Well - I've gone through 2 engines now. The first was an hyper 8 port and the latest was a sportwerks .26. Each one lasted about 4 gallons on 20% running temps below 275 F. I use the after run oil and place the piston at bottom dead center (that's what is called?) when done. I hear other guys run their engines for 5 gallons +. What am I doing wrong !??
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How come I'm getting only 4 gallons out of my engines??
- Thread starter emu67
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4 gallons? I think if your getting 4 gallons thats pretty good. I've heard of alot of people having to do rebuilds before there 2nd gallon and they claim they have been properly ran and broke in.
The life of a engine has alot to do how its being broken in and the stuff ya posted about. Again with 4 gallons I think your sitting pretty good. Id recommend just rebuilding the mill instead of buying a whole new one though. Thatll save ya some dough.
The life of a engine has alot to do how its being broken in and the stuff ya posted about. Again with 4 gallons I think your sitting pretty good. Id recommend just rebuilding the mill instead of buying a whole new one though. Thatll save ya some dough.
For me, anything less than 8 is just disappointing... I normally get 10-11 then get the sleeve pinched.
How hard are you running these things? Are you sure they are dead? Do you do a lot of WOT running? 4 gallons seems quite weak. My first engine to the hobby got 4 gallons, but I didn't "break" it in. I just ran it. And it was winter (less than 30 degrees). So, when it warmed up, it ran like crap, but still ran. It finally got to the point that it wouldn't stay running.
In the mean time, I learned that there was a break in process... now, short of catastrophic failure, I get a minumum of 8-9 before a pinch is needed. By catastrophic, I mean snapped crank, snapped con-rod...
How hard are you running these things? Are you sure they are dead? Do you do a lot of WOT running? 4 gallons seems quite weak. My first engine to the hobby got 4 gallons, but I didn't "break" it in. I just ran it. And it was winter (less than 30 degrees). So, when it warmed up, it ran like crap, but still ran. It finally got to the point that it wouldn't stay running.
In the mean time, I learned that there was a break in process... now, short of catastrophic failure, I get a minumum of 8-9 before a pinch is needed. By catastrophic, I mean snapped crank, snapped con-rod...
MonsterCowpower
RCTalk Addict
Agree with Olds,4 gallons is not much.After proper break in,and I would say a longer break in even(when five tanks are recomended use an extra one for the heat cycling). Running on the richer end rather than leaning out too much you should be good for a good deal more.
get the temp gun out and monitor to run as close as possible to the optimal.You should be good for a few more gallons.
Is this caused by fuel exposed to air for too long? Pushing the engine too soon too hard? Maybe just it was the engines and bad luck?
get the temp gun out and monitor to run as close as possible to the optimal.You should be good for a few more gallons.
Is this caused by fuel exposed to air for too long? Pushing the engine too soon too hard? Maybe just it was the engines and bad luck?
- Thread starter
- #5
Well, my fuel is pretty fresh...probably just one month old at the most and is never exposed to sunlight that long. It's a bummer to hear that some guys are getting lots of gallons out of their engines! Are these engines high end ones or the lower end ones like I have??
I thought I was doing it all well, too. The heat cycle break in; running good temps, after run oil, and returning the piston to BDC after running. I'm convinced that I run the engines slightly fat too.
Can the type of fuel you use alter how long the engines last? I'm running monster fuel, 20%.
What's weird is that there's a wide range of how long an engine lasts! Some say 2 gallons, I got 4, and the other fellows get over 8 + gallons!
I thought I was doing it all well, too. The heat cycle break in; running good temps, after run oil, and returning the piston to BDC after running. I'm convinced that I run the engines slightly fat too.
Can the type of fuel you use alter how long the engines last? I'm running monster fuel, 20%.
What's weird is that there's a wide range of how long an engine lasts! Some say 2 gallons, I got 4, and the other fellows get over 8 + gallons!
