In a few months I am going to start purchasing parts for a new plane, hopefully I will have all of them by late summer. I decided that I would like to go gas with this one, due to the cost of fuel. I am looking at several gassers, one is a two stoke, the other is a four. The engines are the Evolution 35GT2 (2.15) and the other is the Saito FG-36. By comparison, the 2 stroke seem better, its lighter, more powerful, and seems better priced, although their seems to be a list of things still needed. What advantages does the four stroke have? The Saito seems to come as a complete package compared to the EVO.

Thanks.

I'm not sure about the FG-36 but I hear the smaller gas Saito has been fairly problematic.

To be honest, I personally wouldn't go for the Evolution either. They do seem to work well but I just like some of the other options. Zenoah and Fuji engines are both great and are hard to beat. There are also a lot of low-cost engines coming out of China that run very nice considering their low cost. You may give up a little in factory support but they are still extremely impressive. Look for DLE, CRRC, XYZ, MLD and others. Hobby City has some unbelievable deals on 2-stroke gassers as well.

I have been waiting to see the new gas Saito engine but so far haven't found anyone willing to spend that kind of money for that engine. Like Chuck mentions, there are just too many tried and true gassers out there and they cost a bunch less. The CRRC has been prooving itself in the field and there are several of the DLE engines showing up at the field now, so far it looks like a winner, the 55 has been great.
If you go into the gas engine forum you can read up on most any of the engines and see what kinds of problems some people are having with the different engines. There are just a lot of really good engines to choose from these days. I have never seen anyone go wrong with a DA but it's a high end engine but worth the price in the long run.

If yoy are burning enough fuel in a model airplane engine for the cost of fuel to be a consideration, then you have way more time to fly than I do. I'd go with the 2 strokes just for simplicity

well its not just the savings, its the availability of gas. Their is only one place around here that sells fuel. The one place sells it for around $35 a Jug, I don't know if thats normal or not, but compared to 99 cents a liter its quite a bit more expensive.

I was considering a two stroke, but I was asking what the benefits of a four stroke are.

I want want some  consumer reports  type of rating on this topic too.

Gasoline is definitely economical and clean compared to glow fuel, no doubt about it. Both have their place though.

Fuel cost me about 15 bucks a gallon and the cost is effecting how often I fly these days. I burn almost a gallon on any day I fly. With gas I use about 1/2 gallon or so and it only costs me about 3 bucks a jug. I would only be flying gas if fuel was costing me any more. I'm on a fixed income, prices of things effect me, I had to give up shooting due to cost.
ES, your not going to find any consumer report on this subject, there are only two four stroke gas engines I know of and I think the one has been dropped some time ago. As I recall it was a FUJI?? If you go to the gas engine forum you will be able to get some better information. The Saito isn't an engine you see a lot of at the field, I still haven't seen anyone with one.
I run four stroke glows, only have a couple of two strokes I'm using these days. There is no real benefits other then a bigger prop and better fuel mileage and you really don't notice that little benefit at all. Sound?? Four strokes sound cooler.
Go see what is going on in the gas forum and what people are saying about the Saito.

I've found that those little Evolution Gassers produce MUCH greater POWER than their equivalent displacement Chinese cheapies.

The latter are hard to beat for price, but I've resorted to the Evolution Gassers when space and weight is a constraint.

Grey Beard,
I really meant for my comment to be tongue-in-cheek. Please don't think I was being pompous. I'm not at the point in life where I can enjoy retirement, and I am lucky to average 1/2 a day of flying every couple of weeks. So I guess we have touched on something, it depends on your flying habits. Sorry you had to give up shooting. I feel your pain. I started reloading about a year ago and that helps, if only I could get primers at reasonable prices... [sm=angry_smile.gif]

Sorry for the derail, back to 4-strokes...

I'd go 2 stroke Zenoah, they've been around a long time, and I've never heard of anything really going wrong with them,,I wouldnt bother with a 4 stroke gas,,you still will have to mix fuel/oil and its just more moving parts making it heavier,,sure there should be more torque so you can swing a bigger prop, but that would be the only advantage...Rog

For power to weight, you want a two stroke. For raw power, you want a two stroke. For ease of adjustment, you want a two stroke. If coaxing an engine to life and the purrrrrr of the valves does it for you, get the four stroke. (they are more fuel efficient too) The Saito 4 strokes use a lot of oil in their mix, and it will end up coming out the exhaust. My FG20 is 20:1 vs some common two stroke are running 80 or 90:1. The FG36 has a Walbro carb and if you know those carbs (very common) they tune well. The FG 20 (and soon to be avail 18) use a new Saito carb that has a very touchy needle. The Saito engine is a pretty good price. Take a look at some of the $4KUS plus petrol four strokes out of Europe. http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/categ...s-Engines.html Makes the Saito price tag look like a Kmart blue-light special.

Regardless, I love my FG20, but it's not for everyone. Part of the hobby for me is running an engine, not just flying. If all you want to do is fly, you probably should look at a popular brand of two stoke.

I fly a lot of 4 strokers glow motors, but for applications above 1.2 cu., I'll install a 2 stroke gas motor. I like Zenoah magneto motors. I also have DL's and CRRCs. In my scale applications I don't know why I like using older magneto engines usually conversions from weed wackers, I can usually buy then for 50 to 80 bucks. I do have one 4 stroke gas motor, but it is just for scale applications as it cannot be run inverted for any length of time and it is a bit gutless. At less than $3, gasoline is about the cheapest type of fuel you can get.