Purpose
I think the purpose of the Fuel/Oil Heat exchanger is to cool the engine oil with fuel on its way to the combustors. The spanner is the melting of water ice built up in the passages of the unit which then is injected and possibly quenches/prevents combustion.
The unit can be cooler than is planned for when long periods of exposure to high altitude temps and little power demand keep the oil cool and allows for ice build up in the HE. What hasn't been addressed adequately imho is the presence of water in the fuel. Unless we buy the explanation about some new and unpredicted science re: FUEL at low temp. (sic). Another possibility is the melting and REFREEZING of water, which then inhibits fuel flow to the engine. Relative difference in EPR ?
Last edited by airfoilmod; 2nd Feb 2009 at 20:13.