Ruff
RCTalk Basher
i use 1 maybe 2 gallons and i sell my motors. 4 gallons is doing really good i guess. I've never had a bad motor in my life. i guess you pay for what you get. and its all how you set it up
XXChAoTiCXX
RCTalk Racer
Hey Emu, my Hyper 8 port is showing signs off trouble just at the finish of my first gallon. I broke it in well, but it was my first. But the compression is all but lost. It is still a strong motor though.
Tarant
Hardcore RCTalk User
I am with Olds, I get about 7-9 gall. on averege with stock engines, and after market engines, i then get it pinched and get about another 3-4 gallons of fuel.
I also take my engine apart completley after a gallon or less of fuel and i clean,lube and cheack every thing i use about 7-10 drops of prather ARO and keep them it BDC,
my most longest life engine was my TRX 2.5. 8 gallons of fuel a pinch and another 4 gallons. I ran at temps of 210 and had a average of 35mph.
I also take my engine apart completley after a gallon or less of fuel and i clean,lube and cheack every thing i use about 7-10 drops of prather ARO and keep them it BDC,
my most longest life engine was my TRX 2.5. 8 gallons of fuel a pinch and another 4 gallons. I ran at temps of 210 and had a average of 35mph.
4u2nv said:
I haven't had a "stock" engine for a very long time... until I got my revo recently. It still has the 2.5R in it. With my first truck in the hobby, xxx-nt, that was the one I didn't do a proper break in on and still got 4 through it. I replaced the engine with an OS 15 cv-r(x). I got 10 gallons through that engine, then sold the truck. The engine still ran perfectly. I bought my savage and HB buggy as rollers and I've used OS 21 RG's in both. The one in my buggy is an OS 21 Rg that I've had for about 3 years. It was one I had in my 21 maxx. I had it pinched at gallon 11. I've run another 2-3 gallons through it since. My savage has a relatively new OS 21 RG in it now and it has about 3 gallons through it and still runs great. I'm thinking about getting a more powerful engine for the savage and keeping the OS as a back up engine though...
kx250ryder
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Wow, you got 11 gallons out of your RG? Mine is just under 3, and it is getting to where I have to hold it on the box for about 30 seconds at a time before it gradually sputters to life (yes, I know how to prime it, and no, there are no fuel tank, fuel line, or engine air leaks). It has pinch that I can feel when spinning it, but its easy enough to turn with two fingers. It has gotten hot a couple times (270+) but for the most part I run it at 230-250, and I am religious about BDC.
Maybe ARO is the secret. At the advice of many members that it was useless, I pretty much quit using it. Maybe that is my problem.
Maybe ARO is the secret. At the advice of many members that it was useless, I pretty much quit using it. Maybe that is my problem.
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I used to only use it if it will be sitting for more than 3 days w/o running.....but then I had times I would think I was going to run and didn't get to....so the engine sat for a while and I think those times do shorten the life span of your mill....now if I forget to use it I break it all down and clean it good.....I'm just on gallon 9 (for the last 3 friggin months GGRRRRR) on my P5 and it's still kicking strong as hell.....the RGs I had I only ran 1 into the ground and that was only 6 gallons and it was just dead....didn't even try to pinch it...just tore it apart, bagged the parts that looked good and dumped th erest in that graveyard of parts we all have hidden...I pinched the rest and sold em before I had more than 4 gallons at most on each of em....
kx250ryder
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Air filters are cleaned on a regular basis. I run in dusty conditions, so I run a pre-filter too. I have to clean them often, because we drive in really fine, dusty conditions.
I have been having the problems with starting for a while. Its usually only the first start, when the engine is cold. Once its running it will fire right away.
I did get lost in the tuning the other day when I was running on my driveway. The sun came out on a cool day and brought temps up about 20 degrees at least (maybe more low to the concrete, where my engine is). I usually don't have trouble tuning the car, but I couldn't get it to stay running. It wasn't too rich either, I think it may have been my low speed needle being too lean. I had to roll the throttle on really slow, because if I hit the gas hard, the motor would rev really clean die the second I let off.
