Running the tank dry?

[Devinlowe18]

OK this is probably a "boot" question but here you are.....I keep reading where people say that the last run of the day you should be sure to "run your tank dry" to ensure no fuel is left in the engine to draw moisture in. Then obviously you should put your ARO (or I use WD-40) before you put your rig back on the shelf for the night, week, or whatever the case may be.
So we all know that the lower end of the tank usually runs lean, which is why I try and fill'r up whenever its just below half a tank. Whenever I know i am done for the day, I have been pinching the fuel line to cut the engine off. I then will suck the remaining fuel out of the tank with the fuel bottle and then take off the glow plug and spray WD-40 in, then turn the rig upside down and turn the engine over a few time while holding a towel over the cooling head. I then spray (wd40) just a tad back into the hole before re-inserting the glow plug.
Now am I missing something or doing something wrong? I have seen this "run your tank dry on your last run" being used quite often so am I just misunderstanding what that means or are these people just making horrible decisions?

 

[MudSlinger33]

As long as you are burning off all the remaining fuel in the engine, you should be fine.

 

[SchrodeMode]

When running your tank empty, you should either idle or slowly drive around. The only time I could see and damage coming from it would be if your running WOT when it runs dry, you really want the lube when running high RPMs.

 

[robriguez]

I would never run a tank DRY specifically to avoid the typical lean condition. If I knew I wasn't running for a while I would just dump the tank and crank it with the throttle open till I could see bubbles in the line. Then a drop or 2 of ARO and another couple cranks and its all she wrote.

Having said that. One of my Savages was put away 7 years ago with half a tank. I know this because of the discoloration of the tank when she was dug out of the box. Everything was bone dry of course after such a long time (including one of the shocks) but I was determined to see if she still ran. A few drops of ARO to lube things up, a new glowplug and some fresh fuel and she started right away. My point is not that it doesn't matter, but it probably doesn't matter as much as some say it does unless you live right along the coast or in very humid climate.

 

[mrbones]

When you oil your engine, you need to coat the inside of the engine to coat the crank and bearings. Disconnect the fuel line or empty the tank and fuel line. You need to remove the glow plug and squirt some oil into the carb and then spin it over. It will blow it out of the plug hole and coat the cylinder walls and everything else. (including you if you don't cover the head with a rag!) Just putting oil into the top of the cylinder does absolutely nothing to protect the inside of the engine against corrosion. It is true that if you leave fuel in your engine, it will cause it to rust and gum it up over a long storage time. I don't think it's necessary to run until the tank goes empty. You can disconnect the fuel line and do the same thing as running it dry.

 

[EXTREME1]

i don't run mine dry.when i'm through for the day i just close the pinch off going to carb. pick it up throttle it up a lil till it goes dead.then i pull off the fuel line from tank lid attach a long fuel line undo the line from the exhaust and blow the remaining fuel into an old gal. fuel jug. and you may ask why save old fuel?i found out that it works grt-8 cleaning engine,bearings, and it makes my weed eater love me....lol.

 

[hulkmaxx]

+ for extreme thats what I do, I tend to prob use to much ARO, in the engine. Just take out glow plug and pump it out before starting it next time.

 

[Nitro4910]

Running the tank dry at the end of the day won't hurt the engine, just don't be at WOT when runs dry.

I always run the last tank dry & then do after run care & have not had any issues doing so.

Either way works, your way just takes longer, but both work.

 

[2revo1maxx]

I flip the rig upside down to let it run out, then switch the line from the carb back to the tank. Once thats done I try to fire it up until it won't fire anymore.

 

[Greywolf74]

I run my tank dry if I'm able or if it breaks before that I have special plugs for the fuel line so i can just disconnect the fuel line and plug it off. As long as you are letting the fuel run out of the engine thats really all that matters or if you can't let it all run out then disconnect the fuel line and take the glow plug out flip it upside down turn it over a few times and then ARO the piss out of it.

 

[babi_hrse]

regarding the storage of nitro fuel in the bottle?
will it stay good if left outside all winter?

 

[mrbones]

regarding the storage of nitro fuel in the bottle?
will it stay good if left outside all winter?

It will be just fine. Keep it sealed up so no moisture can get in it.

 

[andydrew39219]

I don't like to run my tank dry but I let it get real low before shutting it down. Once I got my pede "fine tuned" to the proline (leantime) tank the leaning issue doesn't seem too bad. All I do is pinch the fuel line, put piston to BDC, connect the fuel line going to the carb to my hand crank fuel pump and get all the fuel out of the tank, use way way way too much ARO, flip the motor over until it locks up (hydrolocks?) from too much ARO, BDC again, and put it up till next time. I use too much ARO because I live on a small (3*9 miles) island so I'm sure my engine isn't too thrilled about the salty air and humidity.

 

[srusinek]

After the last tank of the day I take out my receiver battery, put the engine at bottom dead center and walk back home. When I get home I then put the warmer on the plug and fire the engine until it won't fire no more. Take off the air cleaner and glow plug and clean around those areas. Put after run oil in the carb and in the glow plug hole and then turn the engine over. Once everything is completed then I put everything back together and store my tools and the rc.

 

[2revo1maxx]

Why do you remove the rx battery?

 

[Mn Monster]

i run my last tank of the day dry all the time, when i know it almost empty, i just run around at a low idle till it dies. do my ARO, and put it away for the next day !

 

[olds97_lss]

I have been running mine dry for years and I don't use ARO unless it's going to sit for more than a week. I just make sure to drive it slowly when the tank is empty to burn the fuel out of the lines/carb.

 

[andydrew39219]

I have been running mine dry for years and I don't use ARO unless it's going to sit for more than a week. I just make sure to drive it slowly when the tank is empty to burn the fuel out of the lines/carb.

Really? Wow. I guess I am a little over protective about my nitro. I won't let my rig sit for 15 minutes after bashing before I start dumping ARO into the carb.

 

[2revo1maxx]

Most fuels today are designed to protect your engine for a short time, but you still need to burn off the methanol.

 

[andydrew39219]

Yeah the manual I got with my nitro stampede says if you plan on storing for more than a few hours to do the after run procedure. I also live on an island so I'm sure our air is nice and salty compared to other places, so I'm extra paranoid about that. I always figured the sooner the better just as a good rule of thumb.

Kinda off topic, but 9 out of 10 times I take my gun out of its case it gets cleaned thoroughly and oiled, 10 out of 10 times it gets oiled. I mention this to demonstrate my paranoia of the salty air.