BOOSTBOY.21

Is it bad to break in a new nitro engine outside in the middle of winter?

ryana89

Temperature shouldn't matter, as long as its very rich and you know how to break in an engine. Perhaps you could wrap the cooling fins in somthing to allow the motor to keep some of its heat.

rcslsafut

its kind of a pain to get nitro engines to start in the winter!
a lot suggest warm it up with a heat gun or hair dryer first.
a lot also suggest wrap the head with tin foil or a small sock!
make sure its rich at first they always say!!!!(four or five tanks)
prob good start!!! that what i have done .then start lean it out
for tune better.most nitro engine are really tight at first thats
why you want to retain the heat!!!

Shabbernigdo

Itsnotreally good. Make sure you break it in at nominal operating temps.
Like one of the other guys said wrap the head with a sock or somthing else to help retain some of the heat. Check the instructions for what temps it should reach during break in and follow them.

RC Panda

Plus, during break in, don't touch the turning needles until the break in process has been completed.... Always break in at stock settings for the engine. And make sure you pre-heat the engine before breaking it in.

authorjim1

I am not a big believer in winter break in. It really depends on how cold it is. The thing is when you wrap the engine to keep it warm the engine is not seeing the normal cooling flows around the head that it will see when actually running. Everything about a Nitro engine is designed to direct the heat away from and around the engine to keep optimum pinch and keep the engine running at ideal temps for power and longevity.

I try to break in my engines the way they will see use in the car and at reasonable outside operating temps. Remember these are not water cooled engines and the outside environment has a big affect on their operation.

Just my 2 cents.

Jim

PS: when i do break them in I use the heat/temp method and after the first few tanks, give the engine some quick, non sustained blips to atleast medium to high RPM, very short bursts only. Again this is to wear the piston and cylinder in to the groove I expect it to see while operating.

Never, ever had a problem with an engine doing what I said above. Always had long life and max power from the engines that I use.

BOOSTBOY.21

Ok thank you all for your input. I am going to just wait till spring. That sounds like the safest way to go.
                                                                      
                                                                                                                              Thanks, Steve