SonexBuilders.net

Hi all,
If you remember I was chasing hot oil issues this summer. I came up with a plenum behind the oil cooler, and two 1.75" scat tubes going to reverse scoops on the bottom of the cowl.
(edit: I had the wrong link here before)
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7279&start=20

Then winter came and all my temperatures were too cold. I did some blocking of the air inlet and got the temps toasty, but well within limits.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7498

Seems to me that I could intercept some of that air leaving the oil cooler and heat the cabin. I started making a heater valve body out of 0.016 aluminum.


For the flapper valve, I am going to use stainless. I also want the hinge to be stainless for fire safety. I bought these hinges:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B093LKF4JL

They are a pain to drill. The hinge is a little sloppy but a real hinge pin can be substituted and it tightens things up.

I made a prototype setup using an aluminum flapper valve. On either side I bent a small return flange. It took me a couple of tries to figure out sizing so it moves freely but has minimal gaps. Video:


My concept is to have the bowden cable inside and work directly on the door. When closed the hot air will pass right through to the reverse scoop. When all the way open all the airflow will go into the cabin. I'll have a deflector to push the air down and serve as a mount for the bowden cable.

Old threads for reference:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4730

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5366&p=40644

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6505

I like the idea of using heat from the oil cooler. Just be cautious about Carbon Monoxide. Do you have a detector in your cabin?

BRS wrote:I like the idea of using heat from the oil cooler. Just be cautious about Carbon Monoxide. Do you have a detector in your cabin?

I had one, I plan on putting fresh batteries in and reinstalling it. I would think there is a lot less risk of CO from the oil cooler, since the exhaust is on the low pressure side of the baffles.

Ah, so you have the top mounted oil cooler. For some reason I always think everyone's plane if built like mine. Hmmm, I must be self centerd. Need to work on that.

Bryan Cotton wrote:Seems to me that I could intercept some of that air leaving the oil cooler and heat the cabin. I started making a heater valve body out of 0.016 aluminum.

FWIW ... viewtopic.php?f=8&t=6505&p=49377&hilit=oil+cooler+heat#p49377

Dale
3.0 Corvair/Tailwheel

Thanks Dale! I remember that now. Wes did you use a conventional cabin heat valve? It will be interesting to see how the stock VW oil cooler works for heat compared to the real aviation oil cooler.

Good Morning Bryan,

Bryan Cotton wrote:Thanks Dale! I remember that now. Wes did you use a conventional cabin heat valve? It will be interesting to see how the stock VW oil cooler works for heat compared to the real aviation oil cooler.

Yes. The valve is a purchased part as seen in this photo.



Hope it works out for you.

You can join these guys in experimenting with using the oil cooler for cabin heat as can be seen in this video at about the three minute mark .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmPNRMDD1ZU&t=160s

Good Luck,

Wes

Progress pics:

Heater valve:

Control Cable for heater valve: