01 April 2017

FWF: Fuel and Oil System. Oil cooler install.

Fairly easy section.  Most of the challenges come from trying to work in extremely confined spaces.  It's very difficult to properly torque items when you can't get either leverage or room to work within.

The truly hardest part was getting the VA-139 Hose on to the bulkhead fitting coming from the fuel pump.  The only way to realistically do that was to remove the fitting from the firewall, torque the hose onto the fitting, then reinstall the fitting onto the firewall.  I believe VA-139 should be attached to the fitting prior to engine installation.


Oh, I also destroyed an oil cooler.  It was only a $530 mistake, but who's counting?  

The plans state to use aluminum AN822-8D elbow fittings into the Airflow 2006X oil cooler.  However, the instructions for the cooler specifically state not to do that.


Because the cooler is constructed from aluminum, AN822-8D fittings will gall on install, especially if used without sealant (as I did to "test fit" the fitting).  And in fact, that's what they did.  I destroyed the threads on one side after backing the fitting out when it didn't feel right going in.  This cooler was added to my scrap heap and replaced.


On oil cooler #2, I used steel fittings, AN822-8.  They aren't cheap, but they are the right items to use.  And they glide right in since they don't gall.  My replacement oil cooler was much happier.


Looks good.


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