Plain English Meaning

The setup that keeps the engine from overheating. Outside air is funneled across the hot cylinders, and the oil also helps carry heat away. Together they keep the engine at a safe temperature while it's running.

Full Definition

The components and airflow paths that remove excess heat from an aircraft piston engine to keep cylinder head temperatures and oil temperatures within safe operating limits. In most light aircraft this is an air-cooled system that uses ram air directed by baffles and cowl flaps over the cylinder fins, supplemented by the engine's , which carries heat away from internal parts and dissipates it through an .