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A Cautionary Tale
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NitrousWorks Tells of Ten Avoidable Errors with N2O
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By Sam Moore Photos courtesy of Barry Grant, Inc |
For years now the use of nitrous oxide in the sport of drag racing has been a very popular way to gain horsepower in an efficient and relatively inexpensive way. For those who exercise appropriate caution and conscientiously follow proper procedures, the use of nitrous in a high-performance application is safe and effective. As with many things, however, the improper handling of nitrous and its associated systems can lead to problems for the unwary. Therefore, in an effort to help racers identify some of the important safety issues associated with the use of N2O, Nitrous Works offers this tutorial on the care and feeding of the modern nitrous fed hot rod.
Firstly, it's important to understand just how nitrous oxide works as part of the combustion process. Nitrous oxide is usually contained in an aluminum cylinder; available in a variety of sizes ranging from 2.5 lbs to 20 lbs. While retained in the cylinder the nitrous is in a liquid form and held under high pressure. When it's released from the cylinder into the intake tract its physical state changes from a liquid to a gas. This transformation occurs as the nitrous is released from an area of extreme pressure (the aluminum cylinders are pressurized to approximately 1000 P.S.I.) into the vacuum of the intake manifold. This change in state is usually referred to as the nitrous ‘boiling'. Water boils at 212° Fahrenheit or 100° Centigrade. However, if held under pressure in an automobile cooling system, for example, the coolant will remain a liquid, even above boiling point. Though inadvisable, if a radiator cap is removed under these conditions and the pressure relieved, the water would expand and boil instantly. So it is with nitrous oxide, while under pressure it exists in a liquid form, but when exposed to an instant reduction in pressure the liquid expands and boils and the nitrous oxide is converted to gas.
It takes energy to enable the nitrous to expand and boil. This energy is produced by the heat, which is absorbed from the surrounding air/gas in the intake tract. The end result is an intake charge that is cool, dense and oxygen rich - the ideal recipe for producing more power. When the additional fuel required for nitrous is introduced in such a way that it is exposed to the full force of the expanding nitrous, it is atomized completely. This promotes improved burning in the combustion chamber and, as a direct result, power-output is increased. This increase in the power-producing potential of the modern racing engine is where most concerns for safety come into play, and in addition there are certain personal health risks involved as well. The following information from the experts at NitrousWorks underscores 10 vital areas where proper care and handling of nitrous is absolutely necessary:
1. Never heat a nitrous bottle with anything other than an approved bottle heater with the necessary safety features. If a nitrous bottle is overheated or heated too quickly a catastrophic explosion can occur. 2. Never attach the power leads of a 12-volt nitrous bottle heater directly to a battery. Always use a 12-volt power supply that is active only when the ignition switch is in the run position, thereby making it a fail-safe installation. 3. Never allow liquid nitrous to touch your skin. Liquid nitrous has a temperature of -125ºF (-87.2ºC). Exposure to nitrous will cause severe and permanent frostbite. 4. Never inhale nitrous oxide. Inhalation can cause suffocation and immediate death. 5. Never leave the nitrous bottle valve open except when you are using it. Leaving the valve open for extended periods can damage the seals in the nitrous solenoids.
6. Do not exceed a bottle pressure of 1100 psi. Exceeding this pressure can cause the engine to become excessively lean resulting in costly engine damage. Furthermore, higher pressures can also damage the solenoid seals. 7. Never assume that a stock fuel system is sufficient to meet the needs of your nitrous system and the engine. If a stock fuel system cannot supply sufficient fuel to the engine, the mixture will become too lean and severe engine damage will occur. 8. Never assume that fuel pressure at idle and wide-open throttle are the same. Regarding the latter, always check the fuel pressure at wide-open throttle and under load. 9. Never use Teflon® tape on any plumbing threads in a nitrous system. A loose piece of tape could obstruct a solenoid or jet orifice. Always use Teflon® paste. 10. Never activate the nitrous system without having the engine running. Doing so may cause an explosion during engine starting.
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