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What Problems Can Nitrous Oxide Cause In Your Engine?

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Of course, when we significantly increase the cylinder pressure in the engine, we also increase the engine's tendency to detonate. This is why almost all nitrous motors require retarded spark timing during nitrous oxide operation. The cylinder pressure increase is also why, when misused or improperly installed, operation with nitrous causes problems with head gasket seal and failures of the rings or pistons. Any number of things that put an engine into severe detonation, such as too much boost from a supercharger, low octane fuel, excessive compression ratio or overly lean air-fuel ratio will also cause the same kinds of damage.

Another challenge with a nitrous oxide system is getting the delivery of nitrous oxide and additional fuel at the correct proportions. If you feed nitrous to the engine without enough extra fuel, the lean air/nitrous to fuel mixture will make the detonation problem even worse. Combustion temperatures will skyrocket and catastrophic failure is certain to occur. If the proportion is such that too much fuel is delivered, the power advantage degrades rapidly.

Nitrous oxide is like any other power increasing modification in that, when used wisely and installed properly, it works well. If installed incorrectly it can significantly reduce the reliability/durability of your engine.

Small doses of nitrous oxide can be used in stock engines to gain 25-35% more power. Any more nitrous oxide than that with a stock engine compromises durability too much. Once you pass the 35% power increase mark with nitrous oxide you need to look at things like forged pistons, better connecting rods, better bearings, etc.

Nitrous oxide is also a great value on a dollar-per-unit-power increase when installed and operated properly. The downside, of course, is the fun ends quickly. The power boost lasts as long as the nitrous. The average bottle is 20 pounds and with a street V8 that might be 20 seconds of use.

So, nitrous oxide is not the instant-engine-failure many people think it is. When used properly and when dispensed by a properly designed and installed system nitrous oxide can be responsible for some phenomenal increases in power.

Next Page: Will Nitrous Oxide Affect Engine Reliability?

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