I got so frustrated spinning needles that I just put the car away. I haven't had a problem tuning it for a long time, so I just gave up in disbelief, figuring it was new motor time, or that the air temps had just put it way out of whack.
I have been having the problems with starting for a while. Its usually only the first start, when the engine is cold. Once its running it will fire right away.
I did get lost in the tuning the other day when I was running on my driveway. The sun came out on a cool day and brought temps up about 20 degrees at least (maybe more low to the concrete, where my engine is). I usually don't have trouble tuning the car, but I couldn't get it to stay running. It wasn't too rich either, I think it may have been my low speed needle being too lean. I had to roll the throttle on really slow, because if I hit the gas hard, the motor would rev really clean die the second I let off.
I got so frustrated spinning needles that I just put the car away. I haven't had a problem tuning it for a long time, so I just gave up in disbelief, figuring it was new motor time, or that the air temps had just put it way out of whack.
- Thread starter
- #16
Um...how can you tell if the lack of filter maintenance has damaged the engine. I don't regularly clean my filters; maybe once every 2 gallons when I remember to. Guess I'm lazy or just inattentive. But, I've looked at my cylinders and there doesn't seem to be any pitting on gouging on the sides?? Hey, did I make some guys throw up by saying I don't clean my air filters??
kx250ryder
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If you have ever removed your carburetor, and seen even a couple grains of dirt lying on the carb intake tract, chances are you are done. On my RG, when I pull the filter and look in the carb, it looks like the only part of the engine that is brand new.
I had two engines in the past, one of which (Rossi .21, not Novarossi) the air filter came off under the body, and I only had the slightest ammount of dirt in the carb, and that engine never started again, despite feeling like it had compression. My buddy's Orion .28 suffered a simiar fate, again, with only a couple dust grains visible.
I had two engines in the past, one of which (Rossi .21, not Novarossi) the air filter came off under the body, and I only had the slightest ammount of dirt in the carb, and that engine never started again, despite feeling like it had compression. My buddy's Orion .28 suffered a simiar fate, again, with only a couple dust grains visible.
After gallon 5, my OS 21 RG didn't have much compression, but it still would pull wheelies in my savage with 15/52 gearing and it would run all day long and not flame out. It pretty much had the same weak compression from gallon 5 to gallon 11, but it ran really well and reliably until 11. Then it started flaming out for no reason and frying glow plugs. That's why I got it pinched. Then due to severe neglect, the bearings went out (rusty) and I replaced them with some spares I had. With my luck, after totally tearing it down, replacing the bearings, cleaning the innards, it won't fire up come spring...
How come I'm getting only 4 gallons out of my engines??
I don't regularly clean my filters; maybe once every 2 gallons when I remember to. Guess I'm lazy or just inattentive.
Case Closed.......DE DE DEEE!!!!KX Sounds like we had the same last day out.....I tried running saturday and it was just giving me fits...not one but 2 engines....after I cleqaned off the dirt I noticed I need to replace all my driveline....thos hudy sets last a long time but damn it looked fine less than a gallon ago.....
I don't regularly clean my filters; maybe once every 2 gallons when I remember to. Guess I'm lazy or just inattentive.
Case Closed.......DE DE DEEE!!!!KX Sounds like we had the same last day out.....I tried running saturday and it was just giving me fits...not one but 2 engines....after I cleqaned off the dirt I noticed I need to replace all my driveline....thos hudy sets last a long time but damn it looked fine less than a gallon ago.....
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MonsterCowpower
RCTalk Addict
emu67 said:
hoh: Once every 2 gallons! Holy smokes,that is not cleaning the filter often at all.In this case even the best filter with filter oil applied will not do its intended job when you are near the first gallon.Unless you run a on road in extra clean,dust free place.
I would say every 4-5 tanks even if the filter "looks" clean.If you want to keep your engine a long time running and in shape.
