ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

Finally got a chance to test a change I made in the air guide on the oil cooler. When I was taxing to the runway I noticed 3 or 4 buzzards circling low on one side of the grass strip. Is that a bad sign; some kind of omen?

Well, I took off anyway and the omen was not good but not buzzard bait this time. Flew about 8 miles into the wind to get 100LL over at T78. Some nice owners of a Cherokee came over to the pump and told me that the airport guy had moved back to Panama and things were not maintained very well. The credit card system was down and it was not possible to buy fuel. One fellow offered to syphon some gas from his plane if I needed it, but I had 2 gal. in each tank so I declined the offer.

As I taxied to the runway I remembered the last time someone offered to bring me some gasoline because I was low, and I almost went over to the ramp where the Cherokees were parked. This time I was correct about the sufficiency of my fuel, and in just a few minutes I was back at my grass strip.

The buzzards had to be satisfied with the remains of a big water moccasin that I had mowed to pieces this morning. They would have had to call in help to handle me, anyway.

I still don't like circling buzzards. They do make me move a little faster while doing chores though.

And how was your EGT during that 16 miles ?

BUZZARDS  are your friend..  If you fly into their circling space, you will almost always get a free lift... I've done it several times and it's amazing the amount of lift you get sometimes..

PS: They will  give you the right of way..

EGTs around 1190
CHTs 323 to 328.

The Air-Bike sat for 5yr before I bought it. I bet there's a good chance that some passages in oil cooler are clogged. I plan to try one thing to unplug the passages and if that fails buy a new cooler.

Quoted from Sterling Silver EGTs around 1190
CHTs 323 to 328.

The Air-Bike sat for 5yr before I bought it. I bet there's a good chance that some passages in oil cooler are clogged. I plan to try one thing to unplug the passages and if that fails buy a new cooler.

IR digital thermometers are really rather inexpensive and would tell you a LOT about any deficiencies in the oil cooler before you spend too much either time down a rabbit hole or money on a new part that was not needed.  The R/C hobby folks use them on their car motors and stuff, this is the cheapest source I have found.

Quoted from stevejahr

IR digital thermometers are really rather inexpensive and would tell you a LOT about any deficiencies in the oil cooler before you spend too much either time down a rabbit hole or money on a new part that was not needed.  The R/C hobby folks use them on their car motors and stuff, this is the cheapest source I have found.

Not really.

I did that and posted under my thread about high CHTs. Trouble is, what is correct drop between in & out? Also, if the drop isn't correct, is that because of cooler size, restricted cooler, air flow, other??

Quoted from Sterling Silver EGTs around 1190
CHTs 323 to 328.

The Air-Bike sat for 5yr before I bought it. I bet there's a good chance that some passages in oil cooler are clogged. I plan to try one thing to unplug the passages and if that fails buy a new cooler.

If everything is in serial - i mean oil pump - filter - cooler - and you have normal oil pressure not extreme high or low (depends where your oil sender located) its very unlikely situation that your cooler is clogged. But for sure you can check it.