FOCKE WULF FW 190, VENTILATED OIL FILLER CAP

The Focke Wulf FW 190 featured a unique BMW designed cowling system which enabled the aircraft’s radiator to cool its 55lts of engine oil through an annular, ring-shaped oil cooler core, built into the forward cowl just behind its 12 blade cooling fan.

The outer skin of the oil cooler’s core was in direct contact with the main cowlings metal skin which sat just behind a ring of C-shaped cross section metal with its outer lip protruding just clear of the cowls rim and the inner just inside the oil cooler core.

Combined, the C-section ring and cowl formed an S-shaped duct with the oil cooler’s core sandwiched between them. The resultant airflow across the gap between the cowl and outer ring created a vacuum effect that sucked air from the front of the engine across the oil cooler core.

The rate of cooling was controlled by opening or closing the gap. 

Whilst far more complex than many other engine cooling designs, placing the oil radiator within the engine cowling significantly reduced the aircraft’s drag. It also enabled the air to be warmed before flowing over the radiator - warming the oil for starting and facilitated quicker cooling when the aircraft was parked.

The only disadvantage was that it placed the radiator in an extremely vulnerable position so the metal ring and its surrounds were heavily strengthened and the resultant armoured ring made up the front face of the cowling. 

The Fw 190’s Oil Filler Cap was located directly behind the protective radiator housing armour, high up on the port side of the aircraft's nose under the rear-hinged engine cover.

Manufactured by the German DBU Works, the central Cap cast markings read ’SCHMER’ or ‘LUBRICANT' with the wording 'Beluftungsventil' or Ventilation Valve' in raised text around the cap at the base.

Made from an Electron magnesium, the DBU produced Oil and Fuel Caps for most Luftwaffe aircraft as well as their Auxiliary Drop Tanks.

Unlike Auxiliary Drop Tanks which were prepressurised to power the fuel up into the aircraft and were left unvented, primary aircraft oil and fuel tanks on both the Bf109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw190 required  ventilated caps, so five small holes were drilled into the middle of the universal DBU Works casting and a small spring loaded padded washer pressed into the recessed housing beneath.

The ’S’ shaped arms of this DBU Works Oil Filler cap slide under two large wing nuts on their 8mm studs which were then screwed down tight to secure the cap.

Mounted on its 100 yr old Mango Wood stand with a highly detailed hand crafted and airbrushed model of the iconic German fighter the Focke Wulf Fw190 and informative Fact Sheet, this would make an extraordinary and highly valued, original memento of Luftwaffe air power for any aviation enthusiast.

This Focke-Wulf Fw190 collectable comes complete with detailed 1/72 or larger 1/48 Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of collectable on aircraft.

* Note that this Focke Wulf FW 190 artefact is pictured with a 1/48 scale model rather than the standard detailed, but smaller 1/72 scale. Click on the 'Model Upgrade' option at the top of this page for the larger 1/48 scale

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