Welcome to RCU MonsterMatt........I would say, from my experience, the key to nitro longevity is after-run oil and an air compressor to blow things off. Plus, wipe off any excess fuel/exhaust slime from the body, tires, etc.. Basically, keep it as clean as you can. If you do that and keep that baby lubed in between runs....you should have very few, if any, problems. They are like little cars/trucks...and they require maintenance.....but, remember these things are travelling at scale speeds past 200+ mph. Ask any chief mechanic of a racing team and they'll say cleanliness and maintenance are KEY to performance. Otherwise, enjoy!!! This is a great time to be a part of the hobby.