Nitro rc cars work in pretty much the same way as a normal car and hence regular maintenance and cleaning is crucial to maintaining your rc cars performance and reliability. I will give you some key tips in this article to make sure that your nitro rc car remains in tip top condition.
One of the big problems many people face is the setting up and adjusting of the engines air/fuel settings to maintain optimum performance and reliable running. Essentially, if the air fuel mixture is not set up properly, your rc car will not perform properly.
Basically there are two ways you can adjust a nitro engine; you can either have the fuel mixture set so that the engine is running “lean” which means there is less fuel going into the engine or you can have the fuel mixture set to “rich” which means the there is more fuel going into the engine. If you are inexperienced, I would get expert advice on how to setup your model but generally, it is wise to set the fuel mixture that it is running slightly rich so that the engine is properly lubricated and hence less likely to over heat and seize.
Another very important thing to remember is to make sure that all of the fuel lines and carburetor are kept extremely clean. If dirt gets into the fuel system, carburetor, or engine, this can cause unreliability and excessive engine wear so keeping the fuel system clean is a must.
It is also very important to keep your air filter clean and dust free. If the air filter becomes clogged with dust and dirt, less air will get into the engine which will cause starting and performance problems. It is very important to clean your air filter regularly. And also you should replace your air filter as recommended by your model specialist.
Once or twice a year it is recommended that you completely strip your nitro rc car down and clean and lubricate all of the moving parts in the gearbox and the drive train/shafts. This will minimise any wear and will maximise the performance.
It is absolutely crucial that you clean and maintain your nitro rc car regularly so that you keep it running perfectly.