average lifespan of a nitro engine?

[yellow-hydro]

just wondering , what is an average life span of a nitro engine say.15-.21, assuming it is taking care of, not used for racing,
also what are the signs that the engine will give in soon?

can they be rebuilt? or just get a new one?

[Doubledog]

I've seen some that are like the Energize bunny 'wabit... just keep going and going year after year.

Feed it a good low nitro w/good oil content (higher nitro kills them when you get up there). Do good after run maintenance & it'll last a long time. Replacement parts are readily available such as sleeves, bearings, rods, etc... Its all about taking care & not abusing.

[yellow-hydro]

so you are saying a couple years?
what would be the signs of failure? I would gues low compression, hard start?

even that could be confusing.
hence the huge difference between my dynamite .15 (which seems to have high compresion, hard to turn over, yet runs very cool due to its large cylinderhead cooling.)
and my quacraft .15 which is very easy to turn over. and runs hot, due to the small cylinder head +cooling. yet it idles very smooth.

i really like the dynamite, because is has nearly zero oil leaks or oil deposit on it.
where as my aquacraft engine is a leaking, covered in oil galore.
will be interested to see which will last longer, they each have about the same runing time everytime I go out to the lake.

[water dog]

A sign that you are getting wear is it starts and runs and when it warms up it looses power ,(meaning your sleeve to piston fit is getting sloppy.If I where you I would take the xtra large cooling head off and wait till you star to loose power ,then you can run it at lower temps when you put the big head back on.I took my xtra large head off for that same reason.Nitro engines run god hot anyway.

[xraycajun]

I'm sorry to but into the thread like this, but I was wanting to ask the same lifespan question... except about a .67 engine. Same running conditions. Sport use only, no racing... with good fuel and regular maintanence. I was given a Dumas Miller American. I would'nt have bought a nitro boat otherwise. The guy was about to throw the kit away and I figured it would be a waste so I decided to try it. So I'm trying to do research on Nitro power...

Thanks,

Xray

[Doubledog]

How much actual running will you do? A gallon every weekend, every other weekend, once a month, for a few months in the year (3 or less), five or six months running season?

I ran my K&B's a lot: 5+ with no trouble on some. Some half that. Year round most every month burning almost a gallon or more depending on the weather. Some months, didn't run at all. So you could say average 6+ gallon/yr. Its just too hard to give an exact figure so don't complain.:) Had a few of them, so some got used more than others, swapped on different boats, you name it.

My engines were raced & sport ran. Racing days, they got 25% as that was the most I could afford. (my way of racing was based on constancy). Sport running, they got as low as 5% but mainly 15% with good oil content. I'd always prided myself in doing a meticulous job of break-in with them and feel that was a key to surviveability. One engine got rushed thinkin it could be sped up & was the one mota that give the most trouble starting a short time after break-in.

[xraycajun]

I typically run my electrics once a week for 4 months out of the year. I would have to drive an hour north to get to a lake big enough to run this 43" hydro I'm working on. I figure I'll run it, at most, eight to ten times a year. I figure a gallon for each time I run it. I am most concerned with break-in. I plan on buying the nitro marine engine book through RCBM's website. If you know of any other resources, please let me know.

Thanks,

Xray

[Doubledog]

That engine will last you many years at that rate. As you mentioned, you should be conscerned with break-in and the book will solidify a lot of techniques we've talked about here. See ya.