it's working don't fix it. If you don't like that it's not working exactly as when it was new, but a new one. That's all I got.
 
El nuevo

Thank you fellas.
I am in the process of doing the suggestions now. I have just in case a new oil cooler coming from Vans.
Baffling looks good. Cooler has no external debris. I also need to check the resistance of the Westach sensor at 100 deg C. This could also have drifted off the calibrated curve.
Again, thanks a lot.
Eduardo Iglesias
N23EJ

Wardoe:

I’d go with the new one coming.
Yours may be a little tired.

Cheers
 
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