fuels

[hooty267]

so many fuels to choose from, whats the best

 

[RC Addict]

I primarily use Sidewinder 20%. Just shy away from that stuff Traxxas calls fuel. I wouldn't clean my engine with it.

 

[TRXaddict]

I personally dont believe there is a fuel thats better than the next. really in my opinion the only difference is the type of oil thy use.. other than that i dont see that much of a difference..

I ran traxxas for quite awhile in my t-maxx and jato. and when i switched to hpi savage and wondered what a good fuel for savage 4.6 and the store owner recommended trinity and he said it wasn't as oily as traxxas but i completely disagree.. the trinity 20% monster fuel was soo oily it was stupid ... Just idling for about 30 seconds to warm my engine up on a good tune not to lean or rich.... i had a HUGE puddle of oil under the exhaust and it was very annoying... how messy it was on dusty days even with an exhaust hose.

Other than that it performed well, nice response and just burned nicely. Really... i havent really ran many fuels .. i usually like to stick with manufacture brand fuels. personally traxxas wasn't bad fuel for me.

I hear o donnel is good stuff and I've been seeing it in alot of mags being used by top winning drivers so i would imagine thats for good reason ....

 

[Racer 1966]

Best is usually personal perception. Some make more of a mess as stated above and some do seem to make a bit more power. I've used all of these with no real issues:

Trinity Monster HP
Losi Nitrotane
Torco
Wildcat
Blue Thunder Race
Traxxas


I'd give the advantage to Torco based on power/engine temps with Wildcat a close second.

 

[MR4X4KING]

i uses traxxas 33% in my jato 3.3
i use traxxas 20% in all my other traxxas
i use byrons 20% race blend in everything else

 

[Extreme RC Mods]

I run Sidewinder Pro Race 30/10 with great results. As for all fuels being similar, I have to disagree, there are some really crappy fuel brands out there and the difference in performance between one to another can have very noticeable differences in performance.

 

[2revo1maxx]

No two fuels are even close to the same.....but I would suggest looking into oil percentages and types. Oil percentage and type plays a huge part in how a given fuel will perform. More castor oil means better high temp protection and less overall oil content means better tuning, performance, and temps.

The statements I just made are fairly general, but I prefer about 10-12% oil content as opposed to the 16% that's in traxxas fuel, for example.

I run Byron's gen 2 20% and 30% nitro, with 12% and 11% oil contents.

 

[RC Addict]

My Sidewinder 20% is also 12% oil, so I gotta agree!

 

[Assassin]

I run all my big blocks on 30% Strike Team.

30% is where its at for Big blocks, most power, cool temps, & no excess oils gumming ish up.

Traxass Fuel is retarded crap and as previously stated I wouldn't use it to clean my engine, I wont let that ish touch my engines ever. Run a few gallons of that crap through a engine, tear down the engine and compare to a torn down engine that's drank the same amount of 30% (Byrons, or Strike Team) to see why.

Some people shy away from 30% because its more power and some say blows less smoke and is harder to dial in a tune.

NOT SO

Great smoke, easy tuning, big power, low temps.

 

[mckinney03]

Traxxas fuel junk take 1 cc of traxxas fuel poor it on
A glass plate let it sit for 10 min and watch the two oils
Separate one will b clear and the other blue then mix the
oils together with a toothpick let sit 10 min and watch
them seperate again then take a lighter and try to burn
The oils the blue oil runs away from the heat the clear oil
Turns hard and brown

---------- Post added at 11:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:30 PM ----------

Sidewinder 20%

 

[2revo1maxx]

Since I have big blocks, small blocks, and mid blocks I mix 20% and 30% Byron's to make 25%.

 

[TRXaddict]

Actually one of my buddies has ran traxxas 20% in his t maxx.. hes about 4 gallons in and the other day his truck was acting up because of the sudden weather change and the orings for sealing the engine were really thin. so he let me have the truck for a night.

I disassembled his engine from top to bottom just making sure everything is not gummed up. and inside his block everything looked perfect. no gumming, no discoloration just a nice shiny engine inside. and this guy doesn't take care of his truck, all he knows how to do is thrash it. then just toss it in his pick up and let it sit till he drives it again. There was one time he left remaining trx fuel in the tank for like 3 weeks and it still started up no issues what so ever.

All the negative comments dont really make sense to me because I've ran traxxas fuel in all my traxxas engines and they all have never had running issues just because i run that fuel.

