What are the Causes of Small Engines Exploding?

With a little nitro, your small engine can blow up just like the big boys'.

Whether powering lawnmowers or R/C cars, small engines generally explode for the same reasons big ones do. Small engine explosions can usually be tracked back to either an improper fuel mixture or engine abuse.

Air/Fuel Ratio

Too little fuel in relation to air will cause detonation, which can punch holes in pistons and cylinder heads alike.

Fuel Mix

Those who have introduced excess nitromethane into ill-prepared engines have witnessed some of the most spectacular engine failures known to man.

Over-Revving

Exceeding a small engine's rev limit can break connecting rods and send parts flying through the block and into whatever is near it.

Supercharging

Supercharging or turbocharging an engine past its limits can give you the worst of both bad fuel ratios and bad fuel mixing.

Oiling Mix

Since two-stroke engines rely on oil mixed into the gasoline for lubrication, having too little in the mixture can result in a high-speed seizure and explosion.

References

• RC Planet: Fuel Accessories
• Biggs and Stratton: Major Engine Failure Analysis
• Reviews.ebay.com: Nitro Engine Review

Resources

• Video: Nitro: Go Fast and Go Boom