Nitrous Oxide FAQS

Why are these Nitrous Oxide Products Not the Cheapest

Q) Why are OUR products so expensive?

A) Our nitrous kits are the only kits on the market that are not bought from a mass produced manufacturer and re-labeled. Our kits are low production and specifically designed without the mass quantity discounts. We hand test every solenoid and build to perfection that is time consuming. We have much more R&D invested than other companies which shows with a unique nitrous kit.

Q) What is a progressive controller and do I need one?

A) Progressive controllers were developed primarily to vary the delivery rate of fuel and nitrous oxide through the system. The most advanced control unit (our Maximiser) also allow differences in deliver of fuel relative to the amounts of nitrous oxide, along with a host of other advanced and unique system control features. We can say a progressive is very beneficial in many ways which are described in the progressive controller sections, but since you the owner and operator knows your vehicle better than we do, you will know how beneficial one of our nitrous controllers can be and if you need one. As an example we woudn't recommend a progressive controller on a V-8 motor using a 50 shot of nitrous and which is otherwise relatively stock. Such a car should easily handle the 50 extra hp all at once. Now if the same shot of nitrous was applied to a 2 liter 4 cylinder then a progressive should be considered to control the power delivery for many reasons explained in the progressive controller section.

Q) Jetting, explain please?

A) Our jetting is stamped with flow rate numbers to make the tuning process much easier than calculating diameter sizes (this does not mean our jets are not measured in diameter like most other jets are, as they can be converted to diameter sizes). Here is how our jetting system works based on 950psi of bottle pressure. The power rating of a given jet is half of the number stamped on the nitrous jet, which means a jet stamped with 100 will make 50 hp, while a jet stamped with 200 will make 100 hp, and so on. On the fuel side we always recommend a safe rich starting ratio of 2:1 for fuel injection and 1:1 for low pressure carburetor applications. This translates into using a 50 fuel jet with a 100 nitrous jet if fuel injected and a 100 fuel jet with a 100 nitrous jet if using carburetors and low fuel pressure. Then if you need to go leaner with a 3:1 ratio for instance on a fuel injection motor, you would use a 33.3 (round up to a 35 jet) on the fuel side for the same 100 nitrous jet. Once you have your a/f tuned properly, you should be able to retain the same ratio when going up or down on power. So if a 100 nitrous jet and 50 fuel jet (2:1) worked well to make 50 hp you should be able to use a 200 nitrous jet and 100 fuel jet to make 100 hp safely and maintain the same a/f ratio. In summary: 50hp using a 2:1 ratio = (100 N2O and 50 fuel), 3:1 ratio = (100 N2O and 35 fuel), 4:1 ratio = (100 N2O and 25 fuel). Very simple mathematics!

Q) How does bottle pressure affect my performance?

A) Achieving optimum performance from a nitrous system relies on constant delivery pressure of both fuel and nitrous oxide. The jet sizes provided with the nitrous system will only produce optimum results if both fuel and nitrous is delivered at the pressures the jets are intended to work at. Fuel pressure on a correctly planned system should be held constant due to fuel system design.

Unfortunately nitrous bottle pressure depends on the ambient temperature and the consumption rate that the nitrous is used at. A low ambient temperature will result in a low bottle pressure and high nitrous consumption (larger jet/s) will cause the bottle pressure to fall more rapidly than low consumption (smaller jets). With the above in mind it is essential to hold the bottle at the right ambient temperature so that the jet/s deliver the correct amount of nitrous from initiation to end of use. In most instances this is best achieved by adding a bottle heater. Pulsing the solenoids also helps to maintain a more consistant bottle pressure as well as providing a more controlled power delivery.

Q) What does the Lifetime Warranty cover?

A) The Lifetime Warranty covers any Highpower product that fails to operate 100% for the Lifetime of the original owner due to a defect on our part. The warranty does not cover tampering, modifications, or mis-use of the products.

Q) How much power can my motor handle?

A) There is no definite answer on how much power a motor can handle. The best we can do is offer advice based on previous experience and it's up to the customer to choose a conservative power level or push the limits. There are to many variables between applications many times to give an exact answer. We can say that using our progressive and/or our kits in general will provide safer power over the competition as we have the only nitrous components designed from the ground up for the best and safest nitrous delivery.

Q) Why do we use nylon line?

