Oil temperature

[Ken]

With the cooler temps I sometimes have trouble keeping the oil temp above the minimum. Are there any procedures to help with this issue?

 

Thanks,

Ken

[GrassStripFlyBoy]

A strip of aluminum HVAC tape, across the top of rad, will work great down to about 25F, below there you can add a bit more beyond this.  The oil cooler is on center behind the radiator, so placing a bit more just on center can affect the oil more.  Typically I place this strip on in late fall, and it's all I need here in Michigan until spring.  

If you search some key words you'll find this is what most have learned to use in winter.  It's very simple and works well. 

[BravoFoxtrot]

Further discussion:

Radiator tape - Engine/Rotax - CT Flier Forum

[John Vance]

Black Gorilla Tape works fine.  Doesn’t melt or leave a residue, easily removable, probably cheaper, and virtually invisible. 

[Tom Baker]

Foil tape as others have said. Even approved by Flight Design. Plastic duct tape is not.

061113_FD_Manufacturer_Approval_for_Alu_foil_tape (2).pdf

[John Vance]

On 1/15/2022 at 5:49 PM, Tom Baker said:

Foil tape as others have said. Even approved by Flight Design. Plastic duct tape is not.

061113_FD_Manufacturer_Approval_for_Alu_foil_tape (2).pdf 184.85 kB · 10 downloads

I was not aware that this guidance from FD was out there.  Thanks for pointing this out. But in my ignorance, I conducted my own test program. Five years of experience tells me that it works just fine.   Perhaps I’m missing some potential hazard?

[Warmi]

42 minutes ago, John Vance said:

I was not aware that this guidance from FD was out there.  Thanks for pointing this out. But in my ignorance, I conducted my own test program. Five years of experience tells me that it works just fine.   Perhaps I’m missing some potential hazard?

 But why even chance it ….It is not like foil tape is harder to get

[Tom Baker]

1 hour ago, John Vance said:

I was not aware that this guidance from FD was out there.  Thanks for pointing this out. But in my ignorance, I conducted my own test program. Five years of experience tells me that it works just fine.   Perhaps I’m missing some potential hazard?

Spill a little fuel or oil and you will have a gooey mess. I have used Gorilla tape for other applications, and have found that the sticky will separate from the plastic outer fabric. 

[John Vance]

You’re probably right about that.  I spend winters in Wilmington NC, and any time it’s below 60 on the ground, I start taping, vertically in the center of the heat exchanger. We get the occasional warm day this time of year, so the tape doesn’t usually stay on for more than a couple of weeks.  I’ve not had any trouble with fuel or oil spills, but if I did, the tape would be removed immediately.  It has always come off cleanly with no trouble. This is actually my eighth winter using Gorilla or other plastic tape.  I guess I’m not advocating going against FD guidance, but I’ve had no trouble during my inadvertent experiment. 

[Roger Lee]

I've been using the thin aluminum tape since 2001. It works fine. Most of the LSA that I have as clients all use it.