Engine Temperatures

[CH3-NO2]

Ok, still being relatively new to Nitro, and loving every minute of it, I have a couple questions about temperatures.

Firstly, I'm going to get myself a temperture gun to aid in fine tuning. I've not yet read up about these things, so I was wondering whether anyone can offer some advice on them. What is the correct method of using them? Do you check the temperture at intervals and see how it behaves as the engine warms up, or are they more for getting the engine up to full operating temperture and using them to get within the correct range? The reason I ask this is, surely the tempertures will fluctuate quite a lot with load and time the engine has been running, so how do you actually use them accurately?

Also, as with full size engines, is it advisable to allow the engine to warm up fully before letting her rip? I realise with full size engines, this is more to do with oil temperatures, but with these tiny engines and very tight tollerences, surely thermal expansion plays quite a big role and therefore operating temperatures are quite critical.

Thanks in advance.

 

[AC48]

What you should do is first get the engine up to temp, say above 200. Tune the engine so you get a nice trail of smoke and good performance. Basically so its running how you want. Then use the temp guage to make sure your not going to hot or too cold. Usually most engines run inbetween 220-270.

 

[olds97_lss]

Running too cold is just as damaging as running to hot. When you fire it up, trim your radio so you get a high idle to get the temps up above 200 as quickly as possible.

Your right on the fact that these engines depend on tight tolerances. They don't have rings on the pistons like a 1:1. The sleeve is tapered so it is smaller at the top. As the engine approaches 210-220 degrees, the sleeve is expanded to the point of a good seal and not constant rubbing on the the piston. If you run to cold (below 200) it won't expand enough and will wear out sooner. If you run to hot, the oil inside ignites so you don't get good lubrication and it fries.

Generally, most guys check temp down by the glow plug. I try to check temps once a tank or so if I feel the engine needs tuned for the days temps/humidity. Once I get it where I want it, I don't check it very often during a few hours of bashing, but I do check it every few tanks just to feel better about it.

 

[CH3-NO2]

Ok cool, thanks.

So should I drive it quite gently until the temp gets up to the 200 mark?

 

[AC48]

No you don't have to drive extra careful, but don't hold it wide open haha.

 

[olds97_lss]

Like AC48 said, just keep the RPM's mild until the temps come up.

 

[Plaidfish]

I let mine warm up on the stand at a high idle until it hits 140ish....then the temps just rise fast from there.....like olds said it's best to check every tank at least once until you get the feel of how your engine likes to run.....every one will have a different sweet spot too, so don't try to lock down on a target temperature every time...I did this too long and it drove me nuts when my truck would run like ass but it was at 230 or so......

 

[Tweak]

Just a quick curious question CH3-NO2, did you break your engine in according to the manual already? Just curious to see if you did that, and what Model are you working with?

 

[CH3-NO2]

Broke it in as per the manual, but I've now learned that's probably not the best way to do it. I'm using a Hyper 7 with a .21 4 port.