Editing Radio-controlled car (section)

===Nitro powered models===
[[File:Traxxas t-maxx.no body.triddle.jpg|thumb|A [[Traxxas]] T-Maxx nitro-powered off-road monster truck without the body]]
[[Nitromethane]] nitro powered models utilize a single servo for throttle and braking control; rotation of the servo in one direction will cause the [[throttle]] on the [[carburetor|carburettor]] to open, providing more air and fuel mixture to the [[internal combustion engine]]. Rotation of the servo in the other direction causes [[torque]] to be applied to a linkage and cam which causes friction with the braking material. The brake is commonly located on the [[driveshaft]] or spur gear in some cases and applies stopping power only to the driven wheels. Some models will also use an additional servo to control a transmission box, enabling the vehicle to drive in reverse.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

Fuel engine sizes most often range between {{convert|0.12|-|0.35|cuin}}.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-03 |title=Nitro vs. Electric RC Cars - Which Is Best? - RC Crush |url=https://www.rccrush.com/nitro-vs-electric-rc-cars/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=www.rccrush.com |language=en-US}}</ref> This is due to restrictions by the main sanctioning bodies for radio-controlled racing. Many "outlaw" engines are manufactured larger than these, mainly intended for vehicles which will not be used in sanctioned races and therefore do not need to comply with these regulations. Engine size is related to the class of car; 1/10 scale on and off-road vehicles usually are equipped with .12–.18 cubic inch engines, with 1/8 scale vehicles using .21–.32 cubic inch engines. There are exceptions, with many Schumacher and Thunder Tiger/Team Associated RC models being good examples of unusually large engines coming as standard equipment on certain models.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

[[File:hyper8.jpg|thumb|An Ofna Hyper 8 Pro 1:8-scale nitro-powered racing buggy]]
Fuel-powered engines allow model cars to reach moderate speeds unmodified. Maximum power is generally achieved at medium to high speeds, and a slightly slower throttle response than electrically powered vehicles is to be expected due to clutching and lack of torque. Electric motors effectively produce instantaneous torque, whereas nitro engines, like full-sized gasoline engines, take time for the engine to spool up and for the clutch to engage. Nitro- (and fuel) powered cars may be refuelled and returned to action in a few seconds, as opposed to electrics which require removal of the body shell and battery fasteners to replace a discharged battery. Nitro cars are cooled some by air, some by the oil mixed in with the fuel and may be run continuously with no need to take breaks for cooling down assuming they are properly tuned.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

Nitro-powered cars operate like full-sized fuel vehicles more than their electric counterparts do, making use of a [[two stroke engine]] rather than an [[electric motor]]. The sound of the engine noise is a main selling points to nitro enthusiasts, even though brushless electric equivalents are generally faster and do not require special fuel. However, their exhaust contains unburned oil, which usually ends up coating the chassis. This, in turn, requires more cleaning than an electric-powered equivalent. Cleaning is usually achieved by the use of compressed air nozzles and solvents (such as [[denatured alcohol]]). Tuning a fuel-powered vehicle requires learning to maintain optimum performance and fuel economy, and to minimize engine wear and overheating, even in ready-to-run vehicles. Running a nitro-fuel motor without tuning or tuning improperly can hurt performance in rich conditions, and cause severe damage in lean conditions.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

[[File:RC Car.ogv|thumb|Traxxas Nitro Sport]]

Because of their ability to be driven for longer periods of time and the use of burning fuel, mechanical wear in nitro vehicles is generally greater than in electric vehicles. In addition, the increased weight of fuel-powered vehicles generally lead to higher speed collisions, causing greater damage to the collided vehicles, and a greater degree of safety concerns needs to be taken into account. Maintenance such as cleaning of the air filter and general chassis cleaning, replacement of worn clutch parts, proper after-run lubrication (necessary for storage) and maintenance of other motor-related items such as glow plug replacement makes for a more frustrating experience for first time RC users. In addition, nitro motors typically require rebuilding or replacement after 2–8 gallons (7–30 litres) of fuel run through them, due to loss of compression, which can be accelerated by poor tuning and overheating. It is also possible to seriously damage the engines by over-revving them with no load or ingestion of dirt into the carburettor. As such, nitro-powered vehicles are by nature expensive to maintain.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}