Aerovee #0361

[MichaelFarley56]

I wanted to post a quick update on the rebuild of AeroVee #0631. Yesterday morning, I was finally able to take my Waiex up for a 45 minute test flight to check the rebuild and new systems installed on the airplane.
First off, as you all know I modified the setup to include a top mounted oil cooler, just like the Onex setup. This required a new oil pump that does not have the threaded external ports, as well as the needed hardware to mount the oil cooler on top of the block. I also fabricated a box to force air through the cooler and out the back of the rear baffling piece:



Anyway, after a few quick ground runs, it was time to take the Waiex up and see how the oil pressure was after rebuild. Thankfully, everything seemed to be a complete success with the engine not only running better (I switched back to 8 to 1 compression), but the oil pressure was excellent:



I know it's tough to see but my mechanical gauge was showing pressure between 56-58 PSI, while my digital gauge was right around 60 PSI. I'm thrilled that everything worked!

I know some people were asking about my oil temps with the top mounted cooler, and to provide some feedback I did notice that they ran higher than the older bottom mounted system. Everything was certainly still fine as I didn't see oil temps get over 190 (80 degrees outside) and most of the time they hovered around 180. This was while running the engine hard so I'm sure everything is good in that regard, so if anyone wants to know if I recommend the top mounted cooler, at this point it seems to work just fine. It's a tight fit inside the cowling but I do think it will make things much easier when it's time to change the oil.

I'll continue to offer reports as I keep flying the Waiex. Thanks everyone!

[falvarez]

Thanks for the update Mike...It's great to hear you got your Waiex back up flying....especially that you have the oil pressure situation under control.

When you get some time to take a closer look, can you let us know if the top mounted filter had any impact on the CHTs? I wouldn't imaging there is much impact but clearly the flow above the cylinders must have changed to some degree.

[Bryan Cotton]

Thanks Mike for posting. Are you still running cooling air over the sump? I am curious what would cool better - having all air coming in the two front intakes, and having greater delta P through the cylinders and cooler or having additional air and cooling over the sump.
Bryan
Waiex 191 in boxes still

[MichaelFarley56]

Hi Frank,

The CHT variation question is a good one. Unfortunately, I don't know how much of an answer I will be able to provide given the changes I made to the engine while I was rebuilding it.
First, I raised the compression from 7to1 up to 8to1, since I've always used 100LL and don't see that changing. I also made an AeroInjector adjustment after talking to Kerry up at Oshkosh. I mentioned that my full throttle climbs were giving me EGT temps of around 1350-1375, and Kerry told me that I was running too lean. In response, I enrichened my needle so I was reading around 1250-1275 during climb, and only around 1150 in cruise.

As for Bryan's question...I kept the lower baffling over the bottom of the engine sump but made up a plate to replace the hole where the oil cooler was. I was debating on keeping the baffling in place or covering up the hole in the cowling, but I had read somewhere that the engine needs that airflow for proper cooling. I may email Kerry again to see what his opinion is.

After all of these changes, I was looking at the hottest cylinder of around 360-370 during climb, and cruise temperatures (hottest cylinder) of around 330 degrees. It was a warm, humid day in Ohio and I was running the engine pretty hard just in case it needed any additional breaking in.

So, after all of this, I'd have to say that the oil cooler must make some degree of change to the cylinder temps, but I really couldn't detect much of a change. I certainly don't think there's enough of an airflow change to make much of a difference.

I'll keep offering updates as I fly more.

[falvarez]

Thanks for all the great feedback Mike.

My current plan is to still go with top mounted cooler. I won't be rebuilding my AeroVee until some time this winter so I'll keep an eye on your results. Please keep us in the loop if you develop any further opinions about this setup either good or bad.

[EricS]

Good job Mike on getting it all back together and running well! Thanks for the update on the top-mounted cooler as well.

Glad to see you are back flying again!

[Sonex1517]

Great write up Mike! Glad you are back up and flying!


Robbie
Sonex 1517

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Bryan Cotton]

Mike,
If you blocked off the bottom oil cooler hole, would there be any air going past the sump?
Bryan
W191 TD aerovee

[MichaelFarley56]

Hi Bryan,

At that point I believe the only air over the sump is whatever happens to be flowing through the cylinder baffling and out the bottom. So in other words, not much. The factory claims its not needed but I think I would rather have a little air flowing over the sump.

[Timwaiex0146]

Mike , your posts have been very helpful, as we have just received our aerovee kit for waiex0146 and have yet to begin assembly. I was wondering where you got the top mounted oil cooler and necessary parts to install it. My partner and I want to go with the turbo when available so I think i will opt for the top cooler as well. Thanks Tim Koehler