RE: What kind of oil do you use?
You want a blend of synthetic and castor. They are talking about nigto fuel in this cut and past but same thing as with gasser when it comes to the oil part!
he oil portion of the nitro fuel blend is very interesting. Over the years, there has been much debate and changing recommendations. First there was castor oil. Then there were synthetics. Some fuels have been blended with all castor oil and some with all synthetic oils. Today, most nitro fuels contain a combination of both synthetic and castor oil. Castor oil is a naturally occurring oil that is derived from a plant. It is a natural lubricant that has some very unique properties. When subjected to higher temperatures, castor oils will actually begin to break down. Normally, this would be a bad thing for a lubricant to do in an internal combustion engine. However, in the case of castor oil, this "breaking down" is one of it's greatest strengths! When castor oil breaks down at high temperatures, it's properties change and it's high temperature lubricating properties actually increase! As engine temperatures go up further, the castor oil continues to break down and forms a lubricating film that actually protects the engine better. In the process, this film or residue (like varnish) can also gum up the engine and cause other problems. On the other hand, synthetic oils typically are much cleaner and normally do not leave residues behind. Synthetic oils can help lubricating metal surfaces at higher RPM's when temperatures are lower. However, when temperatures rise, synthetic oils can break down and actually burn off leaving little protection for the engine. So, there are strengths and weaknesses of both castor and synthetic oils. Thankfully, most modern rc trucks run on nitro fuel blends that utilize the strengths of each type of oil, and contains a blend of both castor and synthetic oils to help offer maximum protection for the nitro engine under many different conditions.