The biggest benefit of preheating IMO, is being able to confidently dial in tune immediately after start up.

I like that I can warm my hands up prior to a nitro race AND have a heated engine on a cold day.

14x25.8x6mm

Really?

Really really. Longevity goes without saying but is not at the top of my list.

Apparently Monty needs to race more in cold weather. :)Put a car down not warmed up and you cant even clear jumps right away and it takes 3 laps to get it up to temp.

Racin in less than freezing weather does not sound fun


Preheating your engine is very important imo

So who has run the new Novarossi Vir-tus .21 off road engine and what did you think of the engine from break in to a track tune, thoughts on the side mounted carby design looks interesting, would assume that the engine still tunes the same ???

NovaRossi Mugen Beat Plus 21 BT4
 

Can anyone tell me if this is the same engine as the Novarossi Keepoff 21-4?

"This is the NovaRossi Mugen Beat Plus 21 BT4 'Keep-Off' race tuned offroad 4 port long stroke buggy engine (part #NV21BT4P). This engine is based off the Novarossi Keep-Off 21-4 which created more linear power band, higher top speed and great fuel mileage. It is finished off with the traditional Novarossi purple head with Beat graphics (Note: Engine includes Turbo Glow Plug)."

If not the exact match, anyone know the differences?

to anyone who says preheating is not important or a fad....get a clue!!!! you know nothing about nitro engines.... but unfortunately you think you do....and are only making it confusing for people that want to learn the proper ways to go about things

I have a clue. And currently about ten engines, all running just fine. I preheat when I can. My point is just that it's overblown. Plenty of guys don't preheat and their engines are perfectly fine, and there are others who do preheat and still toast engines. IMO it IS a fad, and is overblown, and furthermore it contributes to the very false idea out there that nitro has to be difficult or "high maintenance". Nitro is not rocket science... And preheating is a PIA.

Is it better to do it? Probably. Will it ruin your engine if you don't? NO. But that's what some of you people talk like.. There are so many other variables with nitro, I'm not even convinced it automatically leads to needing to change a rod more often. But then the idea that you have to constantly be changing rods is the next fad/myth afaic...

i agree with the con rod.... not a problem unless you're cold starting a new/newer engine...but i think the 2 are also directly related.....if you don't preheat your engine esspecially during break in....you put incredible strain on the conrod when the pinch is at it's tightest like that...and is more than likely either going to weaken and or stretch it....with proper preheating all throughout a quality engines life i've seen over 10 gallons with 0 parts changed....no way without preheating you would ever get that....and preheating is not a pain in the ass when you have a competition engine heater....put it on and walk away....come back and you're ready for full blown hot laps to maximize practice times for your heats or mains

What deck height should I be running on my 5 & 7 port Novas with 30%?

Shimming
 

You can run as little as .6 mm or .024 thou . Most come with .8 mm . You do need to read the glow plug to be sure. If you race near sea level you will need to be on the high side though.

You own ten engines? No wonder you can't be bothered preheating. Owning 10 engines with half a gallon on them each running fine is not the same as owning one engine with 10 gallons on it running fine ;)