Nitromethane: What Is It and How Does It Affect RC Engine Performance?
Seasoned RC hobbyists and racers know the importance of having the right blended material in nitro fuel, but for those that are new to RC, it can be a little daunting to navigate what all the different fuel blends mean. Nitro fuel is a mixture of nitromethane, methanol, and lubricants (synthetic or castor oils). Each ingredient plays a critical part in producing engine power and protection. The mix of each element produces different fuel combustion results. One of the key elements that the Byron Fuels team highlights in this article is nitromethane, to help you understand what it is and how it adds a bit of kick to the engine.
What is Nitromethane?
Nitromethane is a compound that consists of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms (chemical formula is CH3NO2). This arrangement of elements creates a very flammable substance which is perfect for RC engines. The extra oxygen in the nitro compound allows the fuel to burn faster and generate more power. This is one of the essential mixtures in nitro fuel.
Which Nitro Percentage is Best for You?
Even though nitromethane can provide an added performance boost in nitro engines, there are many different nitro blend percentages to choose from. So, how do you decide which fuel mixture to go with? A good starting point is to take a look at what type of engine you have, the engine manufacturer’s fuel recommendations, and how you plan on using your RC.
If you are looking to drive or fly your RC for fun, use a fuel that contains lower nitromethane percentages and higher amounts of lubrication (10% to 20% nitro content for RC cars and 0%-10% for RC planes). This type of blend is designed to help you get the most life out of your engine and its components, by having more significant amounts of synthetic or castor oils to protect parts. Another benefit of using a lower nitro blend is that you can run your RC for a longer period, since there is less nitromethane being combusted.
For those that are interested in racing their RCs, select a fuel that has a higher nitro content (25% to 40% nitro content for RC cars and 15%-30% for RC planes). With more combustible material in the fuel blend, more power can be generated. This also means that you will burn through fuel faster too. Operating your RC on higher nitro percentages can have adverse effects on the engine as well.
High nitro content can cause wear on engine components, such as pitting on the piston and the inside of the glow plug dome. This calls for a more thorough maintenance of the engine after each run to check for issues–like pitting. Utilizing fuel with too much nitro can lead to pre-detonation in the engine, which is spontaneous fuel combustion that can harm the engine. While you may think that more nitromethane being combusted will lead to higher engine temperatures, this isn’t always the case. Engine temperature is dependent on how the engine is set up. It is a good idea to get a solid engine routine going to see how the fuel affects your engine’s temperature.
Byron Fuels Has You Covered
It doesn’t matter if you are looking to kick up some dirt for fun or compete for a title, Byron Fuels has the nitro fuel blends to fit your needs. From our family of RACE Gen2 and Aero Gen2 fuel to our Wildcat and Black Ops high-performance fuels, we pride ourselves on offering one of the most diverse mixtures of nitromethane fuel in the market. Only the highest quality of raw materials make it into our fuel blends. To ensure material integrity and consistent fuel performance, we utilize stringent quality control throughout our entire blending and packaging processes.
Learn more about Byron Fuel’s high-tech nitro fuel by visiting www.byronfuels.com.
