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Originally Posted by klem
5 mins was the instruction in the pilots notes. It did not mean instant failure.
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I was more reflecting to the (baseless) part of the claim, that "Merlin engines should not overheat within 5 minutes"
Actually they can, like any other engine, depending on conditions.
The manual says that if possible, the pilot should not operate the engine for more than five minutes at + 6.25 (+12) boost / 3000 rpm,
AND that the maximum oil and coolant (iirc 125 degrees Celsius) temperatures during that period are NOT to be exceeded. The overstepping five minutes is less a problem, it will wear out the engine quicker for sure, but temperatures will kill it much quicker. If you run the engine coolant/oil at 160 degrees Celsius it will fail anyway, and I would say, likely well before 5 minutes.
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Given that combats usually last only a few minutes it should not be a problem too often. Its true though that information on the maximum time before failure needs to be found or, perhaps more correctly, information that will allow the devs to simulate properly the temperature effects of BCO and then, presumably, the temperature effects on the engine will already have been modelled....... ermmmm I say the latter with my tongue in my cheek.
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I agree.