Nitro RC Cars Vs Gas RC Cars
Technically speaking, RC cars powered by gas and those powered by nitro are different. A lot of confusion comes into play when talking about nitro and gas-powered cars, however. This confusion is the result of RC hobbyist using the terms interchangeably. Nitro powered RC cars and trucks are much more common than gas powered, so even among knowledgeable car owners, when people speak about gas powered cars, they are almost always speaking about nitro run cars.
Nitro and gas are two common ways to fuel an RC car or truck engine. Nitro refers to a compound called nitro methane. The gas used to fuel RC cars or trucks with true gas powered engines, on the other hand, is the same fuel that you put into your own full sized car. In terms of price, gas is much less expensive that nitro on a gallon-to-gallon basis. On today's market, gas hovers around $3 per gallon. Nitro, in comparison, costs between $40 and $50 per gallon. Even though nitro can cost more than ten times as much as gasoline, nitro is a more efficient fuel, allowing an RC car or truck to run longer with the same amount of fuel. Nitro vehicles also require supplementary batteries that also play a role in helping to extend fuel supplies.
Another difference in nitro and gas cars is that gas powered cars and trucks are generally larger than nitro powered vehicles. These cars and trucks can range between 1/8 scale to 1/5 scale. Nitro based cars and trucks can be nearly half the size, lending towards easy portability. Gas powered cars, because of their large size, cost much more than smaller, nitro cars.
In terms of maintenance, gas powered cars are easier to keep up than nitro cars. Nitro powered cars require a lot of maintenance to achieve optimal performance. The engine can be tricky to tune, needing regular adjustments. As for refueling and "pit stop" times, nitro has a clear advantage. Changing out nitro fuel is a much quicker process. With gas, you have to add oil in the proper proportions along with the gasoline.
The performance of gas versus nitro-powered cars is a hotly debated topic among RC car and truck owners. On one side, nitro powered cars can achieve higher maximum speeds than gas powered cars. The primary reason for this is that gas powered vehicles can be more than double the size of nitro cars and trucks. Gas powered cars and trucks are more powerful however. More power allows for greater torque to be generated, which allows gas powered trucks and cars to go through more obstacles and handle more off-road tracks.
In short, gas powered and nitro powered engines are different, even though people mix the terms frequently. Choosing one above the other comes down to personal preference and budget. If budget is the primary concern, even though gas powered cars cost more up front, the high price of nitro can even things out over the course of time. Whichever mode of power you choose, in the end it doesn't make a difference as long as you are satisfied.
