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For
the maximum horsepower and for instant power on demand, there
is no substitute for nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide works by
delivering high amounts of oxygen to your engine. Nitrous
oxide is stored in high pressure tank at about 900 psi. At
this pressure, nitrous oxide is in a liquid form. When it
is released into an intake manifold at atmospheric pressure,
it changes to a gas and expands, giving off high amounts of
oxygen. As you add this boost of oxygen, you also get a lower
manifold temperature because of the phase change of the nitrous
oxide from a liquid to a gas. But too much oxygen can become
a problem. High levels of oxygen alone will cause detonation
and engine damage. To keep things safe, the ratio of air/fuel
must be kept in check, so additional fuel must be delivered
when the nitrous system is running. To keep enough fuel running
into the engine, 3/8-inch fuel lines are a minimum, and a
high-output fuel pump is also necessary.
A
simple nitrous system consists of a plate that is installed
between the fuel injection system (throttle body or carburetor)
and the intake manifold. The plate injects both the nitrous
and fuel when activated. Such a systems add a tremendous amount
of power, somehwere in the range of 100-200 horsepower. These
systems are safe as long as they are installed properly, designed
by a reputiable manufacturer, and used with intelligence.
It may be illegal to use nitrous oxide on your street-driven
truck, check your local laws first. More complicated systems
use individual nozzles, one per intake port. These systems
deliver even more power, up to 350 horsepower, but they also
require a highly modified engine.
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