To cold to run?
 

Is it ever to cold to run a nitro car? If not then are there any extra precautions that need to be taken? And if so what temp is to cold?

RE: To cold to run?
 

cant say for sure what to cold is, all engines have thier ideal temp that they an go. [link=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KnmkiZStds&feature=channel_page]here[/link] is a link to a video

RE: To cold to run?
 

ive run in -10 -20 with nitro i just richen the motor the whole colder the air the more oxygen thing get some temp in it then go have fun just rember plastic is a littile less forgiving when it gets cold i have never had any problems and i just came im from playing in the snow and its like -15 with the wind chill and 1.5 feet of new snow so IMO its never to cold so go out and have fun

RE: To cold to run?
 

Just richen, and run like you normally do. Make sure you let the engine get up to temp properly before going too hard on it.

Tom.

RE: To cold to run?
 

It's too cold to go out when the cold is uncomfortable for you, because then it won't be fun.

RE: To cold to run?
 

thanks for all the help, I just bought a used hellfire, and am waiting for it to get here. Cant wait to go drive it on the ice covered snow! Should be fun.:D

RE: To cold to run?
 

If you have trouble getting the engine up to temp- it needs to be over 200 minimum - wrap the head in aluminum foil or put an old sock on it - or both.
Other than that, richen it some - as was said and be careful not to hit yourself (or anyone else) cause it really, really hurts when you're cold.

RE: To cold to run?
 

hi guys i live in northern mn its like -10 on average now i just got a volcano for x-mas and i broke everything in by specs in my father in laws horse arena where it is 50 above , now i am at home where i have to run it outside in the cold my question and this may sound stupid but why does the engine have to be at 200 degrees in the truck, when i fly my planes all ihave to worry about is to richen it up aren't they basicly the same motor

RE: To cold to run?
 

just like your real car the engine will preform at its best at between 200 to 240 deg

RE: To cold to run?
 

A real car performs at its best between 160-210 degrees depending on the engine.:eek: Nitro engines are totally different from a 1:1 cars engine.

RE: To cold to run?
 

That's just coolant temperature. Block temperature is actually quite a bit higher. The block temps are what people measure for nitros.

RE: To cold to run?
 

Coolant temp is generally only several degrees less than block temps. I've been working on cars for many many years. I've had infrared temp sensors on running engine blocks many times. Car companies put the temp sensors in places where the coolant is going to be ~ the same temp as the block. Sure, if someone who doesn't know what they're doing puts a temp sensor in a bad spot then you won't get an accurate reading. Most engines start to have detonation problems if they get higher than 220-230. Gasoline engines have to run cooler than nitro engines for this very reason. Alcohol, like in nitro, will actually keep the engine cooler so it's fine to run an engine with higher temps, as you won't have any detonation problems.

RE: To cold to run?
 

Really? Then my temp gauges must be very very wrong. Sorry about that.

RE: To cold to run?
 

They are basically the same thing but car/truck engines are run a lot harder and have a good bit higher rpm range. If the engine is not up to at least 200 degrees the different metals of the piston and sleeve will not expand properly and the engine is subject to higher wear, which will mean a shorter life span overall.

RE: To cold to run?
 

No problem. Their are hot spots on full scale car engines, and cold spots, but in general they are going to be only a little hotter than your coolant temp sensor is reading. You have to be very careful if you're taking any readings by the intake or exhaust manifolds. They can give you false temps. The intake manifold, especially aluminium, will be cooler(except for where the coolant is flowing), and anywhere around the exhaust manifold/headers will be high.

RE: To cold to run?
 

so should i measure the temp at the head by the glow plug are some where else on the motor? at the the glow plug i reach about 180 degrees

RE: To cold to run?
 

If using a temp gun, which I RARELY do, I shoot the infrared beam directly onto the engine from over head. What I mean by this is that I shoot it directly to the side(while looking down from the top) of the glow plug where it's at the bottom of the head/top of the block.

RE: To cold to run?
 

No it can't be too cold to run your trucks..

Nor to learn the difference between "to" and "too".. Sorry, and you're welcome.. :D

Bur seriously, I learned last week the need to richen the HSN in cold temps.. - my Mach shot up to 300+ really quickly.. Had to richen it up quite a bit... Other than that it was great.. Pullstarts kind of suck in the cold..

RE: To cold to run?
 

A pull start does suck a lot more in the cold. It definitely helps to heat the motor up with a hair dryer first!:D You need to make the mixture mor rich in the cold, because the air is a LOT more dense so you're effectively running with a very mild supercharger when going from 90* to 20*. You've got to match extra fuel to the extra air. Good luck trying to teach proper grammar in an online forum!:) I shake my head everyday reading these posts.:eek:

RE: To cold to run?
 

well it was awesome playing in the snow last night one thing i found with the car engine vs my air plane engines the are alot hardder to keep tuned in the cold. from the time i run out of gas ,the engine cools off enough i have to change my settings to keep it running intill she warms up again!

RE: To cold to run?
 

Yup. That's why you have to do running refuels. This way the motor stays hot and their is no starting a cooled engine and retuning.

RE: To cold to run?
 

ya that makes sense but some times you just start having to much fun and for get to refuel!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: To cold to run?
 

sorry guys my comment was more about how well a engine runs at the proper temp i have a 1:1 race engine and it runs at like 210 deg all day long( water temp) but thats another fourm altogether

RE: To cold to run?
 

"... too much fun.."

Jeeze...

RE: To cold to run?
 

I have never had a problem getting any of my engines up to temp (.095 to .28 in size), but covering the cooling fins are a great way to heat it up if you really need to.

I try not to run any lower than -20F as its to cold to have fun in my opinion. It's very fun to drift on the ice up here right before the snow starts to melt though..:) I don't usually go out any colder than 25F anymore as I hate the cold, but sometimes that shinny new toy needs a test drive;)

Anybody drive in anything lower than -45? I was thinking about trying it with one of my junker Nitros last year but again, I don't like the cold.