In this article:

• What is nitrous oxide and how does it work on your car?
• Why should I use it?
• What system is best for me?
  

Boost juice, scream cream, or just plain old NOS: whatever you call it, being "on the bottle" with nitrous oxide can provide a considerable performance increase for SharpMen out there looking to go faster without spending a fortune. Read on for the SharpToys scoop on what nitrous can do for your wheels:

Does It Make My Car Funny? Or Just Faster?

Contrary to common belief, the industrial grade nitrous oxide used in street and racecars of today is not the same laughing gas that we are accustomed to. Rather, it is an odorless compound that is designed for the sole purpose of creating additional power for your automobile. It contains a minimal
amount of sulfur dioxide and unlike its medical grade counterpart, it will cause no euphoric effects if inhaled directly.

Nitrous oxide is composed of two parts nitrogen and one part oxygen. When the compression stroke heats the nitrous to 572 degrees F, it breaks down and releases extra oxygen. The release of this oxygen allows the engine to intake and burn a much larger amount of fuel. When this extra fuel is burned, it in turn creates higher cylinder pressures which then make the extra power that one experiences when "squeezing" the nitrous into the system.

In addition to increased cylinder pressure, the nitrous also provides a cooling effect that allows for an additional horsepower increase. As the pressurized nitrous is injected into the intake manifold it boils and changes from its liquid form to a gas. This boiling effect reduces the nitrous's temperature to minus 72 degrees and lowers the intake charge temperatures anywhere from 60-75 degrees.

Yeah I Want Some Extra Power...But Why Should I Use Nitrous?

Nitrous oxide is becoming increasingly popular with tuning enthusiasts for a number of reasons. First off, dollar for dollar nitrous will provide you with more power for the money you spend than any other option out there. The average kit runs between $400 to $600 and will provide an additional 25-125 horsepower, depending on the application that you choose. Kits such as these are abundant and can be found by virtually anyone either online or in numerous catalogs and magazines.

On average your local performance shop will refill your bottle for about $20, and this should last for about 10 full quarter mile passes. Nitrous installations are relatively easy: most can be done in around three to five hours by the average person, instructions are generally easy to understand and most of the large suppliers, such as NOS and Nitrous Express, have customer service representatives who can answer any questions that you may have.

Another plus is that you use the nitrous only when you choose to use it. When you are not pressing the button, your engine does not receive any nitrous, so increased engine wear is minimal, unlike other options for aftermarket performance increases which will cause constant wear and increased chances of breakdown.

Finally, nitrous requires no special changes to be made to your vehicle. The entire system can be bolted directly on to a completely stock vehicle and can be on the road or strip in a matter of hours. If you choose to do so you can even hide the lines and bottle for what is known as a "sleeper system," which will be undetectable to the average person. The system can also be removed or transferred to another vehicle whenever you choose. 

All Right, You've Convinced Me, But What System Is Best For Me and My Car?

Deciding what system to purchase depends on two major factors. First, what type of fuel system do you use? If your car is fuel injected, then you are most likely going to need a direct port system in which small jets will be introduced to your system that will deliver the nitrous. If your vehicle is carbureted, you will most likely need a plate system in which a plate containing the nitrous sprayers is placed in between your carburetor and intake manifold. Either system works well; the one you choose simply depends on the type of car you drive. The majority of cars in production and driven today are fuel injected, and most of the more classic muscle cars and older trucks are carbureted.

Secondly, how much power do you really want? If you are
looking for something between 25 and 125 horses, then you should be all right with one of the average systems offered by any major supplier of nitrous systems. However, if you are looking for an increase greater than 125 horsepower than you are most likely going to have to supplement your engine with other high performance parts, which could get costly (for instance, a high performance or separate fuel pump, internal engine components, and exhaust system). But for the average Joe, a normal kit can easily be found to suit your needs and can be bolted directly on to your completely stock engine.

For more information or to purchase a kit now visit one of the following sites.
  http://www.nitrousexpress.com/
  http://www.zex.com/
 
Got a question on this SharpToys topic? WRITE SHARPTOYS.

SharpMan Jeremy Pledger joins the SharpMan Team from Bakersfield, California. Check out his previous SharpToys article, Nerf Guns 411.

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