Aerovee oil Temps

[Bryan Cotton]

If you go with a top mounted oil cooler, you need this adapter plate:
https://www.sonexaircraft.com/eshop/car ... Oil+cooler

You also want to keep your current oil pump, the one with the red cover in your first post. Also know that if you go to a top mounted oil cooler, you will have to significantly modify your engine baffles.

Sonex has a good picture of the installation here:
https://www.sonexaircraft.com/eshop/car ... Oil+cooler

Also you should know that the cover with the AN fittings has to stay with that pump. The pump body is special and matches the ports in the cover. If you mix and match your covers and pumps you won't get oil flow.

[429TB]

Bryan,

Thanks again. I'll do the wiring first like you said. Then if that doesn't fix it I'll swap the springs back to stock. And it that doesn't fix it I think I'll just disconnect the oil filter and only run the oil cooler. If that doesn't fix it .... top mount cooler it is ? Going to be alot of test flights coming up. Thanks for clarifying on the oil pump!

I re read thru your posts. How is your issues going ? It's odd to me the factory pushes the top mount cooler when so many of us seem to have cooling issues with it ? Or is that just my flawed observation ?

[Bryan Cotton]

I'm just getting back home after a week away on vacation, so my fabrication has been paused. People here have had good luck with both the top and bottom mount oil cooler, so I think either is a viable option.

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[XenosN42]

It's odd to me the factory pushes the top mount cooler when so many of us seem to have cooling issues with it ? Or is that just my flawed observation ?

I've used two AeroVee engines. Never had oil cooling problems with either. The first had a bottom mounted oil cooler.

The second has the top mounted oil cooler. Never saw temperatures above 190F or so. I used to only use the cooler in the summer and removed it over the winter months. The last three years I haven't used it at all. My oil temperatures are still below 200F or so.

When diagnosing oil temperatures (or any temperatures for that matter) I advise one important initial step: verify that the oil temperature probe is reading correctly and whatever display you're using in the cockpit is also reading correctly.

[429TB]

Mike,

Thanks for the input. I think I'll do exactly that. Do what Bryan suggested earlier and test the new and old oil temp sender. In the long run I may swap to the top mount anyway as the factory suggests it. Currently I'm dealing with a previous owner who put alot of time and effort into fixing the oil cooling issues that may not have been as big an issue as he thought. He put alot of parts on it that work for the ground vehicle application of the vw, but not so much for me so far.

Thanks again,

Chad

[SonexFactoryTech]

Mike,

Currently I'm dealing with a previous owner who put alot of time and effort into fixing the oil cooling issues that may not have been as big an issue as he thought. He put alot of parts on it that work for the ground vehicle application of the vw, but not so much for me so far.

Chad

All,

Sonex was brought in on this issue yesterday. We asked for photos and saw an AeroVee installation that strayed from anything we've ever recommend, including an add-on oil sump and an oil cooler mounted on the firewall where I can assure everyone no air was passing through it to help cool the oil. The airframe is carrying pounds of dead weight.

This is where all troubleshooting must begin. Does it match the factory recommendation? As the owner of the aircraft you must provide all details. Unfortunately, few second-hand owners check to see if what they purchased matches the factory documentation. Everyone offering advice should first ask, "Does it match the factory recommendation?' and "Have you contacted the factory?" Next, ask for photos. But what usually happens is people assume its built to the factory specifications and start offering advice based on one-off experiences. When one-off experience suggestions start to pile up, airplanes end up with a multitude of modifications and drift further and further from what works.

Kerry
(21 Years Supporting Sonex Products)

Sonex, LLC

[429TB]

Thanks Kerry for the input!

I just want a safe flyable aircraft at the end of the day. As I am not the builder if this one I have an AandP assisting me. He and I are both learning alot on the forums... Thanks again !

[429TB]

All,

Well I insulated the wire coming from the oil temp sender and ensured the RDAC had a dedicated griund and flew this am. Didn't see any changes in pressures. Could possibly have cut down on the rate at which the pressure changed though. I made one pattern and the temp hit 200 right away so I landed and checked for leaks.

After the engine cooled I swapped the oil pressure spring and control spring for oem. I wasn't sure what was in there honestly. I took off and flew 2 more patterns. This time the pressure was about 10 psi lower than the previous flight and the oil Temps never exceeded 170.

I wasn't able to fly longer or I would have. More testing to follow to insure I didn't have a fluke. Thanks for everyone's help so far, yall have been a good resource.

As for sonex, thanks for the quick response. I currently have the bottom mount cooler set up and will only swap to the top mount if I have issues after the next few flights.

Thanks again and have a good independence day!

[Bryan Cotton]

Great news! Where did you get your OEM springs?

[429TB]

CB Performance. Searched OEM Oil Relief Spings. They had a kit. I wonder if they are the same as the ones sonex sells ? Kelly may answer that ?

I wasn't sure what was in my plane is why I swapped them. Being chrome in color I thought they wouldn't be OEM. Sure enough. Hot idle psi is around 20. Down from 30. Cruise rpm saw 40 to 45. WOT saw 5 to 52. Again, all down 10 to 12 psi from previous springs.