DIYbanter - View Single Post

Dean Hoffman[_13_]

On 1/28/13 2:53 AM, wrote:

This whole thing does have me asking how it is that air cooled engines
survive as long as they do? Particularly the larger ones on garden
tractors, skid steers, etc?
Yea, I know they have cooling fins, but hey, people use them all the
time when the outdoor summer temperature is in the 90s, and the air is
still. Often they are just sitting at idle. How can they be getting
cooled properly? Yet they seem to last a long time in most cases. Those
find cant be doing much when there is no air movement, and usually no
fan either....

Are they built from stronger metals than a car engine?

Deutz builds some fairly large air cooled engines for stationary
use. The largest one on their site is just over 170 HP.
One for mobile machinery use is rated at 322 HP. I didn't check to see
if that's maximum or continuous.
They used to sell Deutz engines for irrigation use at my workplace
years ago. One of the advantages is the engines could run hotter and be
more fuel efficient.
Wisconsin used to build air cooled gasoline engines.
Minneapolis-Moline used them on their combines. Also long ago.