A) Nylon line is better suited than braided line for numerous reasons.
. Nylon does not aborb or retain as much heat.
. Nylon with our external fittings retains a constant I.D. throughout the flowpath.
. Nylon can be cut to exact length which is beneficial for nitrous use as the shorter the flow path the more efficient.

Our nylon however is not the same as the competition as we have a higher quality of nylon in which the high pressue line is made specifically for us to our standards. Our low pressure nylon line is of higher quality than the competition and is under much less pressure because of our unique jet location. So you have a high grade line with minimal to no pressure to cope with.

Q) Why is my motor not making the power I expected?

A) There could be a number of reasons ranging from ignition, fuel supply inadequacy, flow restriction, low bottle pressure, low bottle contents, etc. We can only help if we are given all the details and our advice is followed. We always recommend smaller start power levels so we can better know when the next step of power is tried, why it may have failed. This will also keep you the customer from damaging something. Starting off with a large nitrous power % increase and having issues could throw a flag up for all the possibilities of what went wrong and makes the diagnostic process much harder.

Q) Will nitrous injection damage my engine?

A) No matter what tuning method you use to enhance engine power, it is essential for optimum results, to first make sure that your components are adequate for the job, that the installation work is carried out correctly and to avoid getting too greedy with the power increase. Failure to comply with the above advice will increase the risk of engine damage. However, if sensible power increases are added correctly to an engine in good condition, there is no greater risk of engine component failure, than there is with any other tuning method. The truth is that done correctly, it is uniquely possible to reduce the stress on key engine components and yet still improve vehicle performance.

Q) Will using a nitrous system wear my engine out quicker?

A) A well designed, correctly fitted and set up system will not increase engine wear. In fact if it is a requirement that wear be reduced it is possible to use a nitrous system in such a way as to do so and yet still improve vehicle performance.

Q) Is nitrous legal on road cars?

A) The legality of nitrous use on the road varies from country to country, even within the EU. However, contrary to what many people believe (including some police officers) nitrous oxide injection is legal for road use in the UK and many other countries (just as are turbo chargers and superchargers). According to the Ministry of Transport, the Highway Code and the MOT handbook there is no law prohibiting the use of nitrous injection. However just as with any tuning modification, the owner must inform their insurance company and obtain adequate cover otherwise any performance modification would be illegal. Therefore the only way you will break the law by having your street car fitted with a nitrous kit in the UK, is if you fail to inform your insurance company that you have one. Insuring a nitrous injected vehicle has become easier since WON joined forces with Adrian Flux to provide all their customers with a better chance of obtaining adequate insurance cover. Some other insurance companies such as Greenlight Insurance also offer cover for nitrous equipped cars.

There is a degree of confusion over the need to have a hazard warning sticker on the outside of the car. We previously explained that nitrous oxide is neither a flammable nor a hazardous gas but it is an oxidiser. There is a legal requirement for commercial vehicles to display a suitable sticker but this does not apply to private vehicles, which are not even obliged to display a green compressed gas sticker. However, displaying such a warning sticker might well be advantageous to you and the emergency services if you were to be involved in any kind of accident, as this would inform them that you were carrying a container of compressed oxidiser.

Q) What tests can I do to ensure my engine is in a good condition, without weaknesses?

A) By carrying out the following tests, you can determine with as much confidence as possible, that your engine components are undamaged prior to fitting a nitrous system. However, there is no possible way of being 100% certain that you do not have a weak or slightly damaged engine component, just waiting to be pushed over the edge by the extra power increase supplied by the nitrous system (or indeed any other tuning upgrade).

By carrying out a leak down test, you can confirm that the engine's internals (particularly the pistons, valves, head gaskets, etc.) are likely to be undamaged and in good working order.
This test will also indicate if there is a loss of compression, due to worn rings or bore wear. A higher reading than 6% leakage from any cylinder is unacceptable and an indication that you have some serious internal wear or damage. The cause for any such problem must be found and dealt with before fitting a nitrous system, otherwise it's very likely that you will at the very least fail to get the maximum benefit from your nitrous system and at worst be inviting serious engine failure.

Q) What modifications will be necessary or beneficial before fitting the system?

A) Have your engine serviced, have your fuelling and timing optimised, replace your distributor cap and rotor arm (if appropriate), fit new harder(colder) spark plugs, check the torque settings of your head bolts and change your oil.

