hey everyone i just orderd my first nitro powered buggy yesterday. and i was wondering how easy it is to upkeep and what not.. and what about the nitro fuel? would i have to go to the local hobby shop to get this? and how much would i need and how long would that amount last... thanks everyone.. i cant wait to drive this thing

Well if this is your first nitro car, then I'd suggest you get an experienced person to help you break in the motor, and show you how to tune everything. Otherwise, you risk ruining you're buggy.

Take the buggy to the local hobby shop and ask for help to break in the engine, ask for tips, and ask what type of fuel you should run in it.

Yes, you will need to go to the hobby shop to buy fuel. Which buggy did you get, so then we can help you decide the fuel % to run.

On a .28 engine, a good fuel is 10%-15% nitromethane, 16% lubricant.


But once again, ask some experienced R/C'ers at your LHS and I'm sure they'll be happy to help you out.

--Evader

its a master VH-x5.. a 4wd buggy. 1:10 scale. dont know anyhting else about it. hopefully it will last a while though.. it was cheap one but i was just thinking i can get started with it. gota start somewhere. and what do you mean breakin in the engine? how hard could it be? just start it up add whatever gass i need and drive it right? or do you have to do something special. i dont know anyone that has a nitro powerd rc car. well
thanks for the reply
JiM

Perform a search on this forum for nitro engine break-in (or something as such) and you'll find all the info you need.

Up-keep is going to be alot more then an electric so learning to maintain the motor is a must, my only worry is the buggy will fall apart on you as it is cheap. Hopefully you will be able to get replacement parts.

basically when you get a brand new nitro engine.. they have just come off the production line.. the engines piston and surround and casing have all only just been machined.. this means that they are all a VERY tight fit.. and have not yet ever been heated up.. this means that when you first run your engine it will bend and warp and change in size and wear down any tiny parts that stick out.. etc etc

what this means is that when you first start up a nitro engine you dont want to go mad with it.. as it can cause microfractures and other defects to form in the metal itself.. which is not good.. what you want to be doin is gently running the engine for the first couple of tanks to let all the metal settle into its appropriate positions and if anything is going to warp and change shape.. to let it do it gently to prevent damage..

there are a VAST amount of different methods for doing this.. varying from running the car off the floor at idle for a full tank..
through to what people call heat cycling.. run it gently.. let it cool.. run it.. let it cool etc..

in my personal experience for break in.. i generally just take a car out.. gently drive it around and no more than a tiny bit of throttle.. just cruise it around for a little while and let the engine heat up a bit.. then after youv done that for a while.. let it cool completely.. then next time.. do the same.. but this time maybe give it a couple of short 1/4 throttle runs get a bit of speed up .. again cruise around with the odd short bit of speed...

do this about 4 or 5 times untill eventually your going full throttle occasionally..

once youc done this and youc had it at full throttle a few times.. your pretty much done with the break in.. and next time you take it out.. you can be more aggressive with it.. and start tuning it (as during all this you will have been running it rich) as per the intructions..

ok cool thanks. i just got it last night. and what about fuel.. just ask the guy at the hopbby shop for regular nitro fuel? no mixtures

20% should be fine, you dont want to run helicopter fuel in it lol.