Nitrous oxide, generally referred to as NOS, is a fuel found in 1773 that’s extremely flammable – rather more so than common gasoline. Two particles of nitrogen for each particle of oxygen give nitrous oxide the chemical formulation of N2O. Many individuals seek advice from it as NOS (an acronym for Nitrous Oxide Programs), however that is really the model identify of an organization, very similar to many individuals seek advice from tissues as Kleenex. Different model names embody Nitrous Categorical (NX) and ZEX – however these are all the identical factor.

Nitrous injection is a type of pressured induction like turbocharging or supercharging. It’s saved in liquid kind and launched as a fuel below excessive strain. The oxygen solely splits from the nitrogen as soon as it will get to the warmth of the engine, which implies that mentioned oxygen could be very dense and that it may be injected into the consumption or the combustion chamber with none threat of pre-detonation. Consequently, it might produce extra energy than your typical fuel and oxygen combine, which is precisely what those that add nitrous to their automobiles need.

How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?

Now that we all know what it’s, how does nitrous oxide work? Effectively, when you’re a dentist, you may know that nitrous oxide is often known as laughing fuel. Its earliest makes use of have been as an anesthetic earlier than German engineers in World Warfare II used it to reinforce the efficiency of airplanes at excessive altitudes. Turbocharger know-how quickly overtook nitrous programs as the popular methodology of accelerating air density, however as drag racing began to essentially take off within the Fifties, nitrous was once more explored as a method of boosting automobiles’ efficiency.

Varied strategies can be found, however the fundamental precept is to inject the nitrous oxide into some space of the consumption system, or straight into the combustion chamber. This cools the consumption air and will increase density, leading to extra energy and the next price of combustion. Basically, the fundamental cause to inject nitrous oxide is to extend the quantity of oxygen within the combustion chamber, permitting for extra gas. When the liquid nitrous is launched from the canister and expands right into a fuel, it cools and thus turns into denser, and as soon as within the combustion chamber, the oxygen splits from the nitrogen permitting for extra gas and stopping untimely detonation. Extra air = burning extra gas = extra energy. That is fundamental engine mechanics.

Sorts of Nitrous Programs

There are two major methods of injecting nitrous oxide into the engine, however every has the identical purpose of accelerating density and forcing extra energy out of an engine, whether or not or not it’s a gasoline engine or a diesel-powered one. Each turbocharged and naturally aspirated engines can profit from this, and it may be used on supercharged automobiles too. Even your lawnmower may in all probability run on nitrous for a time, however we would not advocate this. These are the commonest sorts of nitrous programs used:

  • Moist injection: A moist nitrous package sees the nitrous oxide injected into the combustion chamber concurrently with further gasoline (or different gas) by the identical plate or nozzle that provides the gas. This combination is named ‘moist’ as a result of it mixes with the additional gas that comes from a separate gas pump, alongside the present gas injection system. A moist system is usually used on carburetted engines, however as a comparatively easy approach of getting the nitrous into the combustion chamber with minimal modifications, it’s fashionable on common EFI (digital gas injection) programs too. The dimensions of the plate or nozzle will decide how wealthy the combination is when it enters the combustion chamber.
  • Dry injection: This method works through the use of the present fuelling system (both carburetted or gas injected), to provide the fuel or diesel whereas the nitrous is injected into the consumption individually. Because of this the plate or nozzle (the latter is also called a jet) solely provides nitrous oxide and doesn’t combine with common gas till within the combustion chamber. Right here, simply as with the moist system, a swap is used to activate the system, however the quantity of N2O is managed by both the gas injection controller or the ECU, permitting the EFI system to calculate when to spray and the way a lot to inject. Extra superior nitrous oxide injection programs could make this N2O injection progressively larger or progressively lesser. For instance, in case you are utilizing nitrous to hurry up the speed at which your monumental aftermarket turbo spools up, you’ll not want as a lot (or any) nitrous as you get to greater rpm.

In each programs, tuning is an absolute necessity and you can not merely add a excessive focus of laughing fuel and anticipate dependable efficiency features. It’s essential to present extra gas for the extra oxygen launched from the N2O combination to soundly combust, or you’ll even have a lean response and trigger untimely detonation, or pinging. As soon as you have acquired your wants discovered, you possibly can determine to go together with a single nozzle nitrous package, spraying the fuel into the consumption, or a number of smaller nozzles for every cylinder or financial institution of cylinders, relying on the applying.

Some setups may have two-, three-, or four-stage kits. These programs will both begin off small and end with an enormous shot of N2O (usually a naturally aspirated engine) or begin off large (for instance, to get the turbo spooling) and finish with smaller photographs because the engine depends extra on the turbo. Some of these nitrous oxide automobiles are usually seen in drag racing. A automobile that runs purely off a nitrous oxide engine is uncommon and can usually require frequent rebuilds.

Are Automobiles With NOS Inclined to Injury?

Within the early 2000s, a film referred to as The Quick and the Livid hit our screens and launched many to the import tuner tradition and automobiles with NOS. Within the movie, a nitrous enhance was conveyed as one of the best ways to extend efficiency and win a race. The remainder was historical past, however whereas the movie shone a lightweight on the little-known programs, it additionally misinformed viewers who believed that nitrous makes your automobile sooner (it might enhance acceleration however can’t improve the final word functionality of an engine, solely assist it attain that time sooner) and that its common use has no repercussions past inflicting “hazard to manifold”. Whereas we laughed at the truth that the ground of Brian’s automobile fell off, there was some accuracy to the warning. An excessive amount of strain can certainly “blow the welds on the consumption” and “fry the piston rings”, however these risks usually are not solely current if you put an excessive amount of nitrous within the system.

Growing the efficiency of the engine on the incorrect level within the rpm vary can bend or snap connecting rods and forcing extra efficiency out of an engine that was by no means designed to take this stage of added pressure for a sustained interval has apparent unfavourable unwanted side effects. The block itself may deform, the cylinder head can warp, and with out sufficient gas, a “direct port nitrous” package, as Jesse famously spoke of, may cause the aforementioned pinging, resulting in catastrophic engine failure. Moreover, you could discover that the legality of a nitrous package of avenue use is non-existent in your area, so you may get your automobile impounded for merely having a package fitted, even when you’re simply cruising on the freeway. So is it price it? You determine:

Conclusion

In abstract, a nitrous oxide system has many advantages for drag racing and nearly none in different types of motorsport (though there are some exceptions). It’s dangerous for avenue use, liable to inflicting engine failure, and costly to make use of continually. Nevertheless, with the precise tuning, the precise failsafe measures in place (purge valves, solenoids, and verify valves), and accountable use, it’s actually some of the reasonably priced methods to drastically improve the efficiency of virtually all types of sports activities automobile fashions and every day drivers. Simply do not forget that your inventory EG Honda Civic was by no means designed to run on the fuel and you could lose your automobile when you’re caught with a nitrous system on the street. That mentioned, newer automobiles like the most recent Nissan GT-R aren’t tuned for it both – because of the price and unreliability of nitrous, future automobiles will not be suited to nitrous both – and if you are going to experiment, we would begin off with low-cost, used automobiles. If you happen to’re searching for extra data on find out how to get essentially the most out of your automobile, take a look at our blogs on growing your ability and getting ready for monitor days.