Oil temp threshhold for engine breakage? (Mainly Merlin engines)
 

Hi!

Has anyone tested the exact oil temperature at which the engine will break?
Or perhaps too much boost in combo with RPM, regardless of oil temp?
The radiator always breaks at 120 Celsius, 10/10 times, however, the oil temp is a bit more elusive.
(I don't give a rats ass about the pilot notes)

Thanks in advance :)

Taking all aircraft but the Spit IIA over 98 degrees is a mistake, the Merlin III might not break immediately, but there will be consequences.

The Spit IIA Merlin XII can run at temps below 105 degrees below 5000 ft, but as you get higher, the temperature limitation threshold drops. Over 10,000 ft, not a good idea to go over 95 degrees.

I imagine the temp threshold drops for the other engines as well. That explains why the engine broke after a while at 91 degrees oil temp at 14k feet.

Yes, temp max. for the Merlin III, (all aircraft but the Spit IIA) is 98 degrees below approx. 5,000, but as you go over that, temp limit gradually drops. And it is different for different aircraft, ie. the Spit IA 100 octane is different from the standard Spit IA.

This is major bug in the game. The higher you go, the cooler the engines should run, and less likely the chance of damage.

If you want to do comprehensive testing that would be nice... :) Ivan and I have already done testing for the engine misfiring bug for the British aircraft, but not on the overheating yet.

109 engines do not have any oil temp problems as long as you keep the oil at approx. 25% and radiator open to 3/4 mark. AFAIK! ;)

That is wrong.

The higher you go, the less effective the cooling due to pressure and density reduction despite the cooler temperatures.

So while the temperature does get cooler IAW the lapse rate, the density is reduced so we end up with less molecules to transfer heat away from our engine.

I can't say I am an expert on this matter. I made the assumption there is enough flow with the higher speeds at altitude and the cooler temps to cool the aircraft faster. Ie. IAS at sea level and 6000 meters may read the same, but TAS is much higher at altitude, and therefore airflow is much higher.

Anyone else want to comment?

Airflow is not much higher because of True Airspeed.

Indicated airspeed is what matters, if indicated is high enough then cooling will be sufficient.

Bingo!

Nothing changes here, does it?

Oil temp. Whatever settings people tell you to fly at, fly at less, apart from airspeed. Whether it be RPM or boost. Most people in a game fly at max poss everything all the time. Total rubbish.

What is the oil temp at which your engine blows? Find out. Run your mouse over the oil temp gauge and wait for it. Try it at different rpms. Try it at different boost settings. Just fly. Offline until you find out. Then you'll know.

Everything is there for you to find this out for yourself. Go to it.

Edit: 97 degrees. If memory serves correctly........