[George Henning]

George Henning on March 27, 2021 at 12:55 pm #20569

Hi Jen & David!
Promised I would get back to you…
David gave me some guidance on installation of the Seneca Winterization Plates. I did install them as shown in your very helpful pictures David and they work well! This winter my oil temps got up into the 180’s which what I was hoping for!
So thank you for the kind input and expertise!
Stay Safe, Fly Fun!
George
CLE

[George Henning]

George Henning on December 17, 2020 at 10:14 pm #20405

Thank You David & Jen!
I see now exactly how the Winterization Plate goes on!
Funny why the Piper MM does not address it, at least I couldn’t find it…
I’ll run out to the airport tomorrow and install the Plates and talk to my A&P about local manufacturing additional plates.
It do get COLD here in Northern Ohio!
And you are exactly right David about our airplanes running cool on the Oil Temp! I’ve only had 34M since September but the Oil Temps have consistently been below 180, so that why I thought I best get on it!
Thanks again, I’ll let you know how it goes!
Stay Safe! Fly Fun!
George
CLE

[Jen D]

Jen D on December 10, 2020 at 8:51 am #20375

Hi George,
One of our Canadian Seneca owners asked me to post this, he had trouble uploading this photos:
Hi George,

I too am the lucky owner/pilot of a Seneca III for over 30 years and 3500
hours.

The pictures I have posted show the ‘Factory oil restrictor plate’ that came
with the airplane, and fits in the ‘outboard section’ of the oil cooler.
These TSIO360 engines run fairly cool, so in order to achieve a minimum 180F
oil temp. I had a second restrictor plate fabricated out of sheet metal
(very easy) for the middle section, which for most of the year is still not
enough restriction, so you will also note I used a metallic tape to restrict
the third section. Basically the oil cooler is almost 100% restricted as the
third photo shows, and this works even on warm summer days as I have not
seen oil temps over 210 in climb. If I ever fly to Florida again, I will
simply peel off the tape.

I am looking at your photos, so the factory plate fits on that first section
of the top of the oil cooler which you will clearly see on my third photo,
with the small bolt that is in place to the left, plus the additional screw
you see on my middle picture, to secure the plate. When you add the middle
plate (which as noted you must do to get oil temp up to min. 180F to burn
off the moisture), you can use the factory bolt on front of plate. I did not
even secure the back of the middle plate.

All the best,
David
Seneca C-FJMM

[George Henning]

George Henning on November 19, 2020 at 10:08 pm #20340

Hi All,
OK, I got this new-to-me 1981 Seneca III and it’s getting to be that time of year up here in Northern Ohio and I went to install the Piper Winterization Kit on both engines…
The Maintenance Manual has been very helpful in pointing out other procedures but the installation of these Oil Cooler Covers seem lacking.
Even the Parts Catalog don’t really highlight these parts very well. I’ve found the “ blow-up” pictures to be helpful.
The MM says to “install the plate in the inlet plenum of the oil cooler”… ??
Now, I’m familiar with the PA-28 type of Winterization Kits, but the Seneca is totally different.
Any help would be appreciated!
Where is the “plenum chamber” and how is the plate installed??
Below are the pictures I took when I pulled off the side cowling to get to the oil cooler.
Thanks in advance!
Stay Safe!
George
CLE

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