Storing Your Nitro Engine & Fuel During the Winter
Storing Your Nitro Engine and Fuel During Winter
For those RC enthusiasts that are looking to store their nitros during winter or for long periods of time, special attention to your engine and fuel should be made in preparation. This will not only keep your investment in good condition, but it will also help ensure everything is ready to go when it’s time to take your RC out for a spin. To take some of the guesswork out of storage prep, we’ve assembled some tips to help get you started.
Storing A Nitro Engine
Poor maintenance, in general, is not good for your engine. While in storage, the effects of lousy upkeep can be compounded. There are plenty of things that can go wrong while it sits on the shelf. So here is a procedure for keeping your engine prepped and protected during storage.
1. Remove Fuel
Before you begin storage preparations, it’s a good idea to empty the fuel tank, clear the lines, and manually cycle the engine a few times. If you do not plan to add any after-run oil (Step 2), unburnt fuel that sits in the engine has a chance of evaporating after a while and the oil left over can act as an after-run oil.
2. Oil Components
We only recommend after-run oil when the engine is going to be stored for a long period of time. If you plan on putting the engine away for a while you need to add a few drops of after-run oil to the carburetor venturi and exhaust port. Once that’s completed, move the crank back and forth. This oil will coat and protect the inside of your engine – while also preventing gunk buildup during storage. You can also replace the glow plug and put additional oil in the top of the chamber for further protection.
3. Cover Ports
After that, it’s a good idea to place caps on the carburetor venturi, fuel nipple, and exhaust port. These caps ensure that the oil is kept inside the engine and that debris stays out. Caps are relatively inexpensive and can be found online.
4. Place It In A Bag
If you are not going to have the engine mounted on the RC, the engine itself should be placed in a durable plastic bag in order to protect it from the elements. For additional moisture protection, set a silica gel packet inside the bag. Silica packets are designed to take moisture out of the air.
Storing Nitro Fuel
Once you have your RC engine adequately prepped and ready to go for long-term storage, it's time to make sure your nitro fuel, such as Byron Fuels, gets the same attention. When you correctly store fuel, you not only increase its longevity but also keep your engining running great after being brought out of storage.
First off, make sure you keep the fuel locked in tight containers. The reasoning behind this is that it helps prevents issues with condensation collecting on the inside of the bottle, which could ruin your fuel. Another way to keep your fuel in good shape during long-term storage is to have it placed in an area that has consistent temperatures and is away from direct light. Over a long period of time, fuel can be damaged by being exposed to fluctuating hot and cold environments and sunlight. However, temperature and light do not have a discernible effect on fuel in the short-term.
Source: http://byronfuels.com/news/Proper-Winter-Storage.html
