| If you want a change from flying electric model | | | | stroke engines, is normally methanol along with a |
| airplanes, then you could try out gasoline-powered | | | | percentage of oil mixed in it. This fuel might also |
| planes. These planes come with a choice of either 2 | | | | contain additives to improve its combustibility, especially |
| stroke or 4 stroke engines. | | | | for special purpose applications. |
| 2 stroke engines have a glow plug instead of a spark | | | | 4 stroke engines are more complicated than 2 stroke |
| plug in its cylinder head. The glow plug consists of a | | | | engines and contain more moving parts, and are hence |
| small coil, which heats up once a small voltage is | | | | costlier to manufacture. These engines are normally |
| applied to it. Once it turns red hot due to the heat, the | | | | operated by pushrods instead of cams and might also |
| fuel inside the cylinder ignites and the 2 stroke engine | | | | have side or rotary valves. Both the engine types get |
| bursts into its noisy life. 2 stroke engines arebasically | | | | their fuel supply through a carburetor, which can be |
| noisier than 4 stroke engines. They tend to let out | | | | adjusted to set the desired rpm. A diesel 2 stroke |
| more smoke than 4 stroke engines. But they are | | | | engine is also available, which uses ether, kerosene |
| cheaper to buy than 4 stroke ones. They also require | | | | and oil mixed together as its fuel and has an adjuster |
| more oil than 4 stroke engines. | | | | to change the compression ratio instead of a glow |
| The reason is that since 2 stroke engines have a | | | | plug. This engine can used to rotate a bigger propeller |
| higher rpm [rotations per minute] than 4 stroke engines, | | | | than a similar gasoline 2 stroke engine. |
| the oil consumption as well as the fuel consumption | | | | The exhaust of all these engines might just end with a |
| also goes up. Since oil is pre-mixed with the fuel, you | | | | simple header pipe or might go into a silencer to lower |
| should specify the stroke of your engine, when buying | | | | the sound. A 4 stroke engine will need to have its |
| your fuel supplies. | | | | valves adjusted after specific 'flying hours'. A 2 stroke |
| Since you could run a 2 stroke fuel in a 4 stroke | | | | engine normally requires less maintenance than a 4 |
| engine, running a 4 stroke engine on a 2 stroke fuel | | | | stroke engine. But, a new technology is slowly |
| might overheat the engine due to less oil being mixed in | | | | increasing the usage of 4 stroke engines in model |
| the fuel. 4 stroke engines run a lot cooler and are | | | | planes. |
| more silent as compared to 2 stroke engines. | | | | So, check out the above features, before you decide |
| However, there are lots of people who like 2 stroke | | | | to buy a gasoline engine plane. Also test 'fly' some 2 |
| engines, since it sounds more realistic to an airplane | | | | stroke or 4 stroke planes to get a 'feel' of the speed |
| engine due to its high-pitched sound. | | | | and response time of these planes. After all, its |
| The fuel, which is used to power 2 stroke and 4 | | | | different strokes for different folks. |