Oil Cooler Duct Tape...

timwinters

timwinters

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...and here all these years I thought I was flying rogue. But nooooo.

When flying in cold temps (below 30dF at altitude) I've always covered the front of the oil cooler on my O-470 to keep the oil temperature warmer.

And I've been given quite a bit of sh*t by mechanics, pilots, etc. over the years for doing so...mostly jokingly...but some serious.

My mechanic always jokingly scrawls "FAA PMA TJW C182A" across the front of the duck tape when I bring the plane in for annual (annuals always being during the winter).

And a few have seriously said something like "just wait until you get ramped."

Well, last week I downloaded Continental's O-470 operator's manual. I've never had it before...was bored and thought I'd check it out.

Chapter 6, "abnormal environmental conditions", says that when flight in cold temperatures is anticipated 1" wide masking tape may be secured to the front of the oil cooler to maintain adequate oil temperature and prevent oil cooler congealing.

Granted duct tape isn't masking take and it's also wider than 1" but, hey, there is is in black and white. "Cover the front of oil cooler with tape to keep the oil warmer."

And the cover of the manual says "FAA APPROVED".

Dangit, I hate it when I think I'm being a bad boy only to find that I'm not. Takes all the fun out of life. :goofy:
 
timwinters said:
...and here all these years I thought I was flying rogue. But nooooo.

When flying in cold temps (below 30dF at altitude) I've always covered the front of the oil cooler on my O-470 to keep the oil temperature warmer.

And I've been given quite a bit of sh*t by mechanics, pilots, etc. over the years for doing so...mostly jokingly...but some serious.

My mechanic always jokingly scrawls "FAA PMA TJW C182A" across the front of the duck tape when I bring the plane in for annual (annuals always being during the winter).

And a few have seriously said something like "just wait until you get ramped."

Well, last week I downloaded Continental's O-470 operator's manual. I've never had it before...was bored and thought I'd check it out.

Chapter 6, "abnormal environmental conditions", says that when flight in cold temperatures is anticipated 1" wide masking tape may be secured to the front of the oil cooler to maintain adequate oil temperature and prevent oil cooler congealing.

Granted duct tape isn't masking take and it's also wider than 1" but, hey, there is is in black and white. "Cover the front of oil cooler with tape to keep the oil warmer."

And the cover of the manual says "FAA APPROVED".

Dangit, I hate it when I think I'm being a bad boy only to find that I'm not. Takes all the fun out of life. :goofy:
Click to expand...

Unless you live in Alaska or similar, I think it's not a good idea to put tape on your oil cooler. Yes, the engine manual says to use it, but only if there are no "winter fronts" described in the POH, and only for "sub cold" temperatures (see below). Later C-182s have them in the manual (e.g. the 'Q' POH is online where the "winterization kit" is described, and does not mention any tape as backup, not sure about the early ones). Even if you do use tape, the O-470 engine Op Man specifies "One inch across the center line length of the oil cooler." I suspect duct tape would be wider, and more likely to leave residue behind when you remove it.
Regarding when to use any oil cooler protection, the engine manual says to do it when the anticipated flight will encounter "sub-cold temperatures" (without any quantification). The Cessna POH mentioned above says to use the "winterization kit" (which includes handy plastic covers for the cooling air intakes) when the temperature is "consistently lower than 20F", and the accompanying placard says that the kit is "not to be used when temperature exceeds +20F."
The problem with masking tape (or even more so for duct tape) is that it's hard to remove when the temperature exceeds 20F (e.g. for one flight), and this leads to temptation to keep it on throughout winter.
Bottom line: unless you live in a *very* cold climate where temps are below 20F for weeks, it's probably not a good idea.
 
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My 0-520 oil temps typically run about 100* above ambient. That means 170* on a warm Alaska day. I use duct tape pretty much all year and adjust my temps by adding and removing tape to get at or near 180* in a warm engine. My cooler sits right in plain sight of all who drive by and the red tape is easy to see. Nobody has ever said a word because the reason for using it is obvious and justified.

My PA-12 had the cooler mounted on the rear baffle. I always had 50% of that cooler covered in summer and 100% covered in winter.
 
I live where there's winter. My oil temps need help but cylinder temps run normal year round. Adding a winter front kit raises CHTs unnecessarily. Nobody I know uses one. Everyone I know blocks the oil cooler with tape.
 
CharlieTango said:
I don't use duct tape I use FOIL tape. :yes:
Click to expand...

Yup, it's thst aluminum ducting tape, it comes off without residue.

Run one strip or two on a 45 degree across.

On some planes you'll also want to cover louvers and sometimes the wing root vents.
 
timwinters said:
...and here all these years I thought I was flying rogue. But nooooo.

When flying in cold temps (below 30dF at altitude) I've always covered the front of the oil cooler on my O-470 to keep the oil temperature warmer.

And I've been given quite a bit of sh*t by mechanics, pilots, etc. over the years for doing so...mostly jokingly...but some serious.

My mechanic always jokingly scrawls "FAA PMA TJW C182A" across the front of the duck tape when I bring the plane in for annual (annuals always being during the winter).

And a few have seriously said something like "just wait until you get ramped."

Well, last week I downloaded Continental's O-470 operator's manual. I've never had it before...was bored and thought I'd check it out.

Chapter 6, "abnormal environmental conditions", says that when flight in cold temperatures is anticipated 1" wide masking tape may be secured to the front of the oil cooler to maintain adequate oil temperature and prevent oil cooler congealing.

Granted duct tape isn't masking take and it's also wider than 1" but, hey, there is is in black and white. "Cover the front of oil cooler with tape to keep the oil warmer."

And the cover of the manual says "FAA APPROVED".

Dangit, I hate it when I think I'm being a bad boy only to find that I'm not. Takes all the fun out of life. :goofy:
Click to expand...

Just remember to go across the tubes, not with them, or you get uneven cooling and create sludge.
 
Mine just came with an aluminum plate that covers the air inlet for the oil cooler.
 
RotorDude said:
Unless you live in Alaska or similar, I think it's not a good idea to put tape on your oil cooler.
Click to expand...

If it's less then 40dF on the ground my oil temps won't get above 140dF in the winter if I don't block the oil cooler. It's not an option to not cover it if I want to get the oil warm enough to burn off the water.

As some of you have said, yes, duct tape does leave some adhesive behind when it's removed. But the sticky is easily removed from the face of the fins by wiping it down with WD40. I'll try the foil tape, sounds like that would work better.

cowman said:
Mine just came with an aluminum plate that covers the air inlet for the oil cooler.
Click to expand...

My cooler is up front in plain sight just like Stewart's is. There is no "air inlet" to cover...except for the front cowl opening.
 
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The residue is easy to remove with a fresh strip of tape. Use the sticky to pick up the sticky. Finding cloth duct tape with very thin glue is easier than finding the good stuff these days. Nothing wrong with aluminum tape but keeping a roll of cloth tape in the tool kit is very easy and very versatile. A little paper towel and some duct tape is my favorite band aid.
 
Henning said:
Just remember to go across the tubes, not with them, or you get uneven cooling and create sludge.
Click to expand...

That makes sense but it's easier said than done. My oil cooler has the diagonal brace across the front. So, usually, when I only do 1/2, it's either the 1/2 above or below the brace. But, when I only do 1/2 the temps are warm enough that there shouldn't be a sludge (congealing) issue.
 
"Gorilla tape" works great to block oil coolers. It's thicker and more rugged than duct tape or aluminum foil tape. It also comes off easy enough when you need to remove it. I use it every winter on my RV6's oil cooler.
 
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