Keeping it hot!

[ThaDentist]

Thanks for suffering through all the questions. This is definitely a learning process for me.

I ran the truck through about 3 full tanks and think I finally figured out what is going on. It was about 65F outside, but I found that it takes a long, long time to get the engine up to operating temperature. (Like a whole tank of fuel!) How long should it take to get the engine up to the operating temp?

I have a viper fail safe/temp unit which allowed me to monitor the engine temp. Once I got the engine to about 220F it runs really well and 240-250F is the sweet spot. (If I gun it at 3/4 throttle it will do a back flip!) Getting it up to temp is the problem. If I set the HSP to 11 o'clock it takes a 3-4 WOT laps to get it up to the sweet spot (240-250F), but it only has little smoke coming out the pipe. (But the smoke is clearly visible.) If I run at anything less than 1/2 throttle, the engine cools off and it takes multiple loops to get it heated up again.

If I then back the HSP back to 10 o'clock, I get a lot better smoke... but the engine will cool down to <200F and runs with a lot less power. What should I do?

Here is the complete setup:
Sidewinder 20%
O'donnel Blue plug (medium-cold)

Should I maybe step up to 25% or 30% fuel? Should I try moving up to a medium plug? I thought about putting a sock on it, but since it was 65F outside I thought a sock would be a little bit overboard. Any other ideas?

Oh, also HTL is makes tuning kind of interesting. I tried adding a couple of extra loops of fuel line, but it really didn't help.

 

[redneck]

no stay running 20% fuel and richen the low and high speed idle about 1/8 of a turn and a little smoke is awsome

 

[Larsenracing]

What motor are you running. The K's and F''s seem to take longer to worm up but once they are worm they run well. Running with the body will also help bring temps and hold temps. Remember that Temps will be 10-20*F wormer with the body on than with it off.

You could also run a hot or medium-hot plug with 20% fuel which willl help as well. If you switch to 30% fuel go can run the plug you are running.

 

[ThaDentist]

Thanks guys. The engine is an axial 28 spec 1, it absolutely rips when it hits the right temp, but doesn't it seem like a full tank of fuel to get warmed up is a little excessive?

I have been running with the body off because, well, I suck at driving these things! A tree jumped out in front of my savage and it just bounced off. The next day, it took a turn a little too sharp and flipped it at full speed. It went end over and cartwheeled about 6-8 times and nothing was broken. (My daughter, who is 2, thinks its hilarious when daddy flips his truck.) I have had other trucks and either of these wrecks would have ended their day. These Savages are so tough it is amazing!

I will try switching to a medium plug to see if it will keep the engine a bit warmer.

 

[madmax22]

i would run a hot plug dude. don't even bother with a medium plug.

 

[oregonmud]

Make sure when changing plugs on your Axial that you don't get a short plug. A short plug will make the engine overheat and not run well.
If your running without the body than I don't see why it would hurt to put a sock on the head. At least till it warms up. I run with a body and I sock my head to get the temps up.