by Warkton Tornado No.1 » Sat Aug 16, 2025 6:01 am
My perception is that an alloy cylinder without a fan cooling it is fine for an engine built for the purpose of producing maximum power for short bursts. We must surely all be aware that sprinters tend to dispense with the fan, though one of the most successful utilises the inherent cooling of methanol.
If the fact that an alloy cylinder is unlikely to seize - as might not be the case with iron - you need to consider why that is.
What occurs when the alloy cylinder gets too hot, is that it expands resulting in excess clearance to the piston & a drop in power. Long term, such a scenario will result in piston slap & ultimately breakage.
So, although some may claim many trouble free miles without fan cooling, the fact that no seizures came about is not the only factor to take into consideration…..