C182 Oil Temp

Don't put more than 10 quarts in it. More oil, nose
high attitude, the oil gets hotter as it gets thrown
up into the back cylinders by the crank. You will
also probably notice a lot of oil on the belly, too.
Check the oil level with the nose strut compressed,
and keep it between 9 and 10. If you go much below
8, you don't have enough oil to do the job and keep
it cool.

There are other things that can be limiting oil flow
through your existing cooler making it seem like your
cooler isn't working. Heard of a vernitherm? I think
that is what it is called. Basically, an oil system
thermostat. Maybe yours is sticking or restricting
flow?

I would check out what you have and what you are doing
before you go trying to change the system. Also, an
oil filter with an air duct out the back of the cooling
baffle can further aid cooling the oil.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve Leonard

On Oct 7, 2:55 pm, Steve Leonard
wrote:
Don't put more than 10 quarts in it. More oil, nose
high attitude, the oil gets hotter as it gets thrown
up into the back cylinders by the crank. You will
also probably notice a lot of oil on the belly, too.
Check the oil level with the nose strut compressed,
and keep it between 9 and 10. If you go much below
8, you don't have enough oil to do the job and keep
it cool.

The volume of oil in the case isn't important in oil cooling, it's
the oil flow through and air flow across the oil cooler that are.

The minimum oil level is, by FAR, 1/2 the max on the dipstick: the
FARs require that an aircraft oil system function properly in all
normal attitudes with 1/2 the nominal capacity in the crankcase. So
if the case holds 10 qt, we need 5 for lubrication. We should take
off with an amount over that sufficient to maintain this minimum for
the duration of the expected flight, based on the usual rate of use.
Many aircraft vomit oil out the breather pipe if filled to nominal
crankcase capacity.