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If you're like me, you only watched all the installments of Fast and the Furious for the cars. Whatever your reasons, those movies immortalized nitrous oxide as the most popular means of boosting a car’s performance.
You wouldn't think it, but we gear-heads have the German Second World War scientists to thank for our precious gas.
The story’s been told over and over, but for those of you who don't know, nitrous oxide was used in military aircraft to compensate for loss of engine power the thinner air at higher altitude.
Years later in the 70’s, NOS (nitrous oxide systems) made a comeback on the racing circuit.
These days, fitting a nitrous kit is definitely the way to go for an instant boost in speed and power output. Usually stored in a blue gas bottle installed above the car’s centre console or in the boot (trunk), nitrous is injected into the intake where the heat breaks it down into nitrogen and oxygen molecules.
This way, more oxygen mixes with a more fuel, resulting in a much bigger combustion and therefore a bigger burst of power.
If you're keen to boost engine performance and you're considering nitrous as the means to bigger power, your best bet would be a fogger system. Yes, it’s a little more expensive than the plate system, but it’s guaranteed to greatly increase overall power output.
Plate systems can easily be fitted between the carb and the intake. A fogger system, however, converts the liquid nitrous into a sort of mist when it enters the intake. As explained earlier, the molecules break down into separate oxygen and nitrogen. The oxygen and the fuel combine for combustion while the nitrogen absorbs the heat.
Just like some of the guys from the movies though, misuse of nitrous oxide will severely damage your engine. The power generated by the meeting of the gas and the fuel can become uncontrollable and you'll destroy your intake – amongst other things.
Make 100% sure your engine bay and the inner works are properly reinforced before fitting a nitrous kit. Also fit the relevant gauges to monitor your engine as you drive or race.
Any car enthusiast will tell you that a nitrous oxide kit is the top of their list of go-faster modifications. It’s a thrill to feel the effect of the increased power and speed, but also be careful about how you use it. Play safely!