.18 temps
03-13-2006, 12:28 AM
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.18 temps
Hey all! My .18 vertex runs great but I was wondering what temparature somebody (anybody) else is running at or calls "normal".
Everything you read says that, while you dont want to overheat an engine, you dont want one to operate below about 200 degrees either. Somethin about not getting lubricated properly. My engine rarely ever runs above 200. Im usually lucky to get 180. Anybody got an opinion?
Everything you read says that, while you dont want to overheat an engine, you dont want one to operate below about 200 degrees either. Somethin about not getting lubricated properly. My engine rarely ever runs above 200. Im usually lucky to get 180. Anybody got an opinion?
03-13-2006, 01:06 AM
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RE: .18 temps
thats defintely to cold . the sleeve and piston wont expand enough and it can scratch the sleeve. I would lean it a bit till you get to about 220 and see how it goes there. You will do more damage running it at 180 than 220 my engine runs at 250 degrees and it does like a gun.
03-13-2006, 09:31 PM
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RE: .18 temps
A properly tuned engine should run between 210° and 220° Fahrenheit. This can only really be ascertained by using and infra-red thermometer such as the type used by automotive mechanics. On-board or direct-transfer types that measure the heat from the head are inaccurate because, assuming the head is properly dissipating heat, it would reflect a lower than accurate temperature as a majority of the heat energy would be dissipated from the exposed surface of the head. By "looking" at the temperature near the core (actually, area immediately surrounding the glow plug) the temperature can be more accurately read.
The cheap but easy alternative would be to drop a bead of water down the head on the glow-plug and see whether it boils off. If it slowly simmers than it probably is running right around 212°. If it boils to quickly then it's probably too lean and needs to be richened. If it just sits there and doesn't boil at all, then its running too rich and needs to be leaned out
An engine that is running too lean will run hotter and exceed the 220° degree limit. This can significantly reduce the life of your engine. Although it may be tempting to run your engine as lean as possible (does give a short-lived performance boost), this should only be done if you are very wealthy and like swapping engines out every race. There is no quicker way to kill and engine, honest. This is simply because as you lean the engine out, it gets less fuel to the engine, and more importantly, less lubricant. Since glow fuel is the only means of lubrication for your engine, the lack of it means certain death to your powerplant.
The cheap but easy alternative would be to drop a bead of water down the head on the glow-plug and see whether it boils off. If it slowly simmers than it probably is running right around 212°. If it boils to quickly then it's probably too lean and needs to be richened. If it just sits there and doesn't boil at all, then its running too rich and needs to be leaned out
An engine that is running too lean will run hotter and exceed the 220° degree limit. This can significantly reduce the life of your engine. Although it may be tempting to run your engine as lean as possible (does give a short-lived performance boost), this should only be done if you are very wealthy and like swapping engines out every race. There is no quicker way to kill and engine, honest. This is simply because as you lean the engine out, it gets less fuel to the engine, and more importantly, less lubricant. Since glow fuel is the only means of lubrication for your engine, the lack of it means certain death to your powerplant.
03-13-2006, 09:52 PM
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RE: .18 temps
lol the guy who runs 400 [:-]
I'd say mine runs best around 280-300 WHEN i can keep it that cool lol. at 280-300 i cant smell the motor frying or nething
I'd say mine runs best around 280-300 WHEN i can keep it that cool lol. at 280-300 i cant smell the motor frying or nething
03-13-2006, 11:45 PM
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RE: .18 temps
thanks folks. I guess Ill lean on that sucker till I get it up above 200 and see what happens. I have decided to leave my new MGT on the shelf (sounds crazy I know) untill I learn to properly tune my Cyclone. This buggy's about as good as "entry level" gets and I'm still glad I bought it. Specially since I've made so many newby mistakes. Broke the engine in at X-mas when it was still really cold. Probably the source of most of my problems. Oh well still havin fun, even with all the busted a-arms
PS anybody found a supplier that "hasn't" run out of most re. parts yet?
PS anybody found a supplier that "hasn't" run out of most re. parts yet?
03-13-2006, 11:48 PM
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RE: .18 temps
I've read a bunch on this too...opinions are all over the board on temps...but I also have read a few where they say pushing 300 or even mid 300's is not uncommon....also every engine will run best at different temps....one may like 220 where the next will like 280-300 better...
They say not to tune your engine to temp range (unless it's ungodly hot) but rather tune it to performance.
They say not to tune your engine to temp range (unless it's ungodly hot) but rather tune it to performance.
03-12-2007, 03:09 PM
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RE: .18 temps
hell i can't keep mine from overheating and shutting off no matter what i do, if i richen it too much it won't idle, too lean and it overheats, my traxxas tmaxx never had this problem even with a leaking head gasket..
