RC Engines

A Little More About The Power Houses






RC Engines are the power houses that run your rc machines.

Be it a rc car, helicopter, plane or boat these engines play a vital role in providing the all important power needed to run them.

But then it so happens that most amateurs get so engrossed in the thrill of running and racing that they never tend to think of the actual driving force behind their cars. Basics are more or less unknown.

But then isn’t it all science? I just don’t find it interesting to get into scientific details

rc engines Well it is. That is why this article is here to help you understand the basics of rc engines without going deep into the scientific derivations. Here you will find the concepts explained in an engaging way that any newbie can understand.




…and hey there isn’t much math or science either.

Which RC Engines Do I Use?

For radio controlled nitro or gas rc cars mostly glow engines are used. Glow engines are internal combustion engines that power most of contemporary rc vehicles. Glow engines come in various shapes and sizes to suit the size of the vehicle itself. They come in different power categories.

Glow engines use a specific kind of fuel called glow fuel which happens to be a mixture of methanol and nitro methane. It is mixed with oil to provide lubrication. In glow engine the fuel mixture is ignited by a glow plug.

On the basis of combustion cycles rc engines may be divided into the following two groups

  • 2 stroke engines
  • 4 stroke engines

Important Terms Associated With Engines

These are certain terms that you must understand properly to be able to gauge the importance and ability of your rc car engine.

Horse Power This is the unit of power. There is a cool story behind this name being coined for measuring power which I will tell you some time later. For the time being lets define horse power qualitatively.

It may be defined as the work done by a horse in moving 3300 lbs of weight through 10 feet in one minute.

1 HP = 33000 lb-ft/min

Higher the horse power rating of your engine more powerful it is.

RPM RPM is an abbreviation for revolutions per minute. In internal combustion engines the piston moves to and fro in cycles. Each such complete cycle is called a revolution. Number of such revolutions completed in one minute gives you the RPM value.

Given all other conditions are same an increase in RPM would mean increase in power of the engine.

Displacement Displacement refers to the volume of fuel displaced by one complete forward stroke of the piston. Larger the displacement larger is the torque generated. If we consider all other parameters to be constant then a higher displacement would mean slightly greater power.

Carburettor This is what controls the intake of fuel and air. The throttle arm controls the amount of fuel air combo taken inside for burning. A high speed needle valve maintains the ratio of fuel to air over a range of speeds that the rc vehicle runs at. The idle mixture screw on the other hand ensures the perfect ratio while the engine is idling. This mechanism enables the rc cars to run smoothly over a wide range of speeds.

Popular RC Engines Manufacturers

These are some of the most popular manufacturers of engines for rc cars. They have been around for some time now and their products have been rigorously tested and appreciated by hard core rc enthusiasts. The names are randomly arranged and are in no particular order.

  • Magnum RC Engines
  • Zenoah
  • ASP
  • ENYA Japan
  • Picco
  • Quickdraw
  • RCS
  • ZDZ
  • Sirio

Be it rc car engines or rc jet engines make sure you do the due dilligence before shelling out cash. With so many options available it might be difficult to select the best engine suited to your needs.




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