Engine Cooling Systems

Powerplant
Oral and Practical Study Guide: Engine Cooling
Systems
Study Materials
Aviation Maintenance Technician Series Powerplant textbook
Pages 253-262 and 443-445
ASA, Inc.

Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Powerplant Handbook AC 65-12A

Pages 314-324
Federal Aviation Administration

Typical Oral Questions

1. What is meant by pressure cooling of an aircraft engine?
Air cooling in which air is forced to flow through baffles and cylinder fins by a pressure differential
across the engine.

2. What is the purpose of an augmentor tube in the cooling system of an aircraft reciprocating
engine?
The augmentor tube uses the velocity of the exhaust gases to produce a low pressure on one
side of the engine that helps pull cooling air through it.

3. Where is the highest temperature located in a turbine engine?

At the inlet to the high-pressure turbine.

4. How are the turbine inlet guide vanes and the first-stage turbine blades in some turbine engines
cooled?
High-pressure compressor bleed air flows through the hollow guide vanes and hollow turbine
blades.

5. Which side of an air-cooled engine cylinder has the greatest amount of cooling fins?
The side of the cylinder in which the exhaust valve is located.

6. What should be done to repair a bent cooling fin in a cast aluminum cylinder head?
It is normally best to leave a bent cast fin alone if it does not restrict the flow of air. Cast fins are
brittle and could break off.

7. What is used in a helicopter to increase the amount of cooling air that flows over the engine
cylinders?
A belt-driven fan.

8. What should be the position of the cowl flaps on a reciprocating engine when it is run on the
ground?
They should be wide open when operating the engine on the ground.

9. What is the function of the majority of the air that passes through a turbine engine?
Most of the air is used for cooling.

10. How does metallic sodium in an exhaust valve aid in transferring heat?
The sodium melts when the engine is running, and it sloshes up and down as the valve operates.
The sodium picks up heat from the valve head and carries it into the stem so it can be transferred to
the cylinder head and dissipated into the air.

11. How is the structure around a turbine engine protected from excessive heat from the engine?
An insulating blanket protects the structure from excessive heat.

12. What is the function of blast tubes that are installed in a pressure cooling system of a
reciprocating engine?

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Engine Cooling Systems

These blast tubes direct cooling air to the magnetos and the generator.

13. Of what material is the insulation blanket made that is used to protect the aircraft structure
from the heat produced by a turbine engine?
Fiberglass sandwiched between sheets of metal foil.

Typical Practical Projects

1. Examine the baffles in a reciprocating engine installation. Explain to the examiner the things in
the baffle system that could cause engine damage.

2. Using the proper reference materials, repair damaged fins on an air-cooled engine cylinder.

3. Inspect the cowl flap system of an air-cooled engine and determine whether or not the flaps
reach their fully open and fully closed positions.

4. Using a drawing of the augmentor system installed on a reciprocating engine, explain to the
examiner the way this system aids in the cooling of the engine.

5. Explain to the examiner the correct way to inspect the cooling fan and baffles installed with a
helicopter engine.

6. Explain to the examiner the correct way to inspect the insulating blanket around a turbine
engine.

7. Using a drawing of the cooling system of a turbine engine, explain to the examiner the way
cooling air removes heat from the engine.

8. Inspect an air-cooled engine cylinder, and explain to the examiner the things that would indicate
that the cylinder has been improperly cooled.

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