Dr. Blockhed

Being new to the hobby, I've been reading around and it seems some people always run their cars in the cold weather (b/w 25-40 F in this case), some say it's better to shelf the car and run it when it warms up. I've already ran it in the cold about 8-10 times so I'm wondering if I should anticipate some breakage?

cummins driver

My Feedback: (31)

The only thing the cold will do is make it harder to start(if you dont keep the engine warm, or have a way to heat it), and it also makes plastic more brittle. As far as the nitro side of it, just keep the engine warm until you start it, or have a way to heat it up. Once you get it started you shouldnt have any problems. Snow can cause it to be hard to tune a nitro engine, but they dont mind the cold at all as long as you richen the needles to compensate.

Just got done running my 4.6 MGT in our 30* windy weather

Eric

tommyg42

I wont run my slayer pro if its below 30, but my exceed rally monster has been run in very cold temps, 15 degrees, no problems. I use traxxas waterproof servos and dry it off between tanks.

Dr. Blockhed

Thanks guys, I've already ruined a servo running it in the snow It gave me an excuse to buy a new digitial high torque servo which is awesome.

Like I said I've been reading conflicting things, i'm not running it at 30 below, I heat it w/ a heat gun and it starts on 1st or 2nd pull everytime. It nevers stalls and runs great as far as I now (being a newbie). I don't mind if Ibreak stuff by running it hard and doing jumps, I just don't want to break it for no reason.

Also if Iwant to run it in the snow, what else do I need in addition to waterproofed servos?

The_Shark

when your fingers fall off.

if you bring it outside from a warm house, and keep it tuned correctly, your golden, ive run in temps below 10F with no issues.

Dr. Blockhed

When my fingers fall off???

Best reply yet!! Thanks Shark, I like you're thinking!

stussman

Here if you cant wear a t shirt and shorts its to cold, which is never.

Argess

Not far from the truth. I find once it drops below freezing, my fingers get numb quickly, so it's over 0 degC (32 degF) for me.

The_Shark

that move cant come soon enough
i'll just keep day dreaming untill then

moe7404

dont forget if nitros flash point was 4 degrees higher it wouldnt be a flamble, it would be a combostable. thats why its hard to start

awayjunk

its to cold when its -433233234466 degrees out

The_Shark

i think thats my forcast for friday

378

My Feedback: (4)

It is too cold for nitro RC when your fingers freeze to the controls. The trick is to start the engine before it has a chance to cool off. When I run in cold weather, I:

1. Pre-run checks
2. Add fuel
3. Prime
4. Final radio check
5. Take outside
6. Attach glow ignitor
7. Pull two to five times
8. It's running!

When I'm done for the day, I will bring it in literally as soon as the engine stops turning.


This ensures the engine isn't outside long enough to get too cold to start properly. I've also never had to block off cooling fins, the bodies on my cars fit tight enough to ensure they warm up just fine.



If it's really cold outside, like below 0, then just start it indoors. It doesn't get cold enough to necessitate that very often in Tennessee, but it won't hurt anything. It will stink up the doorway for a while, but other than that, you'll be fine.

furious25

We had a cold snap and i wanted to drive my landslide in the snow...It was to cold for me but once i got the truck started it ran fine.
Shooting snow in the air, and then once the snow froze, slid around alot on the ice.
And driving in Slush on the rode did probably not help.

But Like i have seen snow will kill the servos if they get a lil water in there and you power it up before it drys out.
I killed my steering servo. Other than that.....cant say anything.
of course now researching there is tons of videos on how to water prof your servos. and electricals, i have seen a rock crawler, crawl under water after the guy did a water proofing mod.

The_Shark

ive had luck with just smearing sil-glide auto lube behind the servo horn, and di-electirc grease on all connections.

im thinking about using spray duct tape/electrical tape.

378

My Feedback: (4)

I've run in the snow and rain without doing anything to my servos and no harm has come to them. Then again I don't use off-brand servos either. Hitec or Futaba, mostly, though my TC3 is running the AE metal geared servo it came with. But it's not like AE servos are crap either.

dustin7837

My Feedback: (1)

The Engines are fine in almost any temp as long as the cooling head is protected. Either use a body that doesn't have any holes or by insulating the cooling head.

The only problem is that the plastic parts get really brittle and snap easily. I pretty much give up at about -20 C

lez1troubles

-13°C last night on board ship, still ran my buggy on deck. Going to Calais (France to deliver a tanker)
Frozen deck and slippery as hell, good fun.[&:]
Stop running when your snot freez's.

tkline

When it gets down to about 65 degrees I'm done for the season but I can't stand the cold at all it has nothing to do with the engines or model it's just me

nitroholic

When you pull the throttle back and your finger falls of.No,you can wrap tin foil around the engine,just don't over heat it.I ran my jato here in PA when it was frezzing like 7 degrees.I didn't even use the foil method.I read that in R/C car action..I ran 1 tank and it was just way to cold for me,my 3.3 ran fine.

bronx boy

i was at the beach parking lot at 11 degrees with my cars with a thirty mph wind the sun was just coming up. i saw a sanitation cop across the lot . he drove over to me openened up his window and said your f><n nuts then he asked if i was having fun i sais yes from under my wool face mask .to cold to have fun im 54 years old its never to cold

The_Shark

was just out a little while ago, 6F and no gloves.

bronx boy

i know the feeling

378

My Feedback: (4)

I did a few donuts in my yard and driveway yesterday, just below freezing. Everything ran great till my header fell off