Oil Temp

Ed Clark · Post by **Ed Clark** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 09:44

For those of us with no decent shop to produce our own parts here's what you can buy to cover the oval opening below the prop on a champ.

It's listed as Part 2-862, Winterfront Nose Bowl Opening in the manual and is available from Univair using the same Part number but they call it the Champion Plate. It cost $43.68 and has 4 spring clip retainers much like those found on inspection plates.

It's plain aluminum and can be painted of course.

Here in the cold climate of South Florida I gained over 30 degrees bringing me up to 175 when the OAT was in the 50s during a cold front.

Post by **joea** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:07

Ed,

Glad to hear it worked but you can go to Ace Hardware, buy some sheet aluminum and a pair of shears and make this for about half that price.

As well you would have extra aluminum and the shears left over for the next project!

Joe

aeroncafan · Post by **aeroncafan** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 20:31

Mine looks like it was an owner produced part, very well made though. Looks like he used some very thin foam weatherstripping around the backside edge to better seal it against the nose bowl. I was only getting about 10 degrees warm up, but Nathan's duct tape solution on the inner section of the main cowl openings did the trick! I flew down to Peachstate last weekend with the chin plug in and 2 strips of standard duct tape on the inner opening of each side (cylinder heads still exposed). OAT on the ground was high 30's and ran 190 degree oil temp, which is my normal warm weather temp. Oh, and after my last cold weather flight where I couldn't hardly turn the prop, I changed out the oil to some multi-visc...sure made hand propping a bit easier!

Holcombe · Post by **Holcombe** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 21:51

I got the UNIVAR part, then built my own which fit better and is more secure. Way too close to the prop for a mishap.
A sock in the hole would work just as well and be safer.
I get about 15 degrees rise. It helps and is enough for around my parts where afternoon temps could warm up on the way home.

gusc · Post by **gusc** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 00:58

Donald,

Where is "the inner section of the main cowl openings"?

Do you mean at the rear of the cowling or at the front?

Tim Juhl · Post by **Tim Juhl** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:55

In response to David Johnson's earlier question... I use a cowl plug made of soft foam stuffed in a heavy duty plastic bag. Stays in the hole just fine...doesn't get hot enough to cause any problems.

I usually find it necessary to close off part of the bottom cowl outlet as well but even then the temps aren't as high as I would like. I suspect the best solution would be some kind of cover over the bug-eye inlets.

Tim

Mnflyer · Post by **Mnflyer** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 13:56

Hi Tim closing off about a 3rd of the inner bug-eyes really helps increace the oil temps on my plane. On my installation that where the air enters the under the crankcase baffle and then down on the oil tank, as its a Wagner STC install using C-150 baffling.

aeroncafan · Post by **aeroncafan** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 19:27

gusc wrote:Donald,

Where is "the inner section of the main cowl openings"?

Do you mean at the rear of the cowling or at the front?

Sorry, the front...what the previous post referred to as the "bug eyes". Nathan's post with my chin cover in it has a photo of a red and white Champ on skis that has some sort of plates where I put my tape.

gusc · Post by **gusc** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 00:01

Don,

There are two Champs on skis? One has some kind of covers on the inside of the eyes and one has them on the outside so I'm still not sure which is better?

Mnflyer · Post by **Mnflyer** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 08:43

Hi Gus, close off the inner part of the bug-eye, doing the outer part one could easily over heat the cylinder heads , with the inner part the cranckcase gets warmer top & bottom.

aeroncafan · Post by **aeroncafan** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 13:28

Exactly...

Note the area closest to the prop shaft is covered. Since Atlanta isn't consistently cold...I'm just using duct tape there for now.

gusc · Post by **gusc** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 18:19

thanks guys, I think I have it now.

AR is about the same temps as GA in the winter. I used to live in Athens.

Nathan K. Hammond · Post by **Nathan K. Hammond** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 00:05

Here's the picture I was trying to find earlier. I like the way he restricted the airflow; it shouldn't lead to hot/cold spots.

nkh

Post by **joea** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 07:41

Nice photo and good advertising!

flyingfool · Post by **flyingfool** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 13:21

That Blue & White Citabria is based at my airport!

It was up flying the other day. But it was not on ski's.

We have plenty of snow. But is it a pain to drag the straight skis in and out of the hangar I suppose.

National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Oil Temp

Oil Temp

Bug-eye clovers