Nitro Engines

If you have a pull-start nitro RC and the cord is stuck, here's what you can do...

There are three main ways to start the nitro engine: pull start, bump start, electric start. Which do you prefer? Do you buy (or not buy) an RC based on whether or not it has a pull start? Do you have some tips on using a starter box more effectively? Share!

RC engine size or displacement is measured in cubic centimeters (cc) or cubic inches (ci). In terms of RC engines, displacement is the volume of space a piston travels through during a single stroke.

Nitro or glow engines use nitro fuel but it's actually a mixture of fuel and air that goes into the engine. The right fuel/air mixture keeps the engine running at its best. The wrong mixture can cause overheating, excessive wear, or cause the engine to stall. This fuel/air mixing takes place in the carburetor.

Although silicone tubing used in nitro engines has many auxiliary uses, it's primary use is to deliver fuel. A typical nitro engine has two lengths of tubing. One runs from the fuel tank to the carburetor (sometimes with an inline fuel filter in between). Another piece of tubing, called the air pressure line, runs from the fuel tank to the...

The type and amount of oil in the nitro fuel is what determines whether it is better suited to RC cars and trucks or aircraft.

A gas RC may use gasoline or it might use nitro fuel. You need to know what kind of engine is in the RC vehicle to know what kind of fuel to use. The non-electric RCs sold in hobby shops are usually nitro RCs that use nitro fuel, not gasoline.

To start a nitro RC you need to turn on the transmitter switch then receiver switch, add fuel, prime the engine (get fuel to the carburetor), ignite the glow plug, then start the engine by rotating the flywheel. There are three main ways to start the nitro engine: pull start, bump start, electric start.

Here's how to break-in, tune, and maintain a nitro-powered RC engine properly. Covers tools, fuels, break-in steps, needle tuning, and after-run care.

From the RC Wiki, a description of different methods of starting a nitro RC including starter boxes and electric starters.

Get help with flooded engines, carb settings, cold weather break-in tips and more.

Answers questions about Traxxas nitro engines and the EZ-Start system.

A water-cooled system, as the name implies, is a way to cool down an engine using water (or other coolant). It's sometimes used on nitro-powered RC boats. But is it possible or even desirable to do so with a nitro RC car or truck?

Modding a nitro engine means that you are making a modification that is or seems to make the engine better than factory specs. Modding goes beyond simply tuning your nitro engine. It involves making physical changes the engine itself.

Find out about the different styles of glow plug igniters used with RC nitro engines.