The RC Car Guide - RC Tech

engine and destroying it. At those astronomical engine speeds of40,000 RPM, dirt quickly ruins the engine. Periodically, as the foamfilter gets plugged with dirt you should remove it from the engine andclean it with household dish washing liquid, Simple Green degreaser,or some other degreaser. Do not use gasoline or other strong solventsas these could damage your filter.All engine break-in recommendations should be followed as given inthe owner's manual. First time running of a nitro engine largelydetermines how long the engine will last and how much power theengine will produce. The engine should never be run full throttle duringbreak in. Being extra gentle during break in will be rewarded withlonger engine life and maximum power later. Lastly the limited slipdifferential(s) should be checked and adjusted if needed.Break in procedure for Nitro EngineA good break in procedure is always a treasured knowledge for takingcare of a Nitro Engine. “Heat cycling” is one of the methods that isgood for breaking in. Start the engine and let it idle, after one or twominutes feel the cylinder head. It should be hot enough that you arenot able to hold it for more than 10 seconds. Stop the engine andmake sure that piston is at the bottom of the stroke. Let it cool downcompletely. It should be stone cold. Repeat the procedure severaltimes, may be 10-12 times. It might seem like a tiring procedure butone needs to have patience. This procedure is usually dedicated to thefirst tank of fuel.Now take it out and run it. Open the main needle one full turn. For thenext four tanks you should not run more than half throttle and thespeed should be varied up and down. Let it also cool down completely.Each time you have to ensure that piston is at the bottom of the strokeat the time of cooling. It would be a good idea if the engine runs at200 degree range during this period.Next would be four more tanks running up to three-fourth throttle butthe manner should be same as stated earlier. After this you one can gowide open and go in for another six tanks. These engines run best at220 to 240 degrees, plus a visible line of smoke should always becoming from the exhaust stinger.If you have patience and take the time for following this break inprocedure then you will be rewarded with an engine that is strongerand runs longer than others.