Alternate engine cooling setup Options

[9144me2enjoy]

My 914 is running a 2056 build, never really had a problem with overheating but I decided it couldn’t hurt to help pull some fresh air into the engine compartment towards the cooling system, Especially if it only cost me $30.98. I have my rain tray removed and the rough part was finding a small enough cooling fan to fit under the lid! I found this one on EBAY for $30.98 shipped. It’s a 12V 80W 7” Slim Reversible Electric Radiator Cooling Auto Fan Push. Hooked up a hot and ground where it only comes on when the keys on and it works great! Just used cable ties to attach it to the wire mesh. I will have to watch my temp gauge to see if it actually drops my temp any. EBAY #183643285998. Not as good as a oil cooling adapter system but I cain’t see where it can hurt anything. Have a great day

[Rand]

I respect your work, so please don't be offended. But that little electric fan doesn't do anything. The fan on the engine is a thousand times stronger. If you have any heat issues, there's something else wrong.

[Superhawk996]

I respect your work, so please don't be offended. But that little electric fan doesn't do anything. The fan on the engine is a thousand times stronger. If you have any heat issues, there's something else wrong.

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The small fan will have minimal impact. Engine fan not quite 1000 times stronger literally but the thought process is correct. The engine fan air is forced directly across the cylinders and MORE importantly the oil cooler.

Unfortunately even though these engines are called air cooled, they are largely oil cooled. Not only by the oil cooler but also by oil in contact with the engine case. This is why there are fins on the bottom of the engine case even though those fins are not touched by the cooling air coming from the crank driven fan.

Air has a terrible inability to remove heat from objects. The ability to transfer heat is reflected by a materials heat transfer coefficient. Air has a very low coefficient. This is offset by having a huge surface area of cylinder fins and head fins to increase the effective area cooled by this low heat transfer coefficient of air.

Liquids like water or in the 914's case, OIL have a far higher heat transfer coefficient. Actually an order of magnitude higher (10X). Oil flowing in the oil cooler could actually be two orders of magnitude higher (100X) depending on the conditions of the air (humid vs. dry, air velocity, etc.). Compare the numbers for oil flowing in tubes (i.e. the oil cooler) vs. gasses in free convection.

See table of heat transfer coefficients below.



For many engines that are running hot, the oil cooler can be found to be obstructed and/or the cooling flaps have been disabled or worse removed.

For more info:
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/convecti...sfer-d_430.html

[SirAndy]

Unfortunately even though these engines are called air cooled, they are largely oil cooled

Not to be picking nits here but all that hot oil is still cooled down by air. That's how oil coolers work.
Heck, even your water cooled car is still cooled by moving *air* over the radiator.

Yes, both oil and water are much more efficient in removing heat from an engine case/heads/etc, no question here. But the final heat dissipation is still done by air.
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[Superhawk996]

Unfortunately even though these engines are called air cooled, they are largely oil cooled

Not to be picking nits here but all that hot oil is still cooled down by air. That's how oil coolers work.
Heck, even your water cooled car is still cooled by moving *air* over the radiator.

Yes, both oil and water are much more efficient in removing heat from an engine case/heads/etc, no question here. But the final heat dissipation is still done by air.
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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) You’re good. I concede that point that air does the final heat removal from the oil cooler is by air. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Many just overlook how important that little oil cooler is. It may look small but it is very effective and very important to 914 cooling.

FYI - many modern engines now use oil to water coolers (Ex: turbo cooling). No air involved. That is until the water is cooled and again I’ll concede that the final heat transfer to environment is by air. But riddle me this. . . Then why don’t we call all ICE engines and even EV's with liquid cooled batteries . . . Wait for it. . . Air cooled? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)