August 2007 News and Blogs for Wondertrail

Thursday, August 9, 2007

An Overview of RC Model Nitro Fuel

  Nitro fuel It is NOT gasoline! Never try to feed an rc nitro engine gasoline, because it will cause all sorts of problems. Besides, it won't work anyway! RC nitro fuel is made up of a custom blend of 3 primary components.

1) NITROMETHANE. Also commonly referred to as NITRO for short. Nitro methane is derived from propane. In itself, nitro is not even extremely flammable as one might think. The real power producing potential of nitro methane is that it carries additional oxygen with it into the combustion process. It acts as a fuel too, but the molecule carries oxygen along with it. In a way, nitro methane is sort of like a chemical "supercharger" for an engine. It helps get more oxygen into the engine to help burn more fuel and produce more power. For most nitro engines used in RC trucks, a 20% nitro blend is probably a good balance. Most nitro engines in cars and trucks could probably tolerate fuels with up to 30% nitro, but it's probably best to avoid going much over that in a typical nitro engine. 20% nitro is probably one of the most common fuel blends for RC truck nitro engines, and would be a safe choice for most people. Follow the recommendations of your engine manufacturer, and you should be safe.

2) METHANOL. Methanol is sometimes referred to as "wood alcohol" because originally it was derived from distilled wood products. However, methanol can be made from more than one source, and today it is very commonly derived from natural gas. Methanol is the primary fuel component of nitro fuels and is usually also the most dominant ingredient in a nitro fuel mixture. Methanol is also a common fuel used in full size motorsports and racing. The methanol has a natural intercooling effect that helps to cool both the intake air/fuel mixture which means cooler, denser (more oxygen) and more power potential. Also, the evaporative cooling effect of methanol can help keep engine temps running cooler than other fuels. Methanol contains the primary energy content of nitro fuels.

3) OIL. The oil portion of the nitro fuel blend is very interesting. Over the years, there has been much debate and changing recommendations. First there was castor oil. Then there were synthetics. Some fuels have been blended with all castor oil and some with all synthetic oils. Today, most nitro fuels contain a combination of both synthetic and castor oil. Castor oil is a naturally occurring oil that is derived from a plant. It is a natural lubricant that has some very unique properties. When subjected to higher temperatures, castor oils will actually begin to break down. Normally, this would be a bad thing for a lubricant to do in an internal combustion engine. However, in the case of castor oil, this "breaking down" is one of its greatest strengths! When castor oil breaks down at high temperatures, its properties change and its high temperature lubricating properties actually increase! As engine temperatures go up further, the castor oil continues to break down and forms a lubricating film that actually protects the engine better. In the process, this film or residue (like varnish) can also gum up the engine and cause other problems. On the other hand, synthetic oils typically are much cleaner and normally do not leave residues behind. Synthetic oils can help lubricating metal surfaces at higher RPM's when temperatures are lower. However, when temperatures rise, synthetic oils can break down and actually burn off leaving little protection for the engine. So, there are strengths and weaknesses of both castor and synthetic oils. Thankfully, most modern RC trucks run on nitro fuel blends that utilize the strengths of each type of oil, and contain a blend of both castor and synthetic oils to help offer maximum protection for the nitro engine under many different conditions.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Traxxas Rustler (TX3705) and Stampede (TX3605) Electric RTR RC Trucks