snipped

  George Graham used a Setrab cooler in his airplane. I think Lynn uses
Setrab as well. I'm putting a Setrab in my RV-4.

snipped

Mike Wills

Has George had good luck with his Setrab? I ask, because the consensus on the RV list, is that these coolers are to lightly built. Several have split open, causing engine fires in RVs. Does anyone know if Setrab has redesigned their cooler, ala Positech?
Charlie Kuss
RV-8A fuselage

Charlie what Positech part number is recommended?
They got some heavy duty oil coolers on there.
http://www.oil-coolers.com/

BTW Jerry I think you should put your oil cooler on the cool
side of the engine.

Paul Lamar

Paul,
 I don't know how many BTUs the stock cooler is rated for. Van's carries the Positech line (at very good prices). Here are their recommendations for Lycomings in RVs.

http://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?ident=1033078350-230-639&browse=engines&product=positech-oilcooler

You will notce that Van's advertising mentions these are the "new style" Positech coolers. This is a copy of the old Harrison Radiator oil cooler for Lycomings. Originally, Positech decided to "improve" on Harrison's design by making the internal passages smaller and more numerous. This backfired. The small size restricted flow and adversely affected performance. Positech dropped this internal design last year, hence the "new style". The old style coolers performed poorly compared to the Stewart Warner (who purchased license to produce the old Harrison Radiator oil cooler) and Niagara Oil Coolers. Now they work quite well.

 Positech has also very quietly instituted a replacement campaign for owners of the "old style" cooler. One of my friends got his Positech replaced for free. He was having high oil temp problems. I explained the problem to him and told him about the replacement campaign. He contacted Positech and got his old cooler exchanged for the new style for free. The new cooler solved his oil temp problems.

Positech also makes larger coolers aimed at 6 & 8 cylinder engines. A number of RV owners who live in hot climates have installed the larger 6 cylinder oil coolers in their RVs. Most have been happy with the improved cooling.
You can narrow you search of Positech's large site by going to the aviation division at:

http://www.oil-coolers.com/aviation.htm

The model 4219 cooler is designed for the 360 & 540 c.i. Lycomings. This model is also available from Van's Aircraft. It is not listed on the "online catalog" but is available. To see info on it at Positech's site go to:

http://www.oil-coolers.com/e-exp-cat-m.htm

The web page will direct you to choose a manufacturer and model number. At the upper left, click on HARRISON. From the drop down menu, click on AOC13HG06-02  (2nd from the bottom)

FYI, Van's will sell to the builders of other experimental aircraft. Lots of the local canard crowd buy brake parts, engine stuff, etc. from Van's.
Charlie Kuss

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