oil cooling on Strega (and others)

[Gibbs]

Sorry for maybe this was already topic:

it's public that Strega, Dago Red, Voodoo... are using a heat exchanger oil cooling system similar (?) to former P-51 H model.

Does anybody know if they have an additional normal oil radiator system like stock P-51 D (photos of these aircraft are showing only coolant radiator air flap)?

How does pilot handle oil temperatures? (that means especially H model operation under military conditions)

Thx
Gibbs

[Smee Again]

Re: oil cooling on Strega (and others)

Sorry for maybe this was already topic:

it's public that Strega, Dago Red, Voodoo... are using a heat exchanger oil cooling system similar (?) to former P-51 H model.

Does anybody know if they have an additional normal oil radiator system like stock P-51 D (photos of these aircraft are showing only coolant radiator air flap)?

How does pilot handle oil temperatures? (that means especially H model operation under military conditions)

Thx
Gibbs

Not certain about Voodoo, but unless something has changed in the last few years, the oil cooling and flow path in Strega and Dago (circa '96-2008) are very different. But in either case, control of oil temps will depend upon the ability to control coolant temps via spraybar/radiator (and again, control of spraybar and volume is different in both aircraft).

And lastly, no, there is no traditonal oil cooler in either racer.

SA

[Mluvara]

Re: oil cooling on Strega (and others)

Some of the aircraft use manual temperature control (knob in cockpit to adjust spray bar water flow) and others are totally automatic. It depends on who set up the system and the methodology behind it. Essentially, the radiator core is split into two sections. One to deal with coolant and the other oil. Spray bar water is used to help cool things if the radiator cannot take away the heat from the fluids.

If you see a racer with a big trail of water streaming behind it, that means their radiator system likely cannot deal with the heat generated by the engine and that their coolant system is not efficient. A properly designed system will have little to no trail behind it.

The coolant door position also plays into this, but again, one would like to have this in a faired position.

Michael

[Wild Bill Kelso]

Re: oil cooling on Strega (and others)

Some of the aircraft use manual temperature control (knob in cockpit to adjust spray bar water flow) and others are totally automatic. It depends on who set up the system and the methodology behind it. Essentially, the radiator core is split into two sections. One to deal with coolant and the other oil. Spray bar water is used to help cool things if the radiator cannot take away the heat from the fluids.

If you see a racer with a big trail of water streaming behind it, that means their radiator system likely cannot deal with the heat generated by the engine and that their coolant system is not efficient. A properly designed system will have little to no trail behind it.

The coolant door position also plays into this, but again, one would like to have this in a faired position.

Michael

Unless you have our engine and throw 7.5 gallons a minute over the cooler. We don't get the luxury of the H-model heat exchanger like Dago, Strega, And Voodoo. Can't do boil off either... Airplane won't carry enough fluids. Although I have wanted to run a liquid CO2 spraybar up in front of the scoop to cool the air more as it enters the scoop.

[planecrazy2]

Re: oil cooling on Strega (and others)

WBK,

I really look forward to your postings. Your insight in the PM program has been fun to read about and is very informative for air race junkies.

One question about the CO2 injection at the scoop idea...

Surely the non-combustible liquid CO2 gas would enter the induction system, displacing combustible O2, lowering HP.

So would the CO2 spray really increase the intake air density enough, to make it worth the effort? As well as the complexity of another failure point, system weight..etc…

Not bashing the idea, just brainstorming.

Cheers, and thanks again for your efforts.

Glen

[mdwflyer]

Re: oil cooling on Strega (and others)

WBK,

One question about the CO2 injection at the scoop idea...

Surely the non-combustible liquid CO2 gas would enter the induction system, displacing combustible O2, lowering HP.

So would the CO2 spray really increase the intake air density enough, to make it worth the effort? As well as the complexity of another failure point, system weight..etc…

I believe he is referring to the doghouse, not the induction system.

[Race7]

Re: oil cooling on Strega (and others)

I believe he is referring to the doghouse, not the induction system.

Some of the aircraft use manual temperature control (knob in cockpit to adjust spray bar water flow) and others are totally automatic. It depends on who set up the system and the methodology behind it. Essentially, the radiator core is split into two sections. One to deal with coolant and the other oil. Spray bar water is used to help cool things if the radiator cannot take away the heat from the fluids.

If you see a racer with a big trail of water streaming behind it, that means their radiator system likely cannot deal with the heat generated by the engine and that their coolant system is not efficient. A properly designed system will have little to no trail behind it.

The coolant door position also plays into this, but again, one would like to have this in a faired position.

Michael

Really, did not know that you are such expert on Unlimited systems Mike.