Our 2003 8KCAB Super Decathlon is too Cool!
Actually we have a hard time getting the oil temperature up to 165 or 180°F in cruise. CHTs tend to run 270-325°F [I know others might be jealous of this problem but this seems really cool also].. Oil temps seem to hover in the 150°F range a lot, I just flew it on a long summer cross country and at 2200RPM it was at 140F, then I thought to try 25 square for 15 minutes, and still no change. In the Georgia winters we cover the oil cooler with tape. We took the cover tape off for summer, but now I wonder if we should cover the oil cooler more. I understand that it is ideal to get the oil to be 165-180F to boil off water in the oil [normal product of combustion]. We just had the engine rebuilt 2 years ago because the camshaft was worn due to corrosion inside the engine. We don't want to do that again.
Is there a way to know if the vernatherm is working properly?
We don't know if the lower temps are real or sensor/gauge issues but CHTs are low also. Can we use and infrared thermometer after we land to cross check the lower end of the engine's temp - is there a better way?
Does the Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B run cool for everyone?
Is it partially due to huge air intakes on a Decathlon?
Does the inverted oil system affect the temp or where it is measured?
BTW I don't know where water vapor is supposed to exit an engine, especially one with the inverted oil system.
What advice do you have to keep the engine dry inside?
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one photo shows the partially covered oil cooler.
Chris
