How do you install nitrous oxide in a car? How does it work?

Question

I wanna add about 50 hp to my chevy. Was thinking about using nitrous but I have no idea what to do.

Answer 1

Nitrous systems also known as laughing gas, NOS, spray etc.. is used to get an immediate burst of power.
There are several methods of putting on your car.
Dry spray - just NOS sprayed into the intake after the airfilter.
Wet Single point - installed with a plate between throttle body and intake. Both NOS and fuel are sprayed
The best is:
Wet Multi-point - more complicated. This is normally installed directly into the intake manifold just before the head. You need a nozzle per cyclinder. It is called wet as you have a line for fuel and a line for the Nitrous. This requires much more work to install but is the best.
But I highly recommend you also ad atleast 2 items.
A window switch which prevents the NOS from spraying unless the RPM are within a specified range.
A Wide Open Throttle (WOT) switch so the NOS only sprays when you have the pedal to the metal.
These are hooked up to a relay so you need both the specified RPM and WOT. This helps prevent blowing your motor.
Professional systems also include a bottle heater to get the bottle pressure up around 1000 psi..
A pressure gauge for the driver to see so you know your bottle pressure
A blow off valve to bleed off any excess pressure.
This is not complicated to do, but I highly recommend you talk to an experience person so you get the system right.
leaks are bad, and bending of the tubes takes patience.

Also check out NOS sites online and Summit Racing at http://www.summitracing.com

Now days most places will only provide industrial grade Nitrious, DO NOT INHALE!!!! Medical grade usually requires a medical license to purchase.

So how does it work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous
Basically air has 21% Oxygen. Nitrious in the hot engine allows a saturation of 45% as it breaks down. It also cools the cylinder allowing higher compression. This higher oxygen content allows you to add more fuel to maintain optimal fuel air ratio... and boosts your power accordingly.

Most kits come with restrictors for the jets called pills. Buy looking at the supplied info sheet you can adjust your pills to increase your NOS shot. This is normally called off in HP like a 150 shot should increase power by 150 HP.

Have fun... and don't get intimidated, just study up and ask a knowledgable mechanic for assistance and advice.
I also recommend to get an entire kit from one supplier.

Answer 2

Nowhere in the USA or Canada is it legal to have a nitrous system hooked up on a street legal car. Turning the valve off is not enough. The piping must be disconnected from the tank.

Answer 3

First buy yourself a 'Brain' and then after installing it if it works you will forget about Nitrous unless you are ready to rebuild your engine very soon. What makes you think the parts in your engine are designed for an increase of 50HP?

Answer 4

Then don't.

NO2 can be a very dangerous thing if you don't know how to install it or use it. Plus the average engine isn't made to use it without some serious modifications.

Find a speed shop in your area and get them to not only explain what NO2 is and does, get them to give you an estimate on not only preparing your engine and transmission for such an upgrade, but to also install it and teach you how to use it.

Personally, I think adding NO2 to a daily driving is about like putting a swimming pool in your living room...what's the point?