RC Surface Engines

Get better performance from your land-based vehicles with our RC engines!

Keen to rev up the performance of your RC vehicle? If you’re the kind of person who loves the thrill of drifting across the tarmac, then an RC vehicle with a surface-based RC engine is the ideal solution for you.

RC surface engines are for land-based vehicles like drift cars, monster trucks, buggies, construction vehicles, and more. These RC engines are designed to rev quickly and freely, while also developing maximum power with ease.

RC marine engines and aircraft engines, on the other hand, are only made for RC boats, planes, and helicopters. RC boat engines are designed to sit at a more constant rev range and require better cooling than surface engines.

When shopping for a new surface engine for your land-based vehicle, we recommend checking what kind of engine your vehicle can take. Some RC companies offer vehicles in both electric and fuel formats. Fuel powered vehicles can run on different types of fuel including Nitro or Petrol.

What type of engine / fuel do you need? You should be able to find out from the vehicle supplier, or you can visit Frontline Hobbies in-store and ask us to confirm the engine format for you. Then, we can match your RC vehicle with the perfect engine to reach incredible speeds and performance.

Shop RC engines online now, or come and visit us in person at our megastore in Broadmeadow, Newcastle. We love talking RC, so pop in for a visit today!

Small RC engines from a huge range of high performance brands

Frontline Hobbies is the home of RC vehicles and spare parts in Australia. We pride ourselves on our incredible range of RC brands from Alpha Racing to Traxxas and Kyosho, stocking the best parts and accessories to keep your motor running at peak performance.

Whether you’re shopping from the comfort of your couch or exploring our range of RC engines and accessories in store, you’ll be amazed at the number of options available for your RC vehicle.
Here are just a few of the brands we stock in-store and online:

HPI Racing
Alpha Racing
LRP
Kyosho
Force
Traxxas.

Not sure which RC engine brand is right for your vehicle? Just get in touch with the team from Frontline Hobbies on (02) 4929 1140 or contact us online. We can find the ideal engine match for your specific vehicle, right down to the size and horsepower.

We also offer a wide range of engine options based on different vehicle types, sizes, and applications. We stock pull start engines, non-pull start engines, pre-broken-in engines, small RC engines, and more.

Again, if you need a hand finding the right engine type for your RC vehicle, give us a call!

Maintaining your RC engine

Ongoing care and maintenance is key to the longevity of your surface engine.

To start, it’s important to run the engine before the first use. You must idle the car on a block (not the pavement/road) and let the car burn through a full tank of fuel and drive under half throttle for the 2nd and 3rd full tank. Be sure to keep an eye on the engine temperature - you want it to be hot, but not too hot!

Failure to break in your engine can cause damage to the pistons and sleeves, and the engine may end up being difficult to start. With this in mind, you should always read the owner’s manual for manufacturer-specific recommendations on how to break in your engine.

After each and every run, you will also need to clean and oil the engine.

Here are six simple steps for cleaning your RC engine:

Clean out the engine. Remove your body shell from the vehicle and use an old toothbrush or stiff-bristle paint brush to scrub away as much grime as you can.
Clean the glow-plug area. Before you remove the glow plug from the cooling head, you must thoroughly clean the area around it with motor spray.
Clean and oil the air Filter, remove the filter and wash the foam element in warm soapy water.
Drain the fuel tank, never store left over fuel in the car for extended periods of time.
Seal it. Check for air leaks, air leaks can cause issues with the tune on your engine
Check and replace the fuel tubing regularly Fuel tubing can crack and develop tiny puncture holes, so be sure to replace the tubing on a regular basis.

When it comes to oiling your RC engine, you will need to use after-run oil to prevent corrosion of the internal bearings and moving parts. Just add a few drops of after-run oil into the throttle body and turn the engine over by hand to spread the oil.
Glow starters are also required for surface engines or “nitro engines”. Glow plugs only accept 1.5V. If you’re using an after-market glow starter, be sure to double-check the voltage before use.

FAQs about surface-based RC engines

If this is your first time shopping for a new RC engine, you may have a few questions about changing the engine, different parts and formats, and much more. Luckily, we’re experts in RC engines, so we can answer any questions you may have!

Here are some common questions we get from our customers:

It depends on the size of the vehicle and the application.

Generally speaking, a 1/10 scale car with a .18 or .16 engine would be best suited to 16% nitro fuel with 15% total oil content. On the other hand, a 1/10 scale car with a .21 engine or larger is best suited to 20% or 25% nitro fuel with 15% total oil content.

Again, it depends on the fuel type, tune, or engine type. However, most engines will accept a medium to hot glow plug providing they are tuned correctly.

Some engines (typically the more expensive racing engines) require what is known as a turbo plug which has a different profile and thread.

Lots of factors can affect the tune including humidity, temperature and fuel mixture. To get the maximum performance out of your engine, you will need to adjust the tune regularly.

Only very small adjustments are needed to the high-speed needle. Plus, oil smoke must always be present when the engine is at high speeds or under load.

You should always clean your RC engine using after-run oil and then store the engine in a dry place.

In simple terms, after-run oil is a thin oil that is spread throughout the engine to prevent corrosion of the internal bearings and moving parts.

To apply after-run oil, you should remove the air filter and apply several drops directly into the throttle body, then rotate the engine several times to spread the oil evenly through the internal components.

Not always! Good quality racing engines tend to have more power due to internal design factors like porting and accuracy.

It’s always best to consult the owner’s manual, but a basic method would be the 6 tank method.

1st Tank = Idling the car on a block.
2nd Tank = Idling the car around on a smooth hard surface.
3rd Tank = low-speed drive on a smooth hard surface with occasional 1/2 throttle bursts.
4th Tank = Medium driving pace with 3/4 throttle bursts.
5th Tank = medium driving with full throttle bursts.
6th Tank = quick – normal driving.

We wouldn’t necessarily call them “limitations” but some vehicles are more suited to surface engines than others. For example, some hobbyists struggle with the size of the engine versus the size of the car - 1/10 cars typically have a capacity of under .18 whereas scale cars will accept engines .21 or larger.

There is also often confusion around pull start engines versus racing engines. Racing buggies and cars use starter boxes which won’t allow room for a pull start engine to be fitted. If there’s any uncertainty in your mind, please get in touch with the team from Frontline Hobbies. We’ll make sure you get the ideal engine for your RC vehicle.

With proper maintenance and care, an RC engine can last between three to six months. However, you don’t necessarily have to throw away your engine and start again. You can always make adjustments and repairs, including a new piston and sleeve kit.

The optimal temperature for an RC engine or nitro engine is around 100 - 120 degrees, but avoid going over 120 as this can cause a lot of damage and shorten the life of your nitro engine.

To prevent overheating, be sure to adjust the air and fuel mixture so your engine runs at an optimal temperature. If you’re concerned your engine is overheating, make sure the engine is not running lean, give your vehicle a break and let it cool down.

Shop RC engines for surface-level vehicles online or in-store with Frontline Hobbies!

Get your motor running with our extensive range of RC engines! We have a wide range of engines including pull start engines, non-pull start engines, pre-broken-in engines, small RC engines, and so much more. No matter how you want your vehicle to run, you can bet we’ve got the right parts available to help you reach peak performance.

Shop RC engines online now with fast shipping Australia-wide, or drop in and visit us in Broadmeadow, Newcastle. Our team members would be more than happy to match you and your vehicle with the perfect RC engine.