> Just in the last few days of excellent cooling discussion, I have
> been bothered by the vague pressure recommendations. I don't know at
> all at what pressure the floating piston design should be operated
> at?. Or in a conventional system should we be copying the
> Continental system at 50 PSI? That number seems bazar. Or is 23 psi,
> the highest cap rating I have seen, O.K? I think Ken said he is
> operating with a 15 psi cap at altitude. There is an upside to high
> pressure, higher boiling point and a downside, leaks. Back to the
> floating piston design, can the pressure just be set where ever we
> want by adding air below the floating piston?
> Sorry, but just a few days ago I thought I understood my cooling
> system. Jerry
>
> -------------------------------------------------
>
> Jerry
>
> Yes you can set it within reason at any pressure you want provided
> it is
> within what seals, hoses, etc can cope with.
>
>
>
> Regards David Gaze
> Technical Director
> Corporate Systems Pty Ltd.
If the system is totally self contained then there is no reason to
run high pressures unless the rest of the cooling system is
inadequate and cannot maintain lower temps. I like it. I keep
remembering that Lynn says the engine runs best below 180. Jerry
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before installing the floating piston canister.
Run the engine up to full operating temperature.
Take a reading of what the cooling system pressure is.
Install the canister, add enough coolant into the canister to place the
piston about 1/5th of the way down for the top
Connect the canister to the cooling system.
Put enough air into the canister to place a pressure on the cooling
system ( about half what it would be when hot.
Run the engine up to full operating temp. Adjust the pressure in the air
side of the canister to be within 1psi of what the cooling system,
would normally be at. That is essentially it, if the coolant heats more
then the piston will give bit more but the pressure will increase
direct proportion to the amount of coolant pushed in. The reason key why
a blowoff valve should exist in a cooling system if the pressure
exceeds what is considered to be well beyond the pressure of the cooling
system it should go somewhere. however if the cooling
system and engine etc is running properly then the chances of this
occurring are extremely low. When the engine cools down you will
find that the pressure in the floating piston canister system will drop
to a lower pressure. This will be pressure that needs to in the air
side of the canister in the future. That would be your reference
pressure for checking the system when cold.
The best reason for having a pressure gauge a fast quick check of the
cooling system. In the automotive industry, when a cooling
system is checked for leaks they take the radiator cap off, put a
pressure tester in place and pump it up to about 50psi, then they leave it
for at least 10mins, in the 10mins there should be no pressure drop at
all if the coolign system is in good condition, if there is and assuming
that it is not an internal engine leak there should fluid on the ground..
Regards David Gaze
Technical Director
Corporate Systems Pty Ltd.
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