Practical Tips on RC Nitro Fuel

If you want to get the most out of your nitro RC car, the nitro fuel you use plays a key role.

That’s why we recommend you keep reading this article, where we go over the most important details to keep in mind when choosing the best fuel for your nitro RC car.

Fuel for RC cars

The fuel your car needs varies a lot from one model to another, as well as with the scale and the size of the engine.

The main thing about nitro fuel for RC cars is that it has less oil and more nitromethane than the fuel blends used by other RC vehicles, such as RC planes. That’s because RC car nitro engines run at higher rpm, so they burn more nitromethane.

Why your choice of nitro fuel matters

As we mentioned above, your nitro RC car’s performance depends directly on the quality of the fuel you give it.

Also keep in mind that fuel that has sat unused for a long time, or been stored incorrectly, can harm your nitro engine or keep it from making full power.

The main problems you’ll run into are when starting your RC car’s engine. You may also have trouble tuning the carburetor on your nitro engine.

That’s why it’s important to follow these tips when handling fuel for RC vehicles.

Choose a major nitro fuel brand

As we all know, making RC fuel involves a complex process to reach the highest quality. So we always recommend choosing the major brands on the market, because that way you can be sure they’ve met the standards and passed the checks needed to deliver the best fuel quality.

Besides giving you top-quality products, these brands also make sure the container is airtight, that the fuel is transported properly and that it delivers the power the manufacturer claims.

Store your fuel properly

Storing your fuel in the right place is very important, because it keeps the fuel from losing important properties. Always keep the container out of direct sunlight, in a cool, dry place.

Close the fuel container carefully

One of the most important components of RC nitro fuel is methyl alcohol (methanol), which evaporates very easily.

So if you keep the container somewhere hot or in the wrong place, and don’t close it properly, the blend will most likely no longer have the right properties. The oil percentage in the fuel will make it very thick, so the engine probably won’t even start.

Recommended fuel blends for RC cars

Depending on your RC car’s scale, you’ll need different fuel blends. For 1/10 scale cars, the recommended nitromethane content is 16%, and you can use that blend both for racing and for everyday running.

For a 1/8 scale car, the recommendation is 25% nitromethane for everyday running, and 25 to 30% for racing.

Every nitro engine needs a certain percentage of oil, but to know for sure how much your fuel should contain, check your engine manufacturer’s documentation.

Fuel blends list the nitromethane content they contain, as the Merlin brand does, so you can check it before you buy.

Main components of nitro fuel

As we mentioned before, RC fuel blends contain different components, and here we go through each of them so you understand how nitro fuel is made up.

Nitromethane

This is the component responsible for the punch of the fuel blend.

Another of its jobs is helping to cool the nitro engine and improving its idle. Always remember, whenever possible, to use the fuel your engine’s manufacturer recommends.

Alcohol as RC fuel

Alcohol is the base of RC fuel; in this case it’s methyl alcohol (methanol). This alcohol evaporates easily and is also hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air. If that happens, the fuel blend loses its properties and your RC engine will run poorly.

Oil for RC nitro engines

There are two kinds of oil that can be in your RC fuel blend: synthetic and castor.

Synthetic RC oil

Synthetic oil has to be formulated to mix with alcohol, since not every oil can.

Its big advantage over castor oil is that it doesn’t leave residue inside the nitro engine if the engine sits unused for a long time.

These days there are lots of brands and types of synthetic oil, so the recommendation is to always use this type of oil in your nitro engines.

Castor oil in nitro fuel

Castor oil is almost out of use and is used in very small amounts. Its main advantage is that it doesn’t break down easily at high temperatures, the way synthetics do.

Other components in nitro fuel

Some highly regarded brands, such as Merlin Fuel, add compounds such as antioxidants to their blends to extend the life of the nitro engine.

They may also include anti-foaming agents, which keep foam from forming when you fill your nitro car’s tank.

Thanks for reading this post on RC nitro fuel. We hope it’s been a big help in choosing the fuel for your nitro RC car.