The entry on p 4-7 saying cover oil cooler surface is under the heading of an increase in oil pressure which it says may be due to cold oil. The entry above it talks about high oil pressure and says install a thermostat or cover the oil cooler.
It would appear that Rotax is OK with covering the oil cooler, even though neither of the conditions cited is about low oil temperature as a specific problem itself but rather addresses low oil temperature as it relates to a different problem (pressure or oil level) that was not really in the original question.
Since Rotax wants normal oil operations to be 90°C to 110°C (p 2-5), I'm surprised they don't make a direct entry of how to cope if the engine doesn't reach that temperature.
Still, I'm comfortable that Rotax is willing for the radiator to be covered. "How" may be a different question to consider.
The problem is not the aluminum strip !!
The problem is the exceeding of the limit temperature of the loctite 248 which seals the tubes , when you use the self-adhesive aluminum strip
Where is the problem of using the engine?
The oil must reach 50 ° and not exceed 130 °
I let the oil heat up to 50 ° then I prepare the takeoff.
during the climb I monitor the temperature to not exceed 115 ° (it's my limit) otherwise, I reduce the gas in the climb if the day is very hot.
moreover, the propeller is adjusted so as not to force the engine (5700/5750 rpm full throttle)
Fuel consumption is reduced and the engine behaves better.
Normally, my oil temperature is between 95 ° and 100 °
Why isn't all the owners in the US having this issue? The Australian person may have misdiagnosed the real issue. If only one person says this is happening and the rest of the world seems to be good with it then you may have to question the single source. i.e. vibration and or overheating usually causes cracks.
I'm on 5 forums and all LSA. Most use the aluminum tape and some more than one strip. Not a single report of a failed radiator. I attend Rotax classes and talk to the top Rotax people here in the US and not a single negative report from them on this. It has been discussed in classes. No issues for the last 20 years that I know of here in the US.
If you use a flap setup or block a vent the same thing goes on with the tape. The radiator maintains a fairly even temp, but some of the heat exchange is reduced. The temps we are talking about should not have any issues as they are usually well below any max during the cold months that owners do this.
I'm all in for more learning and education so if you can find a number of US owners having this issue I would love to know and talk with them so I can bring this up in classes.
Roger Lee LSRM-A & Rotax Instructor & Rotax IRC Tucson, AZ Ryan Airfield (KRYN) 520-349-7056 Cell
Roger,
Your question is why I posted here. I was looking for a variety of experience. I did not give much credence to Coates, but my main focus was an official Rotax pronouncement on the issue and I'm comfortable I got as close as Rotax is going to give.
Jacques seems to have a problem that may be related, so your idea of bringing it up in classes sounds like a good one.
Like you, I am not familiar with any US pilot, and I follow several forums, who identifies this problem.
FWIW, I am reworking my CTSW and thus the issue is of interest to me at this moment. That's why I brought it up now from my own selfish interest. OTOH, like many northern pilots, I wrestle with winter oil temps and find the subject worth following.
As to why I am looking for official documentation, Rotax is not so different than other engines - there develops a folklore and mythology handed down from one to another, and at some point one not only loses the provenance, one can actually start getting bad info. I place no faith in the "I know the secret handshake" that some mechanics claim. This exchange has been helpful for me in learning a Rotax position which I am happy to pass on to anyone interested.
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