Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site byucsc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!whuxl!whuxlm!akgua!sdcsvax!dcdwest!ittvax!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!hao!noao!arizona!byucsa!byucsc!awd From: awd@byucsc.UUCP (A. W. Dunstan) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Nitrous Oxide??? Message-ID: <168@byucsc.UUCP> Date: Tue, 26-Feb-85 10:20:28 EST Article-I.D.: byucsc.168 Posted: Tue Feb 26 10:20:28 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 3-Mar-85 03:28:08 EST References: <32000011@waltz.UUCP> Organization: BYU Computer and Statistical Science -- Provo UT Lines: 26 > Is this the same "nitro" that the big boys are burning on the blown machines? > I thought that the nitro for the blown engines was in liquid form just mixed > with gas (80% nitro - 20% gas or so). I just haven't heard of injecting > compressed nitrous oxide into a carbureted system? Have any of you heard of > such a set up. I'd sure appreciate any info that you might be able to > provide. Thanks. > ============================================================================== Nope. There's nitrous oxide (which is what your friend using) and then there's nitromethane. Nitrous oxide (alias laughing gas but don't go breathing it as it isn't medical grade) can be injected in either gaseous or liquid form. Exactly what it does is still somewhat a matter of conjectubut it does cool the airstream (allowing a higher fuel density), and add a lot of oxygen (on combustion of the fuel air mixture). It may also have a 'cushioning' effect on the flamefront. There are lots of companies that offer various nitrous oxide setups for all kinds of cars - some of them very hard to see, if you like hiding the setup from would-be competitors. Nitromethane is something entirely different. This is essentially a *very* high octane substance, and will raise the operating temperature of your engine substantially within a very short time. (Which is why rails and such only run for a few minutes, among other reasons.) Nitromethane is usually mixed with racing fuel in some proportion, but I wouldn't recommend using it in the family car - I can shorted the expected engine life rather a lot.