aircooled

Aircooled refers to systems or engines that remove heat primarily by air rather than circulating liquid coolant. In these designs, heat is conducted from hot components to exterior surfaces, where ambient air is drawn across the surfaces by natural convection or forced airflow from a fan or vehicle motion.

Cooling is achieved with fins on the housing or cylinders to increase surface area; airflow is directed by engine cowling, baffles, and ducting. Many aircooled engines use oil cooling as a supplementary method, with an oil cooler added to regulate lubricant temperature and carry away heat.

Historically, air cooling has been widely used in aircraft piston engines and in various automotive and motorcycle engines. In cars, air cooling was common in the early to mid-20th century, notably the Volkswagen Beetle and the Porsche 356 and early 911 models. Today most automobiles use liquid cooling due to better temperature control, efficiency, and emissions considerations. In aviation, many light aircraft rely on air‑cooled piston engines from manufacturers such as Lycoming and Continental, while some modern designs employ liquid cooling or hybrid approaches.

Advantages of air cooling include a simpler, lighter design and fewer potential leak points, while disadvantages include less precise temperature control, greater sensitivity to high ambient temperatures and heat soak, and more challenging noise and temperature management. The choice between air and liquid cooling depends on required reliability, cost, and operating conditions.