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Re: What Engine Instruments do you need/use on a

Subject: Re: What Engine Instruments do you need/use on a
From: Isabel Buckingham <101471.1531@compuserve.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 14:50:45
  Rotax 914?

Message text written by Fred Fillinger
>Besides having no idea what red line coolant temp should be for one's
chosen probe position, I believe you'll see red line CHT long before
excess coolant temp, if ever the latter (depending again on probe
position and its design, or whether you've lost coolant).
<

A note of caution on that! I recently read teh UK accident report
(http://www.aaib.detr.gov.uk/bulletin/apr01/gkwip.htm) on an accident where
coolant, having been intentionally diluted with water (but possibly to a
greater extent thatn the owner realised?) started to boil at what would
otherwise have been a "safe" engine tempurature. If you run on neat glycol,
Fred's comment may well be true, but for anyone still adding water (to
improve heat transfer, but at a *serious* penalty in terms of coolant
boiling point), it would appear that teh engine could boil while other temp
readings were in teh acceptable range. Not being (yet ?) a builder/owner, 
I have no idea whether (in consequence of this accident or otherwise) there
is any directive prohibiting or limiting coolant dilution, but the accident
cited should be taken as a serious warning.

Stewart Buckingham


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