Flight Today

[SteveG]

Hi Dale, I also use an aluminum plate to cover the front oil cooler. On that last flight at only 2000' AGL the OAT was -15F. Leaned to peak EGT the front oil temp stabilized at 125F and the rear at 150F with CHT's running from 250F to 300F. Except for a few months in the summer, at altitude and without the restrictor plate, I'm most always running with oil temps lower than the 180F I would like to see. I have not found any good solution. A restrictor plate with sufficient area to produce 180F oil in cruise at altitude is to great for use on takeoff or if heading south what works for the first 500 miles is to great thereafter. I suspect that as a result the engines retain more moisture than desireable but hopefully any moisture that condenses out on cool down only beads up on the oil film surface rather than coming into contact with any bare steel parts.