Title: Basics of Nitrous Oxide
Date: Auguest 2007
Author: Greg Wooley

I have recently increased the nitrous oxide injection on my street 440 and I felt that this would be a great time to share what I have learned over the past few years concerning this cheap and easy power adder. I know nitrous is not for everyone and some get nervous just by the thought of it on their engines. Almost everyone has heard horror stories. However, there are some who are seriously contemplating installing a system and would like to know more. This article is intended to separate some of the facts from myth concerning nitrous oxide.

I will begin by saying that 3 key elements must be in place before a safe and reliable system can be had. (1) Forged Pistons. Cast pistons are not strong enough to withstand the massive increase of pressure. (2) Unwavering Fuel Pressure. Weak and falling fuel pressure will create a lean condition and you will ruin an engine for sure if this is overlooked. (3) Reliable High Performance Ignition. A faulty ignition system that is prone to misfire can spell doom for your engine as well. There are kits available for almost every application imaginable with horsepower gains ranging from 25 hp all the way up to 1000 + hp. My advice to you is be conservative and be realistic. For instance, if you are thinking of installing a 100 hp shot and this is relatively safe for your engine set up then do not install a 250 hp shot just because someone gave you a great deal.

When using nitrous, too little is definitely much better than too much. Installation is very basic with common hand tools. I have much experience with carburetor plate kits and it is my understanding that installation with fuel injection is just as simple. Your biggest concern will be where to mount the bottle and what route to run the braided feed line. Some planning and forethought will insure a nice clean installation with no gremlins. I think the majority who've never used nitrous oxide assume that it is some kind of super fuel equivalent to rocket fuel and this could not be further from fact.

Nitrous Oxide or N20 is a 2 part component, 66% liquid nitrogen and 33% oxygen. It is very effective inside an internal combustion engine for 2 reasons. (1) Creates an environment for additional fuel to burn at a faster rate. (2) Cools the intake charge inside the combustion chamber. When installing a nitrous oxide kit you will be increasing fuel delivery as well. Nitrous Oxide allows the engine to burn the additional fuel being supplied and allows it to burn at a much faster rate therefore creating additional pressure which creates more horsepower. All the power comes from the fuel and not the nitrous oxide. This nitrous provides you with a tool to control how much and how quickly the fuel is being burned.

The real beauty of nitrous oxide is that you never know it's there until you open the bottle valve. If the bottle is off and the system is deactivated then you have the same tame vehicle everyone is familiar with. Open the bottle and activate the system then your street car is now a beast. I'm going to close by listing 8 very important points to remember: (1) Always work safely (2) Be realistic about the additional power your engine reliably can handle (3) Create stable fuel pressure (4) Fix problems you already have before installing nitrous (5) Never modify nitrous components (6) Avoid detonation (7) Always start with recommended calibrations included with your kit (8) Never overfill a nitrous bottle.

Good Luck, God Bless, and Mopar to you all!!!