Bf 109 Radiator/oil cooler on E-3/4

[LcSummers]

Hi guys, i dont know if something like that was posted but i ll try it. I was thinking a bit and want some feedback or help, please.

I read (dont know anymore where) that with the introduction of the Bf 109E-7 the flap for the nose/oil cooler vanished. All other models (F-K) didnt have them too.

My question is if let the cooler flap (not the cooling system under each wing) open all the time wich negative results or disadvantages do i have.

Why should i close it besides warming up engine?
Left it open all the time causes no engine failure!

Every comment is appreciated. :cool:

Thanks

[robtek]

Well, i believe when the FM is fixed and we will fly in realistic heights of 7000m to 9000m to escort our bombers all the way to London,
we will have to cruise with max endurance-settings.
I think that when you then have to dive a few thousand meters to the hurris and spits which are attacking the bombers the possibility exists that the oil cools down too much as you have to dive without power so you dont overspeed.

Of course in the normal all-day-online reality one can leave them open as the fight is between 0m to 1500m and always full throttle as long as the engine holds out.

[TomcatViP]

If you fly at 4/5K you will hve to manage/close your oil rad to prevent excessive cooling and warm up your oil.

It seems to be alrdy modeled in the game

~S

PS: What I am concerned more is the Fuel consumption that seems pretty low for the 109. I had seen myself taking off from France for a free hunting online miss over sth london area ans still got back to base with 50% fuel remaining in my tanks ??!! And Don't tell me that those are fuel fumes :grin:

[ZaltysZ]

PS: What I am concerned more is the Fuel consumption that seems pretty low for the 109. I had seen myself taking off from France for a free hunting online miss over sth london area ans still got back to base with 50% fuel remaining in my tanks ??!! And Don't tell me that those are fuel fumes :grin:

Try asking a friend to fly Ju87 the same route and then stick to him closely in your BF109. After your trip back, check your fuel level.

[LcSummers]

Thanks alot mates, so i will try it after it is fixed. Great help in anyway;)

[Kurfurst]

I read (dont know anymore where) that with the introduction of the Bf 109E-7 the flap for the nose/oil cooler vanished. All other models (F-K) didnt have them too.

They didn't disappear, F-K had the oil cooler flap fully automatically controlled (no manual option). Not sure about the E-7 (have seen no manual for E-7), but I'd guess the E-7 had it manual like the other E-series.

My question is if let the cooler flap (not the cooling system under each wing) open all the time wich negative results or disadvantages do i have.

AFAIK oil has to be within certain temperatures, too low isn't good either - probably less lubrication, greater wear on engine. My guess is that closing the oil cooler was mean for on the ground for quicker warming-up.

Opening the cooling flap fully in flight probably has no disadvantage than increased drag, but, given it's small size/location, I don't think this would amount to much.

[Blackdog_kt]

If you fly at 4/5K you will hve to manage/close your oil rad to prevent excessive cooling and warm up your oil.

It seems to be alrdy modeled in the game

~S

PS: What I am concerned more is the Fuel consumption that seems pretty low for the 109. I had seen myself taking off from France for a free hunting online miss over sth london area ans still got back to base with 50% fuel remaining in my tanks ??!! And Don't tell me that those are fuel fumes :grin:


Try asking a friend to fly Ju87 the same route and then stick to him closely in your BF109. After your trip back, check your fuel level.

Exactly. The slowest speed is not always the most economical fuel-wise ;)
I'm going to use totally arbitrary numbers i pulled out of my head just as an example, so don't quote me on the exact values, but they way it goes is something like this: you might make 10km per liter when flying at 400km/h, whereas flying at 300km/h gives only 7km per liter but a longer overall flight time.

That's usually why aircraft manuals specify two kinds of economy speeds. There is maximum range cruise speed, which is usually a bit on higher side. This burns more fuel per second, but because it gives you higher speed (more distance for every such second) it ends up being more efficient in terms of distance to fuel amount used.

There is also maximum endurance cruise speed, this burns less fuel per second and as a result allows you to stay in the air longer, but the total distance you can cover before you are out of fuel is lower than in the previous case.

In ideal circumstances, the fighters would fly to the target area at their best range speed and then switch to their best endurance speed if they wanted to loiter over the target area. This illustrates the problem faced by 109 pilots perfectly, as it happens to be the optimal profile for a freijagd/fighter sweep mission which they were usually not allowed to follow.

However, when flying close escort you have to slow down to keep pace with the bombers. In such a case the fighters would use best endurance speed while zig-zagging over them and switch to combat cruise (the maximum continuous setting) when getting closer to areas where combat might occur, in order to be high and fast when the engagement starts.