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Re: Europa-List: coolant choce and temperature monitoring questions

Subject: Re: Europa-List: coolant choce and temperature monitoring questions
From: Bud Yerly <budyerly@msn.com>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 17:22:00

Rowland,
I place the coolant overflow on the starboard side and it is accessible 
through the oil door on the XS.
Glycol is my choice in the hot climate of Florida.  In cool climates Evans 
is fine.
Rotax requires coolant outflow to be monitored as the owner who chooses to 
run at 275 will boil glycol in the head.  New engines have new heads and 
coolant monitoring.
I find the in line coolant temp probe to be more of a pain and inaccuracies 
than it is worth.  Don't let the cylinder head temp go above 245F and the 
coolant never boils over.
Because Evans has nearly 20% less heat transfer ability, it is essential to 
optimize your cooling or enlarge the radiator in hotter climates.  Good news 
is, Evans is lifetime and frankly, it does not appear to corrode as 
water/glycol can.

In the UK you should be fine with a 912S, even on long taxis and hard climbs 
at 90 KIAS provided you paid attention to your ducting.

Best Regards,
Bud Yerly


-----Original Message----- 
From: Rowland Carson
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2016 2:14 PM
Subject: Europa-List: coolant choce and temperature monitoring questions


I thought Id got all the instrumentation I needed sorted out, but Ive come 
across the following items in the Rotax Installation Manual:


"2 different types of coolant are permitted.

Type 1:
- Conventional coolant based on ethylene glycol
Conventional coolant is recommended as it is commonly available and has a 
greater thermal heat transfer capability.
. . .
Permanent monitoring of coolant temperature and cylinder head temperature is 
necessary.

Type 2:
- Waterless coolant based on propylene glycol
Waterless coolant is recommended if the design of the aircraft can not 
maintain the coolant temperature limit.
. . .
Permanent monitoring of cylinder head temperature is necessary.
Additional monitoring of the actual coolant temperature is possible but not 
necessary for waterless coolant.


I seem to recall that Evans (waterless) coolant was the flavour of the month 
some time back, and then it fell out of favour. I understand it's more 
expensive than ethylene glycol coolants as well as causing the engine to run 
hotter (because it doesnt transfer heat so well).

However, it appears from the above Rotax manual extracts that if one wants 
to use the cheaper ethylene glycol option, its necessary to have a coolant 
temperature gauge as well as the CHT monitoring. And elsewhere in the manual 
coolant temp monitoring is required during the test flying period even with 
waterless coolant.

So, the question is - what do folks in UK generally use in the coolant 
system? And if conventional ethylene glycol, what type of coolant 
temperature sensor do they have and where is it fitted?

All advice born of experience welcome.

in friendship

Rowland

| Rowland Carson          ... that's Rowland with a 'w' ...
| <rowlandcarson@gmail.com>            http://www.rowlandcarson.org.uk
| Skype, Twitter: rowland_carson      Facebook: Rowland Carson
| pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/rowlandcarson



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