Microlighters

I have a blue top 582 on my Aquilla the runs at around 80 Deg Solo and 85 Deg with a pax. I feel this is too high. I have flushed out the cooling system , had the radiator opened and cleaned but all to no avail. Is there something else I can do or check to bring the temps down a couple of degrees?

what mix of antifreeze/distilled water are you using. It is typically 50/50. You can reduce the antifreeze portion to reduce the temps. http://www.challengers101.com/CoolantMix.html

You need 65 to 80 deg max

Otherwise it is a bigger radiator

Thanks Morph

Thats an interesting document. I think I am running a higher than 50/50 ratio at the moment. Will flush the system out again this weekend and try with a 20/80 ratio and see if that helps.

Morph wrote:what mix of antifreeze/distilled water are you using. It is typically 50/50. You can reduce the antifreeze portion to reduce the temps.

Sanity prevails. I've been saying this for years and was laughed at.....

Tried draining and refilling with a 20/80 ratio but temp still hovers around 80 deg. Would scoops on the side of the radiator to deflect and increase the airflow through the radiator help any?

We tried the scoops thing on an antares once and yes it seemed to help. BUT make sure you mount them properly and support them. They started to crack in no time. Eventually we moved the radiators higher rather than risking a substantial piece of alu through the prop.

Hi
I have a 462 different i know but it was allways running at 80 to 95 degrees. I spoke to P & M and they said as long as it doesnt throw the water out and boil its ok... Another thing is that my gauge reads slightly higher as the revs increase so when you have a pax youre using higher revs and possably the gauge is over reading. A check with a volt meter should show you if the voltage changes to the meter as revs increase.


Cheers
Sacha

Hi Sad-Ham and others worried about water temperature....
PSG was right in asking P&M, they said if it aint boiling and losing coolant, no need to worry.
Considering the 1000degC fire in the combustion chamber, why worry if the rest of the engine is at 100degC or such?
Even allowing for the hot-spots thing, Rotax 80degC spec in a pressurised coolant system is a cop-out, no science to it.
FlySafe!
Abe.

I had a similar problem on a trike with a 582, but only on hot days when the temperature was above about 32 degrees. I tried to flush the system, no change. I tried scoops and it does help a bit but only brings the temperature down by about 2 degrees (my guesstimate since it is difficult to evaluate). I recored the radiator and replaced the thermostat, refilled with 75% glycol and it was worse than ever - reached about 78 degrees before I was 600 feet AGL on a cool day. I reduced the glycol to about 40% glycol and now it runs at about 69-72 degrees with the outside temperature @ about 27-28 degrees. I still have to try it on a very hot day.

Note that I do not like it to run above 80 degrees and always land when it reaches about 79/80 degrees. Someone with experience warned me that if you go above 90 you might just as well redo the engine so I am safe rather than sorry.

my 2c

What is the default runnig temp for a 503 when I say, fly in the morning with a pax? Just give an estimate. If I dont have a temp gauge, is there another way of checking the temp on the machine (besides putting your finger in the exhaust and hearing a sizzling effect )

Triker wrote:What is the default runnig temp for a 503 when I say, fly in the morning with a pax? Just give an estimate. If I dont have a temp gauge, is there another way of checking the temp on the machine (besides putting your finger in the exhaust and hearing a sizzling effect )

Hi Triker,

You cant really compare as 503 is aircooled, and cht should be in the range of 180 - 220 degrees celcius with max 250, where the cht on the 582 is normal 110 - 130 with max 150. You can see that the difference is such that you really cannot compare.

Why check the temps?? I just check egt. That shows me how my 503 is performing. Just check your fanbelt is in good shape, and nothing can really go wrong on the 503.

Hope this help.

Regards,