How Do You Adjust Nitro Cars For Weather?
Weather conditions dramatically affect a nitro RC car’s performance. All nitro engines must maintain a proper engine temperature—typically between 220 to 240 degrees—in order to reach optimum performance. An engine requires maximum airflow around the cylinder head and a richer air/fuel mixture when running in hot weather and less airflow and a leaner air/fuel mixture in cold conditions. Even if you’re a master at tuning nitro engines, there are certain modifications that must be made when driving in extreme weather conditions. After you adjust the carburetor’s high-and-low needle-valves to obtain optimum performance, turn the high-speed needle-valve counterclockwise 1/3 turn to richen the air/fuel mixture considerably. It’s better to sacrifice a little performance than have your engine overheat. Refill the gas tank when it’s half empty (or half full if you’re an optimist). As the tank drains, the air in the tank has a tendency to lean out the carburetor’s air/fuel mixture slightly.
