Oil cooler or not?

[109jb 181]

Hi guys. Working on my Kitfox 4 project with the 80 hp 912 UL and got to thinking. The airplane has an oil cooler installed, but looking at the Kitfox install manual, it has you just run 2 hoses. One from the tank pickup to the pump, and one from the bottom of the engine to the tank inlet. No oil cooler. I have also read about having to put on oil thermostats, tape over the cooler in winter, etc. I have also read about one at least that didn't have an oil cooler on a 912  UL.  If the temps don't climb too high without an oil cooler in the summertime, I would rather not even put it on for simplicity, and not having to mess with anything for winter flying. Just wondering about those that have experience with running a 912 without an oil cooler. How do the oil temps behave in summer temps. does it stay below the 230 top end for the normal range?

Thanks,

[ChrisBolkan 130]

I'd put the oil cooler on. I guess if you live where it never gets above 80 and you never fly where it gets hot, you might be alright. However your running it in a cowled environment, not out in the open so I wouldn't take a chance. Tape in the winter is what I do. It's not bad at all. There's nothing like having oil temps rise past comfortable on a hot climb out to get over a big hill or mountain and having to throttle back for fear it will get way too hot. Running the thermostat is a plumbing nightmare that makes it hard to inspect motor mount bolts etc. I hate the things even though they function well. if you are creative, rather than apply tape (which like I said is super easy) you can make a hinged flap on the back of the radiator that can be controlled from the cockpit. I did that and really liked it, but I had a troublesome piggybacked water and oil radiator combo that constantly developed leaks from vibration. I moved the cooler off the engine and all the problems went away. I still want to put a controllable flap back on the oil cooler but haven't got around to it yet, and honestly I may never because tape is so easy.

[wypaul 448]

You will need the oil cooler for sure.