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Never Run Your Engine Lean

It is just as critical for a nitro engine to have adequate lubrication and cooling as it is for an vehicle engine. Some of the heat from a nitro-powered engine is removed by air from the propeller moving across the fins on the engine’s head. This is not nearly enough to keep the engine from overheating. For this reason the fuel acts as a coolant to remove the heat from the engine.

All glow fuels have a certain content of oil which lubricates the parts. By adjusting the high-speed needle valve you are controlling how much coolant and lubrication the engine is getting. Running an engine too lean will destroy your nitro engine just a quickly as driving your car without oil or with a busted radiator hose!

It is very important that you NEVER under any circumstances run your engine too lean. The engine should be adjusted slightly rich at all times.

Keep in mind that the nitro engine tuning tips provided here are only guidelines for tuning your engine. Please read and follow the directions that came with your engine for adjusting the carburetor

Read more: Glow Engine Tuning

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Simple check of your glowplug and tell you a story of how healthy your engine is.  Glow plugs are very important to the performance of your engine. You can also read your glow plugs to check if you are running too rich or too lean.

A brand new glow plug has a wire or filament that is shiny. If after running the wire is still shiny and the bottom of the plug is wet, then you are running too rich. You are probably getting only 85% of the maximum engine power.

Read more: Read Your Glow Plugs