Kandy_Man

I am running a HBX VRX-2 buggy. and on the website they only sell 16% nitro fuel. is this to little percentage?

thanks

rast4man

My Feedback: (10)

It has a Go motor so I would think it should run on 20%. I could be wrong on this particular motor so hopefully someone can confirm.

Kandy_Man

any type in particular?

HJJFFFAA

You can run any percentage you want.

rast4man

My Feedback: (10)

I run Traxxas Top Fuel Power Plus 20% or Blue Thunder 20%

SyCo_VeNoM

ditto on Traxxas.
Aint 16% for boats or airplanes?

fourwheels0

My Feedback: (7)

blue thunder 20% or o'donnels 20%. traxxas fuel is got to be the worst fuel out there imo.

rast4man

My Feedback: (10)

What makes it so bad? The guy at our LHS uses it and he's sponsored by CENRacing. He ONLY uses that fuel. What is wrong with it?

DaveG55

Not really. Nearly any nitro engine can be run on any nitro percentage - from 0 to around 80% or so. It all depends on what you have available and what you want out of the engine. Airplanes tend to run on a lower percentage of nitro because most planes don't need tremendous power and longevity is more of a concern. Boats on the other hand tend to run higher percentages up to 50 or 60% for hard core racers. That will give tremendous power but much shorter life spans.

The only thing that may be needed when changing nitro percentages away from factory reccomended is adding/removing shims and retuning to the new fuel.

HJJFFFAA

WAY too much oil in Traxxas fuel. That is what's wrong with it.

DaveG55

Lots of people have a dislike for Traxxas Top Fuel because it has a lot of oil and OWBs seem to slip a lot when using it. They, Traxxas, has since come out with a different blend. I don't have any experience with that fuel and so don't know if it is good or bad. I know I won't use Traxxas original formula. Nor will I use Blue Thunder as I have had a terrable experience with that fuel.
I do really like the O'Donnell's fuels.

rast4man

My Feedback: (10)

Thanks for the feedback. I will certainly look into that because I don't want to do any damage long-term using junk fuel. I think my LHS ONLY carries that brand though @ $30/gallon.

firebird78

yeah I ran traxxas top fuel once...never again...my engine didnt like burning it and my one way bearing didnt like it either...

if your just bashing around I'd run 20%...25% and 30% is more for racing (I'm racing with 20% but when I get a new race mill I'll move to 25%)...I run byrons but odonnel makes good fuel also...byrons, odonnell, trinity and traxxas is the only fuels I am familiar with.....

rast was correct...it will run on 20% an thats what I would use....also I have pretty much the same buggy...your gonna like it...they are very well built and they will take a beating...I've beat the tar outta mine and it just asks for more

dittch

The standard % seems to be 20%, and if you're going to race it is typically 30%. The 16% brands I've seen are for planes. Back when I was first into nitro I ran the plane fuel (15%) and didn't ever have any problems with it. If you can get 16% much cheaper than 20% and you're just bashing your car, then just stick with 16% as the power increase will be minimal in going from 16 to 20%.

I fly planes too and sometimes run my plane fuel in my cars, no problems.

fourwheels0

My Feedback: (7)

the problem with traxxas fuel is you have to run the engine to lean and hot to get power out of it because of the oil in it. plus you had to mess with the needles all the time.
even the new 33% traxxas fuel is not that good. still too much oil. i beleive they do that because it's marketed for people just starting out in rc.
the blue thunder was alot better and the o'donnels was even better. all i run now is o'donnels 30% and have no tuning issues and great power.
i've run o'donnels in everything from os18tz's,hpi,fantom,lrp,ninja and a few other engines and never had a tuning issue,heat issue or longevity issue.

rast4man

My Feedback: (10)

What would be the proper way to go from say 20% Traxxas to 30% O'Donnels? Would it affect the motor switching fuel or just have to re-tune to the new fuel and climate?

firebird78

I believe you havta shim the engine to run 30%....well its advised anyways...when you buy a new engine (higher end anyways) they come with a shim

DaveG55

O'Donnell's makes 20% fuel as well. Unless you are a hard core racer there's not a lot of benifit to going to a higher percentage fuel.
Any time you change fuels you will need to retune. Heck, you should retune when you switch to a fresh gallon of fuel even if it is the exact same brand/percentage, etc.

Kandy_Man

thanks everyone

i think i gunna get 20%

do i need to change the plug or definately add a shim?

firebird78

nope....fill it up and fire it up...your ready for business

rast4man

My Feedback: (10)

Thanks. I'm looking into theor fuel but my LHS doesn't stock it and I don't know if he'd order it just for me. Any leads on a decent place that ships? amainhobbies only has a quart of 30% it looks like and Tower has this http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LA6227&P=1 for like $120.

Kandy_Man

okay brilliant

thanks

Lew

Chris_RC

If you aren't 100% set of O'Donnell, you can try this fuel.

[link]http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/products_id/145543/n/Maxys-25-Pro-Racing-Fuel-Four-Gallons[/link]

I have not personally tried it but it gets nothing but great reviews. And for $15.75 a gallon it is a no-brainer. I never really liked O'Donell much anyway, the performance is good but it is very toxic so make sure you can hold your breath for a while when tuning the idle and low speed neeedle. Your eye's also tear (spelling? a drip of water coming down from your eye) quickly.

olkleaf

guys at the track go to told me in Europe 16% and 25% nitro are the norm.
you should have no problem running it on 16% i used to run some my engines on 10% when i started running nitro.

redcatking

If you admit there is possibly some false info in you post then why are you postiung in the first place????????? get you facts straight then try to help people.