Nitrous is a part-time system that’s activated by a switch or can be set to active when the engine is at full throttle to give the vehicle that desired boost of horsepower and speed. 

 It was first used in the 1800’s as an anesthetic in the medical field (commonly known as ‘laughing gas’) and is still used today. In WWII, Nitrous Oxide was used in airplanes to increase engine power at high altitudes, since the amount of oxygen in the air decreases at higher altitudes, thus decreasing the plane’s ability to utilize fuel. 

So how does it work? Nitrous gives the engine the extra oxygen needed to produce more power in the form of a chemical. Nitrous Oxide is made up of two parts Nitrogen to one part Oxygen. When injected in liquid form, into the engine’s combustion chamber, the chemical is heated to 575 degrees and turns to a gas that releases the individual molecules. Oxygen provides the molecules needed to increase horsepower while the nitrogen controls the amount of detonation inside of the combustion chamber. With proper ignition timing and correct fuel/air ratios, using nitrous can give 75 to 125 increased horsepower.
     

A neat thing about nitrous is that the chemical helps to cool the engine to utilize oxygen more efficiently. Nitrous Oxide is super-cold when injected (-129 F) so it acts as a cooling agent for intake air and it draws heat away from the engine. Cooler air is denser and more packed with oxygen molecules. Cooling also keeps the engine from becoming too hot, thus creating detonation.

3 Types of Nitrous Oxide Sytems     

There are three types of nitrous systems: wet, dry and direct port.

The dry system introduces only nitrous oxide through the system, where the other two systems mix and inject extra fuel as well as the nitrous. The solenoid valve is installed into the upper intake and when the nitrous is injected, the chemical turns into a gas.

Wet System Nitrous Oxide Kits     

The wet system injects a nitrous and fuel mixture into a single location, such as just under the carburetor with plate systems or just ahead of the throttle body for a fuel injected system. Unlike the dry system, the wet system allows the upper intake area to become saturated with fuel. This is a good system to use if you also run a turbocharger or a supercharger.

Direct Port Nitrous Oxide Systems     

The direct port system consists of valves that inject a mixture of nitrous oxide and fuel directly into each intake port. Because of the elaborate installation preparation and the large amount of horsepower produced, this style of nitrous oxide kit is suggested for usage in a racing import car. The installation requires the drilling and tapping of special valves into the engine, which is complicated and time-consuming. Also, racing engines are made of stronger components that are better able to deal with the horsepower produced, where a regular JMD engine will probably break down quicker under the strain. 

A Nitrous Oxide kit usually comes with a 10lb bottle to be filled with nitrous at your local speed shop. It also comes with the tubing needed to run the chemical to the engine as well as the other fittings needed to install the pieces. When purchasing a kit, it’s not advised to purchase a used system. Also, it’s important to make sure you use the proper fittings for installation. A fire extinguisher is a good thing to have around when dealing with chemicals. 

Nitrous Kits Shopping Tip   

Just like any purchase, there are pros and cons to consider. The initial cost for a nitrous oxide set-up is much less than a turbo or a supercharger. A nitrous kit runs for $500.00 average where a turbo or supercharger kit costs many thousands. Also, a nitrous system is the only forced induction system that is ‘part-time’, meaning that you can activate it when you wish to add an extra boost of horsepower and speed. Also, the wet and dry nitrous systems are less complicated to install than turbo or superchargers and require little tuning.

Disadvantages of Nitrous Oxide     

As with all forced induction systems, there are disadvantages. Running Nitrous Oxide means your engine needs good maintenance to keep working properly. Pistons are subject to drastic heat changes because the icy cold nitrous needs to be heated to work. Spark plugs need to be gapped properly (.030” to .035”) and have the proper length ground strap (if you have misfire problems, try a shorter, broader ground strap). Changing bottles of nitrous can be a hassle as well. A 10 lb. bottle of nitrous costs around $50.00 to fill—check with your local Speed Shop for prices and availability. 

Don’t let the disadvantages deter you—if you’re looking for a cheap means of getting immediate horsepower satisfaction, then nitrous is the system to choose.