Even the traxxas fuel i had sitting in my closet for over 2 years is still good.. i run it in my jato cuz i just recently got back into driving and it runs just as good as it did when i first bought the fuel.

I'm not sure if i just happen to have a good batch of fuel or what but all the issues you guys are talking about I've never experienced and I've been using traxxas fuel for over 5 years. and between those years have used some other brands but in the end i would have to disagree with allthe negative comments.

 

[Assassin]

Traxxas fuel junk take 1 cc of traxxas fuel poor it on
A glass plate let it sit for 10 min and watch the two oils
Separate one will b clear and the other blue then mix the
oils together with a toothpick let sit 10 min and watch
them seperate again then take a lighter and try to burn
The oils the blue oil runs away from the heat the clear oil
Turns hard and brown

---------- Post added at 11:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:30 PM ----------

Sidewinder 20%

That's pretty nasty....

I will never use that Traxxass Gas. I wouldn't recommend anything that's caused so many people so many issues, even if its caused me none. I wont run that crap, and have found a excellent Brand of 30% Race Fuel in Strike Team & my .18 gets 20% Byrons. Proven not to cause issues like Traxxass fuel.

 

[TRXaddict]

Still dont understand why traxxas apparently is so bad. I've never had any of the issues stated above.. My engine doesn't have any discoloration, my riends engine doesn't and my other friend runs it with no issues what so ever.

I would atleast like to see some sort of photo/'s that prove these negative opinions ?

If anything the people that have had bad experiences i would say it must have been your own fault.. like not doing normal maintenance, drain lines , just not taking care of your engine.

I'm really interested in seeing why exactly its such a bad fuel.

I mean if my engine/previous engines have never had one issue with this fuel why am i hearing other people having bad experiences?

ill list all the positive things i have with this fuel personally.

Burns cool ( never had an engine overheat running this fuel)

lubricates nice

never had and engine internally discolored and it wasn't just me my buddy with his t maxx 3.3's engine looked exactly the same as mine.. clean... shiny.. and no build up.

Also, in my opinion less oily then trinity monster fuel. like i stated earlier .. trinity actually was way more oily than traxxas.

in general.. i see no issues with this fuel. I'm just curious as to why I'm having good experiences with this fuel and why so many others arent.

 

[Metalhead Matt]

Traxxas fuel has never given me a problem in Traxxas engines but there has always been an instant difference in higher quality mills by switching to Byron's. I wouldn't run it in anything but Traxxas mills. Slipping owb's get old. Traxxas engines do seem to like Traxxas fuel though.

 

[Assassin]

Traxxas fuel has never given me a problem in Traxxas engines but there has always been an instant difference in higher quality mills by switching to Byron's. I wouldn't run it in anything but Traxxas mills. Slipping owb's get old. Traxxas engines do seem to like Traxxas fuel though.

Maybe that's it, junk fuel for junk engines.

Do the Traxxass Engines not like the Higher Quality Fuels like Byrons and ST? Or are they just not able to handle it, and or benefit from it like higher quality engines? Also could it be Traxass Engines are not able to handle the higher quality nitro & performance that comes with it, so they have to run leaner tunes on lower nitro % fuels to make any power and thus requiring a higher oil content.

3.3 while gets great press from mags filled with Traxxas adds, is cheap junk IMHO, Traxxas has gone Lipo & it seems like they are fished developing Nitro engines beyond the 3.3, they might have something in store, but they should put it out soon if they do, because a Crap 3.3 in everything they got Nitro is getting old.

 

[TRXaddict]

Traxxas fuel has never given me a problem in Traxxas engines but there has always been an instant difference in higher quality mills by switching to Byron's. I wouldn't run it in anything but Traxxas mills. Slipping owb's get old. Traxxas engines do seem to like Traxxas fuel though.

Yeah traxxas engines like it. ran out of trinity today so i just tuned my savage with a few tanks of traxxas cuz i can't right now afford any more fuel so right now I'm probably going to be running the traxxas.

only thing i noticed between the 2 fuels was the smell really.. they both performed pretty much the same. But today didnt have that good of a tune because i went from my usual 4000ft above sea level to 6000ft and it was running rich rich rich. other wise fun day.. still responsive, nice idling, ran kinda cold today cuz how rich it was but it sucks tuning high altitudes its like barley an 8th of a turn will just be to much so you have to do very super small adjustments. Over all though .. ill say i dont see trinity being any better than traxxas. but i have yet to try all the other brans listed above. I'm not really into changing fuels alot.. too expensive.

