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Are You Using the Right Glowplug
for Your R/C Nitro Cars Engine?
You've seen one glow plug you've seen them all, right?
Well, not hardly. Just like some r/c nitro cars and trucks are faster than others not all glow plugs are created equal either.
Some engines like ‘em hot. Some like ‘em cold. And having the right glow plug is critical to optimum engine performance.
Glow Plugs 101
For the most part whether a plug is hot or cold is determined by the coil. That is• What it’s made of
• How long it is
• How thick it is
These are the three factors that have the biggest affect on temp of a glowplug.
Yet did you know you can also read the plug?
For instance if your new plug turns gray after a tank or two you’re in good shape. On the edge of being too lean but still okay.
Ideally you want the plug to appear to look a tad wet and shiny. That says you’re running a bit on the rich side. But being a bit too rich is better than being a bit too lean.
Too lean shows up on the plug too. Should the coil be distorted or break off in some way that’s a sign of too much compression. Too much compression that comes from running too lean.
Okay but who cares about all this?
Well, for one, you do.
You see, the glow plug is what makes the fuel/air mix in any r/c nitro engine ignite. Sorta like the spark plugs in an internal combustion engine. Only different. And if you don’t get this right, you could be dooming your engine to a shortened life span.
Of course since you almost can’t keep track of when to use what when without a scorecard, let me give you a quick and dirty one to help guide you along.
Generally the size of the engine determines what heat plug is called for. The smaller the engine the hotter the plug. While conversely the larger the engine the cooler the glow plug you use.
Percentage of nitro also plays a part as to which plug to use..
If you’re running a higher percentage of nitro in your fuel mix, you’ll probably get going best with a cooler plug. On the other hand less nitro means a cooler plug is needed.
Then it might help to understand what’s happening inside your nitro engine. Here’s a quick overview of Nitro Engine Starting
Finally unless specifically called for you generally you want to stay away from hot plugs.
Excessive heat is the enemy of long engine life. And a dead engine will leave even the best tuned r/c nitro cars sitting at the starting line. Dead on arrival. Which is no way to make it into the winners circle.
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