Nitro starter kits: what you need to run a nitro car

A nitro car doesn't run out of the box the way an electric one does. Even a "ready-to-run" model needs a handful of extras before the engine will start, and new owners are often caught out by how many. This guide lists everything you need, explains what each item is for, and shows what ready-made starter kits include and leave out.

If you haven't bought the car yet, read nitro vs electric RC cars first. Nitro is great fun, but it's louder, messier and more involved than electric.

The short list

Each item explained

Glow plug igniter

A nitro engine has no spark plug. A glow plug has a small platinum coil that you heat with a 1.2–1.5V igniter to start the engine; once running, the combustion keeps it hot and the igniter comes off (Wikipedia: glow fuel). Most igniters use a rechargeable NiMH cell, and a bigger capacity means more starts per charge (the battery types are covered in NiMH vs LiPo).

Nitro fuel

Car fuel is usually 16–25% nitromethane, with the rest methanol and oil. Don't use anything other than model glow fuel. Which percentage to choose, how fuel is delivered in the UK and how to store it are covered in our nitro fuel guide.

Fuel bottle

A squeeze bottle with a flexible spout lets you fill the tank without spilling fuel over a hot engine. Starter kits nearly always include one, typically around 500ml (ProTek starter set contents).

Spare glow plugs

A glow plug that's worn or burnt out is the single commonest reason a nitro engine won't start or won't idle. Keep at least two or three spares (EuroRC beginner's checklist). Buy the type your engine's manual specifies: standard or turbo, and the right heat range (hot, medium or cold). The wrong plug can make an engine hard to tune.

After-run oil

Nitro fuel attracts moisture, and methanol left in an engine can corrode the bearings and crank. After your last run of the day, run the tank dry and put a few drops of after-run oil into the carburettor and glow plug hole, then turn the engine over. Traxxas lists after-run oil among the things you'll need soon after starting (Traxxas).

Air filter oil and spare foams

The foam air filter must be oiled so it catches fine dust. A dry or dirty filter lets grit straight into the engine, which wears it out fast. Keep a few pre-oiled foams so you can swap rather than clean at the track.

Tools

Kits usually include a cross wrench for the glow plug and wheel nuts and a small flat screwdriver for the needles. You'll also want hex drivers (commonly 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0mm) for general maintenance, as covered in RC car maintenance.

Radio batteries

Many ready-to-run nitro models use AA batteries in the transmitter and a separate receiver pack. Check the box: Traxxas, for example, lists AA batteries for both on some models.

Starter box (only some engines)

Most RTR nitro cars and trucks have a pull-start. Some, especially 1/8 on-road and racing engines, have no starter at all and are spun by pressing the car onto a powered starter box. If your engine has no pull-start or electric start, a starter box goes on the essential list.

Infrared temperature gun (strongly recommended)

Tuning by ear takes practice. A cheap infrared thermometer pointed at the cylinder head tells you whether the engine is running too lean (hot) or too rich (cool). Follow your engine maker's guidance for the target range.

What ready-made starter kits include

Most nitro starter kits are very similar. A typical kit includes:

• a glow igniter with rechargeable battery and mains charger;
• a fuel bottle;
• one or two cross wrenches (glow plug, wheel nuts);
• one or two small screwdrivers.

Examples include the ProTek RC Nitro Starter Set (500cc bottle, 1800mAh igniter, two cross wrenches, two screwdrivers) (ProTek) and the UK-plug Fastrax set with a 3000mAh igniter and fuel bottle (eBay listing). LRP's basic set has also included a motor stopper and clutch tool (LiveRC).

What they leave out

• Fuel: almost never included, because it can't be posted with ordinary parcels.
• Spare glow plugs.
• After-run oil and air filter oil.
• A temperature gun and a starter box.

So the kit is a starting point, not everything you need.

The kit we'd put together

1. A branded starter set with a UK-plug charger and a decent-capacity igniter (2000mAh or more).
2. Three glow plugs of the type your engine specifies.
3. After-run oil and air filter oil, plus a pack of spare filter foams if your car takes them.
4. Fuel at the percentage your engine maker recommends, from an established UK fuel brand (see nitro fuel).
5. An infrared temperature gun, once you start tuning.
6. A starter box, only if your engine needs one.

Getting it running

Before driving hard, a new engine needs running in. Follow your engine manual's procedure exactly; it's the most important thing you'll do for its life. If it won't start, check the glow plug first, then the fuel, then the needle settings, and see RC car troubleshooting.

Still deciding on a car? The RC car buyer's guide covers the whole decision. Back to the RC cars hub.