Winter tuning

[chadds]

Does anyone else have tuning issues in extreme cold weather...or is it just me. First I had a 2.5 T-Maxx...and that thing was awful to tune no matter how the weather was, and even worse when it was very cold.

Now, I have an HPI MT 2, and it is MUCH easier to tune, but when it is really cold, like below 30 degrees, it is kind of a pain to tune too. Over the weekend it was in the 50's, and the truck tuned right in, ran beautifully and held the tune all weekend long. Today, it got down to the high 20's and very windy, and I have to keep fiddling around to keep the idle smooth, and the temps from getting too high or too low. It doesn't get too bad...just doesn't stay perfect like it does on a warmer day. I can usually get it to run with no more than 10 degrees in engine temp variation all day long on a nice day.

Is this typical of cold weather, if so...any tips or suggestions, or is it just something you need to deal with when running nitro engines? Thanks a lot.

Chad

 

[spanko123]

hmmm, thats pretty wierd but i mean if you're car is tuuned up nice and performs fine on an average day, sumtimes its just that the engine isnt running at operating temperature and it could run a litttle funny, just warm the thing up with a hairdryer then it should start right up, my car too in the cold winter tunes a little differnet but it was quick fix no realy big problem. run all year 4 lyfe!

 

[WHEELIN24/7]

running in cold weather will mess with your tuning.the cold weather tends to lean out the engine and cause it to run wierd or run hot ,I've ran mine one day at 45 degr. and then at 17 degr. and had to richen it up quite a bit

 

[newnitrofan]

I really think it depends on the carb and engine situation. I have a NMT with a fantom 15. Threw a hair dryer on it and it ran sweet yesterday with the same tune from when it was hot last. Couldn't even get my savage to start yesterday. Our high yesterday was like 25

 

[Igman87]

look at it this way

look at it this way. Think about real cars (the kind u drive to work in) in cold weather like that, they have a little trouble too. These are highly precise machines that people devote their lives into to make them flawless. so if something like that could have trouble then it should be no surprise that a nitro would too.

so anyways - heat it up w/a hairdryer like u would an engine block heater on a real car.

 

[snrs4]

my super nitro runs hot and idles like hell in this cold weather....I haven't figured out how to tune it for cold weather right yet. its a o.s. 12-tr

By the way nice to have a winter in portland for once.....

 

[olds97_lss]

I have had some of the same troubles your having. I'm running the OS 21 RG-X(P) on my maxx. When it's below 35 out, i have a hard time getting it to run right. It does seem to really lean out. When i richen it up a bit, the temps drop drastically. Like 1/4 turn drops the temps 60degrees.

Although, my smaller OS 15 cv-rx on my stadium doesn't care what the temps are. It runs good with a little change on the high speed. I've run at at 10degrees. Although, 2 wheel drive isn't as much fun in the snow.

 

[30%NitroBoy]

Hey,

Well I can't honeslty say that it's "extreme cold" here in the high desert but it gets plenty cold here. Nitro engines in general don't seem to like below freezing temp. The more dense oxgygen does seem to compensate for the alltitude in the winter.

WHen it's around 40 outside I can generally tune an engine to run perfect and scream from the extra oxygen.

Peace

 

[SkyMaxx]

The first thing that helps get the engine running is a warm engine block and head. Use a hair dryer or heat gun to warm things up prior to starting.

Second, due to the fact that air is more dense when it is colder outside, you may have to run a little on the richer side of your normal settings. Once she is running and up to operating temps, you can then start to lean her out.

The problem with "extreme" cold is that things tend to cool off very quickly. So your settings will change in order to get it going and up to temperature. One thing that I found to help was fueling the car with the engine running. That's right with the engine running. I don't let the tank bottom out...bring the truck back in, pop the top and squirt a tank of fuel in and close it back up. I have done this several times for up to three or four tanks. The cooler outside air keeps things running on the cooler side of things, and you are able to get about an hour worth of running before you really should let the engine cool down.

The other option is to bring the car in after it runs out of fuel and immediately hit it with the heat gun to keep the engine warm. Fuel her up and go.

Regardless, if you do not keep the block warm...your tuning will be painful.