Nitrous literally gives the engine a gas: it increases the amount of oxygen entering the cylinders. It is as if, for a few seconds, it expanded the volume of an engine from 1.0 liters to 1.4 liters, for example. But, in fact, it’s not the cylinders that grow, but the gases that take up less space inside. This happens because of a chemical property of nitrous oxide, the name of the gas used in nitro systems: when it changes from liquid to gaseous form, it absorbs heat from the environment. As cold gases take up less space than hot ones, more combustion ingredients fit in the cylinder at the same time. In addition, when vaporized, nitro decomposes into nitrogen gas and oxygen, and the latter further increases the force of the explosion in the combustion chamber. The system with nitrous oxide only rolls when the car is close to its maximum speed and should be used sparingly: outside the city or on tracks with long straights. 😛
To understand poisoned engines, you need to know how common ones work.
1. The engine in virtually all cars runs on a four-step cycle. In the first one, the cylinder piston descends, drawing air and gasoline through the intake valve into the combustion chamber. That’s why we call conventional engines aspirated.
2. In the second stage of the cycle, the valve is closed and the piston rises, compressing the gas mixture contained in the cylinder. When the pressure in the chamber reaches its maximum, the spark plug sparks, triggering the combustion reaction between the oxygen in the air and the gasoline vapor.
3. The reaction between oxygen and gasoline is explosive: the energy and volume of released gases push the piston down, turning the crankshaft and the engine shaft. The energy of this explosion is what makes the car move. Before this cycle starts again, the exhaust valve opens to release the products of combustion.
4. Engine power is proportional to the sum of energy released by the explosion in each cylinder. In non-tuned cars, you can increase power when you increase the number of cylinders or their volume, to multiply the energy of combustion
Nitro cools and increases the gas capacity of the car’s cylinder
1. For those who are not satisfied with the factory original, the nitro system helps to poison the car’s engine. Its main ingredient is nitrous oxide (N2O), which is stored in liquid form, under high pressure, in a cylinder with a special valve. When it’s busy, it’s opened by the driver using a control on the dashboard.
2. At the cylinder inlet, two solenoid valves control the nitro inlet and outlet. When it reaches the engine, nitro changes from a liquid to a gaseous state. In the process, it cools the air in the cylinder. As cold gases take up less space, more gas molecules, oxygen and gasoline can get into the same volume
3. In addition to making the cylinder hold more gases, nitrous oxide decomposes during vaporization and releases even more oxygen molecules to react with the gasoline in the chamber. Result: more violent explosions and 30 to 40% more power in the act. The problem is that the nitro runs out in seconds, and so does the sprint.
Turbo increases engine firepower with air from the exhaust itself
1. Another way to increase engine power is to use a turbocharger, the famous turbo. It takes advantage of the air coming out of the engine’s exhaust valve to turn a turbine, which, in turn, turns a propeller on the other side of the equipment, which sucks air from the environment.
2. The air pulled by the propeller goes to a compressor, which supplies the intake valve with compressed air. With each engine cycle, more oxygen and fuel enter the chamber, generating a more powerful explosion and therefore more power. The blower does the same thing, but uses the engine’s own spin to compress the air.
See the advantages and disadvantages of each system
nitro
Power gain – 30 to 40%
When it works – At the peak of normal engine work
Effect Duration – 15 to 45 seconds, depending on cylinder size
Slingshot Effect – Once powered up, it flies in one go, like a slingshot rock
Consumption – During use, consumption increases by up to 80%. As it lasts a few seconds, it doesn’t change the consumption much over long distances.
Flexibility – Can only be used where there is straight line space in the path
turbo
Power gain – 30 to 40%
When it works – Progressively: the faster it goes, the more power it adds
Effect Duration – Doesn’t depend on an extra fuel, so it doesn’t run out
Sprint Effect – As it adds power little by little, it doesn’t have such a strong “slingshot”
Consumption – How it works whenever the engine revs up, turns the car into a fuel guzzler
Flexibility – Even over shorter distances it comes in handy