by Kai » Fri Jun 09, 2023 3:06 am
I was looking to the Vans/Subaru people when choosing my cooling system layout. Like the Eggenfellner layout, it consists of a split radiator setup, the sum og their cooling grid area corresponding to the Rotax recommended radiator size for the R914. Cooling air intake size and position in the cowling is as supplied by Sonex for the Jabiru cowling, with the radiators directly behind these intakes. Cooling air outlet is a full width chute in the bottom of the cowling, as well as the now common side outlet channels.
Each radiator has its own thermostat. I have seen too many cracked cylinder heads in my time, so the one thing I would shy as the plague is a thermostat system that shuts off or restricts coolant flow. The thermostats direct full flow coolant out of the left/right heads either back to the circulation pump, or through the radiators and then back to the pump. To facilitate this I welded up a coolant outlet tower for each bank, taking care to maintain cross sections. I also have a swirl pot and a catch tank in the system.
The thermostats of choice would have been the beauties from the company Silent Hektik in Germany, however, they have a policy not to sell to individuals outside the EU, so I instead selected two BMW V12 thermostats- they are stamped 80C. During climbout I can see the coolant temp temporarily climb to a shade under 90C (intake airflow breakdown?), after which i stabilizes at 70C in cruise. It will remain there whatever I do to it until I am back to the ground.
My propulsion plant is a Sensenich fixed pitch two blade 64x82 prop and the EP915ECI engine- it pumps out 123HP at 5800 rpm. Normally I cruise the thing at 4800-5000 rpm, when I see 120-130 kts on the ASI with a fuel burn of som 16-17 l/hr. The engine has piston cooling, which would mean more heated lubricant than normal for a R912ULS. Therefore the largest 914 oil cooler was selected- it is positioned directly under the lube oil pump. However, contrary to expectations, the setup overcools the oil considerably. There is no room for an oil thermostat anywhere, so I am forced to work with some aluminium sheet air intake restrictions (I can just click them in place). I try to maintain at 85-90C.
What else? I live in a temperate climate. Winter ambient temps are a few degrees below 0, spring/autumn apprx 5-15 C, and summer around 20-25C. We very seldom see 30C.
Sonex A #0525- SG, DS.
EdgePerfomance EP915ECI, 123HP