20
2009
Nitro Radio Controlled Cars - Traxxaa Revo 3.3 RC (Radio controlled) Nitro fuel powered radio controlled car?
I recently bought a Traxxas Revo 3.3 RC (Radio controlled) Nitro fuel powered radio control car. The owner’s manual states that I can run this car on 10%, 20% or 33% nitro content fuel. However, after choosing one of these fuels for the ‘run in’ periods, the manufacturer recommends that I stick with that fuel foe the life time of the car. Does anybody know why I should stay with the same nitro content fuel for the entire lifetime, when the car is designed for all three %’s.? What damage could be done to the engine if I were to change?
Concievably in the long run switching fuels could damage your truck but in my experience I’ve never had a problem switchign fuels. Once you’ve broken your engine in at a certain percent it has been tuned and “run in” for being used to that fuel. Now traxxas, would like you to keep it at that percent on the basis that once it has been broken in the engine almost has a memory to run at a certain temp and combined mixture. While this is true, if you change fuel %’s and set the carb leaner or richer to the new fuel there should be no real damage. I have used different percents of fuel in most of my trucks, 20% for break in and bashing, and then when competing in races, run in the engine and tune the carb to run 30%. While I truly believe it is safe to switch percents, you should be experienced with nitro engines and know exactly what you’r doing with the carb when changing. It may be safe to switch percentages of fuel but I would never on the other hand change brands of fuel. Every car/truck I have started with traxxas fuel, I’ve only used Traxxas top fuel since then. *Traxxas states that as a precautionary measure to ensure no matter what you have a longer engine life. They want all users new and old to the hobby to be assured it will run better longer
Comments
It can damage the engine due to the wearing of the P/S (Piston and sleeve) to the % fuel you choose and tuning with the different %’s are very different. Changing could affect the heating of the P/S and mess it up. I just recommend to pick one and stick with it. New to Nitro I recommend 20% top fuel or Blue Thunder (I use Blue Thunder. Just I believe it’s better).
BTW: 33% is really hard to tune. Don’t use it
References :
It would mix the fuel that you change, if you don’t clean the engine correctly. If you clean the engine you can switch but the engine would perform differently with the fuel and also it would damage the engine by clogging up the fuel line. Its the best answer i can, i do have one of those and i use the 33%.
References :
Use the same fuel because fuels with high and lower nitro content have varying amounts of oil to lubricate and will wear your engine and not in a good way. Traxxas fuel is ok for traxxas engines. I only run fuels from companies whose only product is fuel. If they didn’t succeeded at making quality fuel they would be out of business, unlike traxxas who can make a low tech fuel and fall back on their car sales. I run byrons but there are other companies with good fuel. Stick with one type thoughout the life of the engine.
References :
I have several R/C cars, planes, boats
Don’t know of any damage but if you keep on changing nitro content fuels, you have to set up the carb every time. Set it to run lean the less nitro % it has. As the less nitro content, more fuel is allowed into carb. Also, when ‘running in’ use a fuel with less nitro (10% - 16%), set it really rich so that fuel is spitting from exhaust, after a half gallon, use 20% - 25% nitro fuel, set it to run lean (an eighth of a turn every time and check if it’s making a difference, once it stops making a difference leave it as it is) and enjoy!
References :
Concievably in the long run switching fuels could damage your truck but in my experience I’ve never had a problem switchign fuels.
Once you’ve broken your engine in at a certain percent it has been tuned and "run in" for being used to that fuel. Now traxxas, would like you to keep it at that percent on the basis that once it has been broken in the engine almost has a memory to run at a certain temp and combined mixture. While this is true, if you change fuel %’s and set the carb leaner or richer to the new fuel there should be no real damage.
I have used different percents of fuel in most of my trucks, 20% for break in and bashing, and then when competing in races, run in the engine and tune the carb to run 30%.
While I truly believe it is safe to switch percents, you should be experienced with nitro engines and know exactly what you’r doing with the carb when changing. It may be safe to switch percentages of fuel but I would never on the other hand change brands of fuel. Every car/truck I have started with traxxas fuel, I’ve only used Traxxas top fuel since then.
*Traxxas states that as a precautionary measure to ensure no matter what you have a longer engine life. They want all users new and old to the hobby to be assured it will run better longer
References :
8 years pro racing