 

[Assassin]

I'm not running as much as a month or 2 ago as winter finally caught up with us, but I was drinking a Gallon every weak and a half to 2 weeks, so I grab new stuff to test out fairly often, until getting to Strike Team. I also like Byrons. These 2 at 30% run identically for me and stable tune.

I can't believe you put that crap in your X, that crap is what has your tune all touchy, you probably think its the altitude, but its not. Once you set it for your altitude, your good it wont jump around like that unless the fuel your drinking is crap, sounds like its performing highly unstable... I have the same 2011X and I tuned it at tank 5 after actively leaning it out to push it to hell and back and haven't had to adjust it since despite temps going from around 20c to -10c (30 degrees difference & past the freezing mark) the tune at operating temp is still on point. Its my buddy's X, but stays with my family of RC's.

Jumpy tune, hard to find the sweet spot, small tweaks always seem to go a bit too far, or not enough, sounds like bad gas.

Not surprised though, that's Traxxass Gass for yah.

 

[TRXaddict]

Actually.. altitude has everything to do with tuning.. for instance when i got my savage out the box stock needle settings were useless because the higher you are up.. the less air you have thus leading to less fuel required.

When you are going 2000 ft higher that your tune originally was at it will instantly be crappy and youll have to re tune no matter what. You can't try to tell me you dont have to tune from going from 4000 to 6000 there is actually quite a drop in air over all so that would explain why it was running rich.

Also i didnt even really tune, just after it started i noticed it was rich and just made a small lean adjustment and drove around.. i could have spent more time tuning but where i am temps change soon as the sun starts to set so i just wanted to get driving in and be done for the day.


In the end the fuel wasn't the issue at all. It actually IS the altitude and what i always tell anyone when it comes tuning is * anyone who tries to give you tuning advice with out asking your altitude is wrong * mainly because if someone is at my ft and they ask for tuning and someone says * put it to factory settings * that incorrect advice and that person will just have more trouble because they will be scratching their head wondering why the factory needle settings arent working. Another way i look at it is * less air less fuel more air more fuel *

like i said earlier the trinity fuel compared to the traxxas was no difference.

 

[Assassin]

Actually.. altitude has everything to do with tuning.. for instance when i got my savage out the box stock needle settings were useless because the higher you are up.. the less air you have thus leading to less fuel required.

When you are going 2000 ft higher that your tune originally was at it will instantly be crappy and youll have to re tune no matter what. You can't try to tell me you dont have to tune from going from 4000 to 6000 there is actually quite a drop in air over all so that would explain why it was running rich.

Also i didnt even really tune, just after it started i noticed it was rich and just made a small lean adjustment and drove around.. i could have spent more time tuning but where i am temps change soon as the sun starts to set so i just wanted to get driving in and be done for the day.


In the end the fuel wasn't the issue at all. It actually IS the altitude and what i always tell anyone when it comes tuning is * anyone who tries to give you tuning advice with out asking your altitude is wrong * mainly because if someone is at my ft and they ask for tuning and someone says * put it to factory settings * that incorrect advice and that person will just have more trouble because they will be scratching their head wondering why the factory needle settings arent working. Another way i look at it is * less air less fuel more air more fuel *

like i said earlier the trinity fuel compared to the traxxas was no difference.

Yeah, but dude, your altitude isn't jumping around while you run the truck. Once you set it to your altitude the oxygen content of the air will only vary with temp. So it wont be crazy touchy and should only take a few min at most to adjust the tune for the day. "barley an 8th of a turn will just be to much so you have to do very super small adjustments." Sounds like bad gas, some engines have a smaller tuning window then others but the F4.6 in the 2011 X's window is HUGE.

I always keep a tuning driver on hand for making small adjustments, but I drive my truck on the line, and run 30%. However my engine has a insulated carb and holds a tune MUCH better then engines with non insulated carbs.

So yeah your needle setting wont be the same as at a much lower altitude, but once you tune it they wont jump around and be so touchy. That sounds like bad gas.

Doesn't mean it is bad gas, that's just my opinion, but a X running Traxxass Gass that's the first thing I would look at as causing a unstable tune and extremely reduced tuning window.