How to Clean a Nitro RC Car: Engine, Air Filter and Chassis
A nitro RC car gets coated in a sticky mix of unburnt fuel oil and dirt. Clean it after each session: run the tank dry, blow off loose dirt with compressed air, spray the oily areas with a nitro cleaner or isopropyl alcohol (denatured alcohol and motor spray also work), wipe and dry, then clean and re-oil the air filter and put after-run oil in the engine. Never spray water or cleaner into the carburettor or exhaust while they are open.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20264 min read
What you need
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Compressed air or a blower | Loose dirt and dust |
| Nitro car cleaner, or 90%+ isopropyl / denatured alcohol | Dissolves oily fuel residue |
| Brushes (paint brush, toothbrush) | Into corners and the cooling head |
| Paper towels, rags | Wiping |
| After-run oil | Protects the engine from corrosion |
| Air filter oil, mild soap | Filter cleaning |
| Plugs or tape | Cover carb and exhaust while cleaning |
Where isopropyl is hard to buy, motor spray or a dedicated RC cleaner does the same job. Avoid strong solvents like brake cleaner on plastic parts, rubber seals and painted bodies: they can soften or crack them.
Step by step
- Empty the tank and let the engine cool. Remove the body and the battery or glow driver.
- Cover openings: remove the air filter and cap the carb inlet; plug the exhaust tip.
- Blow off dust and grass with compressed air, working from top to bottom.
- Degrease: spray cleaner on oily areas (engine, chassis plate, under the tank), let it work briefly, scrub with a brush, wipe.
- Cooling head: clean between the fins; dirt there makes the engine run hot.
- Dry: air or towel; re-lube metal parts like the clutch bell bearing if the cleaner reached them.
- Air filter: wash the foam in warm soapy water, rinse, dry fully, then re-oil evenly with air filter oil.
- After-run oil: put a few drops into the carb and glow plug hole and turn the engine over to spread it.
Why after-run oil matters
Nitro fuel contains methanol, which attracts moisture and leaves residues that cause rust on the crankshaft bearings and in the cylinder. Running the engine dry and adding after-run oil after each day prevents the most common failure in stored nitro engines: seized or rusty bearings.
Deep cleaning
A few times a season, or when the car is very dirty, take the parts off: wheels, shocks, the engine mount and the fuel tank. Clean each piece, check bearings for roughness, rinse the fuel tank with fresh fuel (not water), and replace cracked fuel lines. Clean the carburettor only if the engine won’t hold a tune; a stuck idle or dirt in the jet are signs. After reassembly, retune the engine; see how to tune a nitro RC car engine.
Mistakes to avoid
- Pressure washing: water gets into bearings, the engine and electronics.
- Running without an air filter or with a dry one: dust wears the piston and sleeve quickly.
- Leaving fuel in the tank and engine for weeks.
- Spraying cleaner onto receiver and servos.
- Forgetting to remove the plugs from the carb and exhaust before the next start.
Storing a nitro car
For longer storage, run it dry, add after-run oil, remove the glow plug ignitor, store the car off its tyres in a dry place, and fill fresh fuel before the next run. Fuel itself should be kept closed and cool; see what nitro fuel is.
FAQ
What can I use to clean a nitro engine?
Nitro cleaner, isopropyl or denatured alcohol, or motor spray, with a brush.
Can I wash a nitro car with water?
Only lightly with care to protect the engine and electronics; solvent cleaners work better on oil.
How often should I clean it?
A quick clean after every run day; a deep clean a few times a season.
How often to clean the air filter?
After every session in dusty conditions.
More on this topic: the complete RC Cars guide covers the basics behind this article.
About 20 years in RC. Mostly boats in the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, with many self-made parts; also a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes he has flown, and an RC helicopter. More about SwellRC
