Engine Cooling Systems

Engine Cooling Systems

    Plane engines produce immense amounts of heat energy that is mostly removed through the exhaust system, but there is still a significant amount of heat that remains in the engine which will cause it to overheat. Engine overheating can cause sudden lose of power or even an explosion of the engine which has serious hazards. A temperature gage inside the airplane will tell you the engine temperature, and if it gets too high it is a warning sign that something bad may happen to the engine. Even if nothing is to occur on that specific flight engine damage may still occur if it is consistently being heated above the recommended levels.     
    Engines are cooled on the inside and the outside. All engines are internally cooled by the oil system which reduces friction on the inside surface creating a cooler system. Most engines are air cooled engines meaning they are cooled through air. Air cooled engines are cooled through air coming from outside the plane and flowing through the engine in specific paths designed for maximum cooling efficiency (See image). Increasing speed can actually decrease engine temperature because the engine can intake more air. Decreasing engine power will also decrease temperature. The last way to decrease engine temperature is by changing the fuel to air mixture. 
    It is important that engine temperature is monitored in case any actions need to be taken in order to decrease or increase the temperature. The consequences of engine cooling system failure are huge and are very important to be aware of. 



References

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). (2016). Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK). Retrieved https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/


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