• Welcome to RCTalk! 🚀

    Join the #1 RC community where hobbyists connect, share, and get expert advice on RC cars, trucks, boats, drones, and more!

    • ✓ Friendly & passionate RC enthusiasts
    • ✓ RC tips & troubleshooting
    • ✓ Buy, sell & trade RC gear
    • ✓ Share builds & upgrades

Engine breakin in cold weather

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
M

MaxdOut

RC Newbie
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Chicago
RC Driving Style
Hi everyone,
How do you guys breakin an engine in winter? Planning to pick up two Firestorms in the beginning of February, one for myself and one for my nephew's birthday, and I am concerned with proper breakin during winter. Chicago temps would probably be around the 20's.
 
Hmm, You could probably do it in a garage and turn on a heater if you have one. They sell some portable heaters at some places.
 
Here's some info I posted to a guy up in canada a while back. Basically explains that using those chemical hand warmers ziptied to the head for cold break-in's.

https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=47565&highlight=warmer

They will get the engine up to about 80F and keep it there. You will want to leave them on the engine pretty much throughout the entire break-in so the engine doesn't cool too much or too fast in between tanks. Just don't get them wet. The goal of break-in is to get up to 200F as quickly as possible while still running a bit rich.

After an engine is broken in, you may have to block some of the cooling fins in cooler weather to avoid over leaning to get the temps up. I use a baby sock top if it's dry (kind of like a mini 80's leg warmer) and I ziptie a piece of rubber bicycle inner tube around the head if it's snowy/wet. The sock doesn't work so good once it gets snow/water on it as it holds the cold against the engine. The rubber lets the water/snow melt and run off easier.
 
Last edited:
Take a ride to Leisure Hours in Joliet, they have an indoor track. While it's not heated it's better than being in the dead cold. May have to pay for practice or something but it's better than being in the elements. Other than that, wrap the head to help hold some heat and get one of those Wagner heat guns form Menards for about $29.
 
Would using "Olds'" method with the hand warmers combined with a "Jet's" idea of a heat guns to bring the temp up quicker suffice and or make it easier to start? If you run one day then the next in winter do you end up having to retune? Do you just need to tune the HSN or all three? Sorry for all the questions but my nephews is only 11 and I know he'll want to run it even if I am not there, so I am trying to gauge whether he can do it or not, I may have to go electric if it's too complicated for him.
 
Yes, there wouldn't be a problem using a heat gun and hand warmers at the same time. The heat gun is really good to use for startup. Then the hand warmers will keep it warm for cool down. Just be careful not to set fire to the hand warmers as heat guns get pretty hot.

Typically the HSN is what needs tuned when weather changes unless the change is drastic. Like if you go from 70F w/80% humidity one day, then 50F w/25% humidity the next, that's pretty extreme and may require tweaking on both the LSN and HSN.
 
I did mine in fairly cold weather, i wrapped the head with one layer of aluminum tape, and that worked fine, just make sure you monitor the temps.
 
an 11 year old... not making any judgements or implying anything, but if hes not the brightest light, then hes got no hope. the intelligence of an 11 yo is usually determined in these circumstances by how much he likes to tinker and test stuff. if hes logical, open and mechanically-minded, and self-controlled, then he should be about right.

the first few times, of course explain and detail everything that you do and think. this is something very important that usually most parents forget. kids wont know what to do if they dont know what to think or how to troubleshoot. if anything, its better that parents get stuck, and troubleshoot with the help/ participation of a kid.
 
hvymetalalchmst said:
an 11 year old... not making any judgements or implying anything, but if hes not the brightest light, then hes got no hope. the intelligence of an 11 yo is usually determined in these circumstances by how much he likes to tinker and test stuff. if hes logical, open and mechanically-minded, and self-controlled, then he should be about right.

the first few times, of course explain and detail everything that you do and think. this is something very important that usually most parents forget. kids wont know what to do if they dont know what to think or how to troubleshoot. if anything, its better that parents get stuck, and troubleshoot with the help/ participation of a kid.
Click to expand...

Your right, in all honesty at times I see some brilliance there but for the most part a cloud of confusion... As far as the parents, forget it no help there. So I decided to go electric, much easier for him to run on his own since I cannot be there all the time.

But I wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to help me with my decision. As much as I WANTED to go nitro, I must remember that this is really for him and his experience and memories.

Thanks again everyone!!!! If all goes well the next one will be Nitro!
 

RC Builds

Back
Top