Oil Cooler Orientation

In my experience, tight bends in the hose are your biggest problem as they can restrict flow, particularly as the hose ages and starts to collapse when it gets hot. I would do what you can to avoid them. Having the hoses close to the exhaust doesn't seem to be as big a problem and it is relatively easy to insulate them. It goes without saying that it needs to be mounted in such a way that there is reasonable air flow through the cooler.

I would position it horizontally and most times there are two 90 degree fittings that come off the top ports. I would also position it with the ports on the top and not the bottom. There are several aircraft companies that position it this way. You want it to have good air flow so it does need to face outward.

Roger Lee wrote:

I would position it horizontally and most times there are two 90 degree fittings that come off the top ports. I would also position it with the ports on the top and not the bottom. There are several aircraft companies that position it this way. You want it to have good air flow so it does need to face outward.

Roger thanks for the input.

You have not given any rational for your suggestion - why horizontal?

I have all the required fittings - that's not a concern.

I think you miss understand what I am contemplating - I am considering mounting the cooler vertically ie small sides top/bottom with the cooler attach fittings on the aircrafts right side. The top fitting going to the pump, bottom from oil tank. This actually looks to facilitate shorter straighter hose connections - I believe a good thing. It would also mean any chance of air being trapped in the cooler (initial oil fill) could not happen.

To better explain my idea;  pick up an oil cooler have it facing you with the fittings on top (cooler horizontal). This is with some small variations the regular way of mounting the cooler. Now rotate it 90 degrees to the left (cooler vertical) fittings now on your left (installed aircraft right when facing aircraft spinner).

The airflow will still pass from front of cowling through oil cooler and out into the larger space of the cowling - this wont change.

I do not think the coolers efficiency would be compromised (by being vertical rather than the usual horizontal) - air will still pass over the cooling fins and heat carried away.

I may be wrong in all  this and there may be other factors I have not considered, hence my question

Kevin Stewart wrote:

In my experience, tight bends in the hose are your biggest problem as they can restrict flow, particularly as the hose ages and starts to collapse when it gets hot. I would do what you can to avoid them. Having the hoses close to the exhaust doesn't seem to be as big a problem and it is relatively easy to insulate them. It goes without saying that it needs to be mounted in such a way that there is reasonable air flow through the cooler.

I agree Kevin - what of the other potential benefits I have suggested?

Oh! & do you foresee any negatives/problems with a vertically mounted oil cooler?

"You have not given any rational for your suggestion - why horizontal?"

Because I have to remove fittings and or hoses quite often and vertical would make that difficult, messing and likely an oil purge. Depending on which fitting is up that may trap air in the top of the cooler even with a purge. It has nothing to do with the cooling. I'm not saying it can't work just the horizontal is better.