Oil temperature and water radiator

[Nocke]

Hi there,

 

I have the impression that in the I-16 and the La-5 the oil temperature, with open oil radiators, still depends a lot on the position of the water radiators. I often see high oil temperatures with open oil radiators which I can bring down opening the water radiators further.

Is that realistic? Is anybody else seeing that, or am I perhaps overseeing some third parameter?

[Dakpilot]

I-16 and La-5 are both air-cooled radials and do not have water radiators

 

they do have cowl flaps though, in and out, to direct air for cooling engine

 

See more info in BoS Manual and in here

 

http://forum.il2sturmovik.com/forum/82-manuals-tutorials-guides-and-tips/?prune_day=100&sort_by=Z-A&sort_key=last_post&topicfilter=all

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[Nocke]

Sorry, yes, air cooled, pardon my sloppyness. But still - does increased air flow in reality decrease the oil temperature?

[DD_Arthur]

Sorry, yes, air cooled, pardon my sloppyness. But still - does increased air flow in reality decrease the oil temperature?

 

Yes.

[JG5_Schuck]

Yes it will make a massive difference.

Heat always travels from hot to cold, the greater the difference the greater the transfer.

ie To pieces of metal at the same temp will not transfer any heat between the to,

The same with liquids (oil).

So the greater the air flow, the greater the heat transfer the better the cooling effect.

Also to consider, the greater the altitude the colder it will be the better the cooling effect.

Which is why planes cooling systems  perform better in colder conditions.