Cost of Gas-Powered RC Cars
Gas-powered RC cars are considered to be at the top of the scale and will be much higher than 1/10 scale RC car kits. These cars are classified as 1/5 scale gas RC cars. They run off a gasoline mixed with motor oil setup, also known as two-stroke.
Operating costs are a little higher than for a normal remote control. Of course, there’s the cost of gas and oil, but the quality of parts is higher. Since the cars are larger and run at a high rate of speed, such as 30mph, the components need to be engineered more sturdy. That will equate to the parts costing much more than smaller cars.
Gas-Powered RC Cars for Everyone
Everyone is attracted to the absolute size of these cars, which is larger than a kids’ pull wagon. With such realism, the cars are based on off-road trucks and dune buggies. The fuel-burning engine that is commonly used is a Zenoah in the Rovan and Losi RC models.
Regardless of the brand, these 1/5 scale gas cars use a 29cc – 36cc engine. Below are available gas cars to choose from:
- Losi 5ive-T
- Losi DBXL
- HPI Racing Baja 5B
- Redcat Rampage Chimera
- Redcat Rampage XT
- Redcat Rampage Monster Truck (MT)
Rovan RC is probably the manufacturer that makes the most vehicles individually. They don’t give their cars cool names like the others. Below are the options from Rovan RC:
- 360F5 On-Road 36cc Race Car
- ROFUN Rovan
- 360SLT V5 On-Road 36cc Buggy
- Terminator Baja Truck
- Q-Baja Buggy
- Rovan 305A
Maintenance of Gas Powered RC Cars
These cars require basic knowledge of spark plugs, air filters, clutches, pistons, and piston rings. Understanding the concept of compression, spark, and fuel-to-oil ratio mixtures is also helpful.
Oil helps to lubricate the engine and reduce heat and friction. This prolongs the motor’s life and prevents it from seizing. It’s usually recommended not to use methanol or any type of racing fuel in these motors.
Regular cleaning of debris from the motor will be helpful. It will help keep the engine running at cooler temperatures. Make sure to inspect the vehicle after every use.
Speed Capabilities of Gas-Powered RC Cars
As mentioned previously, these cars can drive up to 30mph. There’s potential for them to go faster with the hop-up kits or upgrades that can be added. The muffler to a high-performance tuned pipe is one of the first things that can be modified. One of the most commonly used is a DDM Dominator tuned pipe.