T-Maxx overheating in South Texas heat... HELP

[Nitro_Man]

I have a traxxas t-Maxx and it runs extremly hot. I have the high speed needle at 3 turns out, and the low speed is flush with the carb body. I have no holes in the gas tank or in the gas lines. I have called Traxxas and talked to my local hobby shop they have no idea what's wrong. Any feedback will be appreciated.

[BorG]

Since I have been hearing that Texas is having a heat wave and a drought, this is not really good for any good for a nitro engine. In reality, you would have to run leaner because less air is entering the carb. Try to let the T-maxx cool down after each tank with a fan to cool it quick. You may also want to cut holes on the windshield or other windows for cool air to pass on the engine. Does the engine only start when it is cold? If it does, I think that you would have to rebuild the engine or take advantage of Traxxas's Engine Replacement plan. Hope this helps ya. Good Luck!

[StephenB]

Nitro, how hot IS it running? Traxxas puts a special note on all of its kits saying that their engines run very hot. Normal TMaxx engines that I've seen run in the 280F range...extremely hot!!! but normal for those particular engines.

Are you having any performance problems, or is it just running too hot for your preferences? Running it richer is always a good thing when in doubt http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/wink.gif

[BobHastings]

Here's a few questions for you-
Do you have cooling holes cut into the windshield?? What percentage nitro are you running? Do you have a good amount of blue smoke exiting the exhaust pipe? How hot is "hot."
Make certain that there's nothing obstructing the high-speed needle...unscrew and flush the spray bar assembly and reinstall the valve to 2 turns out...

[Nitro_Man]

Thanks for the help guys I called traxxas and they said they goofed when they put the thing together. So the said they will send me a new one!!

[SuperFastB3]

do you keep the old one?i mean a great source of parts haha


-Super

------------------
Your Stampede Did what?

[grey mako]

Are you using Traxxas fuel?If you aren't use it!Traxxas's fuel was specifically designed to be use in their high heat engines.

[Big G]

You didn't mention exactly how hot your engine is running. Do you have a temp gauge? I live in Dallas Texas where temperatures have been between 95 and 105 degrees lately and I race my T-Maxx at Indy RC, which is an indoor track with no air conditioning. And although my TRX engine runs hot (between 290 - 340 degrees)I have not had any perormance problems. I have removed half of the front windshield and the entire passenger side window for better cooling. I also made a large opening on the back window in front of the engine. I lowered the body posts as low as they'll go so the body rides on the chassis as low as possible. This allows the engine's cooling head to protrude up through the body further to receive more cooling air.
I've been racing my truck twice a week and the engine now has well over two gallons of fuel run through it. The engine still has compression and it runs awesome. Another thing you can do to reduce heat is to install a Motor Savers air filter and replace the 20 tooth clutch bell with a 18 tooth clutch bell. The lower gearing will allow the truck to accelerate faster and the engine seems to run cooler too.If you want to get the most out of your engine, pick up a temp gauge, but don't worry when the engine temperature exceeds 300 degrees - this is normal. The hottest I got my engine was 358 degrees and the truck was flying. Another thing - make sure that you rotate the flywheel so that the piston goes to the bottom position when you stop the truck and let it cool down.

[WillJ]

Yikes! 358! I get nervous if my engine hits 258, but hey, if I had a Traxxas engine, I wouldn't mind letting it get to 358.

------------------
///WILL

[popopop]

I'm a newbe to the "2-D" side of rc... fly the fixed wings too. Just bought a new T-Maxx w/the 2.5. The local hobby shop guy told me if I didn't do anything else, I should buy a cooling head. Says most (2.5 engines) he sells come back with a cooked piston/sleeve from overheating. Bought one... I know, he got me, but-problem is if I break it in w/original head, then change to the new one, and the sleeve gets rotated, even a hair, then my engine will be slightly weaker due to the new scoring on the sleeve!.... any thoughts?

[kitty]

Nitro_Man, I feel your pain. I live just north of Austin and I'm having to watch the temps on my S-25 closely these days. I don't know how many T-Maxx owners around here have tried the Nova cooling head on their 2.5, but I know guys who run Novas on their S-25s around here and their engines run cooler with them. Hopefully someone around here with a Nova head on a 2.5 will chime in with some info.

PS @ Borg - Heat wave, yes. Drought, no. Most of Texas, at least east of Abilene, has had a higher than normal amount of rain this year, especially Dallas. They had some serious flooding a few weeks ago and we came close a few times this past week.

[popopop]

I put a 2-Cool RC cooling head on my 2.5 TRX and have about 3/4 gallon through it so far, I live in Florida, where the temps have been in the mid 90's and my temps are runnning around 240-250 F so far. I use Traxxas Top Fuel 20%

[robc]

Guys, read the manual. Traxxas says the 2.5 engine (if that's what you have)should NEVER exceed 270 degrees F. Richen the LSN a very small amount (start with 1/16 turn). The engine overheats because it is too lean at low speeds and idle so it just gets hotter and hotter. I have a 2.5 Maxx and it regularly runs great in the 220-240 F range. An inexpensive temp gun is the way to go. An aftermarket cooling head will help but if you have tuning issues it could mask a lean condition that could toast your engine. Go to the Traxxas website if you want tuning help and better informed answers.

[GTX]

This thread is four years old!!!


Nice job reading LMAO...

[RC Jack]

Damn!! I get paranoid when the temps in my 70 reach 230!!

Nitro_Man, try putting one of these little gems (http://venom-racing.com/product/vtm/index.htm) to keep an eye on the temps and to record the highest temp attained.