Wondering what fuel to run in your 1/8 nitro buggy or truggy? VP Racing is the most popular by a wide margin, and 30% is the most common nitro level. We counted the setups saved in the RC Setup App since January 2024: 407 racers named a fuel. Buggies and truggies run the same fuel, so they share one list.
The number under each fuel is how many racers run it. Counts updated November 2026.
Buy links to AMain may earn us a commission. That doesn't change the order: racers decide that.
Setting up the engine too? See the most popular engines, glow plugs and pipes for 1/8 nitro buggies and truggies.
Most popular nitro percentages
Of racers who named a nitro level, 105 run 30%, 66 run 25% and 40 run 16%. Race rules and local laws can cap the nitro level, so check yours before you buy.
Most popular fuel for 1/8 nitro buggies and truggies
This list covers fuel brands with at least 11 racers. Nitro fuel ships as hazardous material, so expect ground shipping, and check your local track or hobby shop too.
1. VP Racing (PowerMaster)
83 racers
The most popular fuel by a wide margin, with 83 racers. Most who named a nitro level run 30%, and some name the Ryan Lutz or Ty Tessmann blends. It's most often run in an O.S. engine. VP sells its hobby fuel as PowerMaster, and the buttons go to the Pro Race 30% and the Ryan Lutz Blend 30% in quarts.
Pro Race 30% at AMain (opens in new tab) Ryan Lutz Blend 30% at AMain (opens in new tab)
2. Nitrolux
53 racers
Second, with 53 racers, and the 16% pick: most who named a nitro level run 16%. The Mugen MBX8R is its most common car. Modelix Racing in Spain makes it, and its current off-road line is Energy 3 Off-Road Pro. The buttons go to the 30% and 25% in liters.
30% at BeachRC 25% at BeachRC
3. Nitro Pro
26 racers
Racers often name the JTP blend. It leans toward Ultimate Racing engines, and 8 of its 26 racers run it in a truggy, the highest share of any fuel here. The button goes to the JTP Blend by the gallon.
Buy at Nitro Pro
4. Flash Point
23 racers
A 30% fuel in our count, and mostly run in O.S. engines, 18 of its racers. The Sparko F8 and Mugen MBX8R lead. The button goes to Flash Point's off-road fuel.
See Flash Point fuel
5. TNR
20 racers
A 30% fuel most often run in REDS engines, and some racers name a REDS blend. The button goes to TNR's 30% by the gallon.
Buy at TNR
6. Sidewinder
19 racers
Racers name 30% most, then 25%. Sidewinder is Morgan Fuel's race line. The button goes to the 30% off-road competition fuel in a quart, which Sidewinder recommends for 1/8 off-road.
Off-Road 30% at AMain (opens in new tab)
7. Energy
14 racers
Some racers name the Energy Wild at 16%. It's spread across cars and engines. Pepe Group in Italy makes it, and Wild has left its range, so the button goes to Vortex, its current 16% off-road fuel.
See Energy Vortex
8. Nitro X
12 racers
A 30% fuel in our count, and almost always run in an O.S. engine, 10 of its 12 racers. The button goes to the 30% competition fuel in 4 liters at Speedy RC in Australia.
Buy at Speedy RC
9. Merlin
11 racers
Racers name 25% most. It's spread across Mugen, Sworkz and other buggies. Merlin sells through dealers, so the button goes to its dealer list.
Find a Merlin dealer
10. Shoot
11 racers
Racers name 25% and 16%. It's most often run in an O.S. engine. The button goes to Shoot's 16% Premium off-road fuel in 5 liters at RSRC in Poland.
Buy at RSRCHow we counted
We count anonymous totals from setups saved in the app for 1/8 nitro buggies and truggies. A racer counts once per fuel brand, and once per nitro level, no matter how many setups they've saved. A value only counts if the racer entered it themselves, not if it came along with a copied setup. A bare percentage counts toward the nitro levels but not a brand.
