when to take temp reading

[rubberneck]

hi guys, i'm new to nitro & you guys have been very helpful getting me started. got tuning down pretty good, but not sure when i should be checking engine temp. if i'm just running lightly (not often) or idling i'm running like 220 but if i run wide open 150 feet & then back & immediately check temp i'm like 265. so should i be going by temp immediatley after long wot or let it idle for 30 seconds then check? just don't know if i would be able to lean a little more when i get to race my buddies. don't wanna overheat. thanks in advance, your advice it very much appreciated.

 

[tmaxxfreek]

you need to check it right after a WOT pass, what engine are you running, some engine like temps to be a little on the hot side, i try and run most of mine at 225 to 250 right after a WOT pass,could try and richen it up a small bit if your un comfortable with the temp that high, as long as it runs good, better to run a little rich, it will prolong the life of the engine.

 

[2revo1maxx]

You need to tune for performance, not by temp. The temp readings are a way to make sure your engine isn't running too hot or too cool....However, a 40° increase over such a short distance is a sign of running too lean.

Read these: https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76808

https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=916472&posted=1#post916472

 

[rubberneck]

I'm running a sh .28 motor. i will play with it a little more with info you guys just gave & see how it goes. It just seems like i have to run too rich to keep temp in decent range at wot. could it be that its 35 degrees F here?

 

[Phins Fan]

It becomes harder to use temp as a tuning tool when its that cold outside. Running for performance with plenty of smoke vs performance with no smoke IMO. I dont run my nitros in the winter but even when I do run them I typically will tune for performance and smoke rather than temp like 2revo1maxx stated above. Its alwyas good to be a little rich than run a little lean

 

[rubberneck]

thanks for help guys. i think i'm getting it figured out pretty good now. i can richen it a little for cold temps, still have decent performance & keep it running at good temp. also just for my own info what engine temp would be considerd overheating? regardless of outside air temp?

 

[Macguyver]

300 + is what i consider to hot ......i try to never go over 300

 

[2revo1maxx]

300 is pretty hot, I'd say more like 270.

Rubberneck, I want to make sure you understand something about cold weather. If it's 40° outside and your big block engine is running 225°, it's probably on the lean side. A typical, properly tuned engine will run about 150-180° on a dry 40° day, just like it will run about 240-250° on a dry 80° day.......that's without covering the head.
You will see a general decrease of about 10-15° in engine temp for every 10° of outside temp. They need to be richened as the outside temps drop. If I were you I'd richen your engine up and then carefully lean it back in from there.

 

[rubberneck]

that makes sense revomaxx. only go rich enough to keep my temps in 220-250 range right after wot pass right? should i be able to achieve this goal with my hsn ajustment only? right now my lsn pinch test is at 4 seconds & seems to run good.

 

[Greywolf74]

I personally never let my engines run hotter than 265-270. 300 to me is way to hot. I can smell strange burning smells at 300F. Now I have a friend who has a engine that runs at 285. I swear I keep thinking to myself hes gonna burn that thing up one of these days but hes had it for 2 years now and afaik its still running but I know he has a hard time starting it.

 

[Racer 1966]

I'm not afraid of higher temps myself AFTER THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY BROKE IN. I do try to stay under 300 but 280 I don't worry about. The Traxxas Pro .15 is supposed to run at 300,it's in the manual if you don't believe me. Temp is not the only factor for determining if you are tuned though,sound and performance are also taken into account.

For cold temps,I do recommend that you wrap the head with foil or a small sock. And to contradict myself a little, I won't run my "good" engines in the cold. I just run the cheap stock engines then.

 

[2revo1maxx]

that makes sense revomaxx. only go rich enough to keep my temps in 220-250 range right after wot pass right? should i be able to achieve this goal with my hsn ajustment only? right now my lsn pinch test is at 4 seconds & seems to run good.

After wrapping the head, take it out and run it. Once it warms up (180+) start richening the hsn until you notice it's running slower. Once that happens, you know you've just gone past the sweet spot. It's that simple. If you don't wrap the head it will never reach the correct temps and run right.

 

[Greywolf74]

I'm not afraid of higher temps myself AFTER THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY BROKE IN. I do try to stay under 300 but 280 I don't worry about. The Traxxas Pro .15 is supposed to run at 300,it's in the manual if you don't believe me. Temp is not the only factor for determining if you are tuned though,sound and performance are also taken into account.

That is one thing that almost everyone will say. dont worry about temps and tune to performance and smoke from the exhaust. As long as you have good thin but noticable trail of smoke at WOT then your engine is getting proper lubrication and it really shouldnt matter what the temp is. Some of us with temp guns tend to get a little paranoid sometimes.

 

[2revo1maxx]

I'm sorry, but for most engines 300° is just too hot. With lower oil content you can achieve better performance and lower temps.

 

[rubberneck]

what would you suggest for fuel? I'm running sw 20 % it doesn't say what oil content . Is like 30% better? does it have lower oil content?

 

[Rolex]

when to take temp reading

I always take mine if my throat is raw and I'm sweating profusely.