Bill Freeman wrote:

Paul,

Interesting article!  A perfect example of why using any
automotive system or material outside of it's design and
use range makes you a TEST PILOT.  Seems pretty
obvious that good old car coolant (antifreeze) *must*
be just fine for a water cooled airplane.  OOPS.

Good info, probably need to find out what pressure the
Cont runs and either keep the pressure (and thereby
temperature) below that, or find out what brand of
antifreeze is now recommended (required?) in Continental
watercoolers.

Learning from other's experiments.  Experimental aircraft,
indeed.

Bill

I think the article mentioned 207 kPa which according to my conversion
works out to 30 PSI. It is a bit confusing to me. See the sentences
below.

The mechanic that works on the plane however says the system is charged
to 50 psi.

"The pump uses a cast-aluminum, closed-impeller design,
operating at speeds up to 8100 rpm. A pressure rise of 207 kPa at a
flow rate of 114 L/min. occurs at rated engine speed."

Paul Lamar

I would read that as pressure increase across the pump, not system
ambient pressure.  Seems like a lot of pressure rise, but I really
don't know the equivalent value for an auto engine.

Bill

The header tank looks bullet prof and heavy for the 50 psi.

Paul Lamar
 
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