Any modifications that will be of benefit to the standard engine will also be beneficial to a nitrous injected motor. Whether the modifications are necessary rather than beneficial will depend on the power level you wish to achieve and the limitations of each of your original engine components. It is impossible to know what modifications may need to be made and at what power level they may be needed. This is one of the reasons why it is essential to gradually increase the bhp level in sensible increments rather than jumping in at the deep end with large power jets from the start. By starting at a low power level and making small incremental steps there is a greater chance of recognising a problem before serious damage is caused.

Whilst most people expect engine components like pistons and con rods to be at risk when using nitrous, it's usually the ignition components, the head gasket or the clutch that show signs of weakness first. Whilst there is the possible risk of piston failure, it is very unlikely when using a suitable nitrous system that has been fitted correctly and set to a reasonable power level.

Q) Does my plug gap need to be altered and can I use my existing plugs? (Does not apply to those with race cars and existing knowledge of plug styles and gaps)

A) Modern cars are designed to be efficient and allow minimal pollutants into the atmosphere. Because of this factory plugs protrude into the chamber as to burn more exhaust gases and have a wide plug gap. When using nitrous you want to have the reverse of this because adding nitrous increases the pre-combustion pressure and therefore requires more spark strength to jump a given plug gap size. Furthermore stock spark plugs can act as a glow plug due to the higher cylinder temperatures and cause pre-ignition. A good nitrous plug will have a standard .030 gap and short plug reach.

Q) Is nitrous injection a constant source of power?

A) Although nitrous oxide injection could be used as a permanent power booster (like a turbocharger) it is an impractical option, because it is impossible to carry an adequate size cylinder in a car. The fact that nitrous injection provides a temporary increase in power, which can be switched on and off, is however considered an advantage in many situations. This is particularly true when fitted to street cars/engines that produce enough power to satisfy the driver for normal day to day use. When the occasion arises that you need that extra burst of power, you can reach for the arming switch, put your foot to the floor and unleash some of your power reserve. With just a flick of a switch, the engine can be immediately transformed from mild to wild and back again. Unlike other forms of tuning, which constantly have an adverse effect on an engine's fuel economy, a nitrous system only adversely affects fuel economy while the system is activated. With petrol prices always on the increase, fuel economy should be an important consideration when deciding which power enhancing method to choose.

Q) How long does nitrous last?

A ) People frequently ask us this question and our standard reply is "not long enough", which is the same response we'd give if someone asked us how long a petrol tank would last. A quantifiable answer to that question is just as impossible as the answer to "how long is a piece of string?" When the system is first fitted it is likely to get used like a new a toy, so the contents of the nitrous cylinder are used relatively quickly. However, once the novelty has worn off and the system is used in a more practical manner, the usage rate becomes less frequent and the cylinder will need refilling less often. In everyday use and real world terms, some people can use a cylinder of nitrous oxide a day and others take up to 6 months. It is all down to the owner, how often the switch is flicked on and how long he keeps his foot to the floor each time. Thankfully when you run out of nitrous there is one advantage over the same situation with petrol; your car will still run normally until you get a refill.

Q) How long can the system be activated?

A) You are in complete control of when, where and for how long you activate the system. You can activate the system for as long as you want or at least until you've emptied the cylinder. As explained above, how long the nitrous lasts is the only limiting factor as to how long you can activate the system for. The nitrous system is usually activated for only a few seconds at a time for overtaking, blowing someone away from traffic lights and for competing over the ¼ mile track.

Q) Can I activate the system at any time under any conditions?

A) You can activate the system under any conditions, in which you would "normally" wish to achieve hard acceleration. However, it would be unwise and an increased risk to your engine components, to use the nitrous system when your engine is under abnormally high loads. For example, it would be fine to use the nitrous system from a rolling start in first gear at 1,000 rpm, but it would be very unsafe to use the nitrous system from 1,000 rpm in top gear (especially on an upward incline). In such an instance and before activating the nitrous system, ensure you are in the appropriate gear, so the engine can freely accelerate.

It is unwise to accelerate an engine through the rev limiter with or without the nitrous system activated, but the risks are increased when using nitrous oxide, because the engine accelerates more rapidly.

Never consider activating the system unless the engine is responding normally without nitrous. When nitrous is injected, the engine should respond as follows, the rpm should increase rapidly and the exhaust note should get louder. If you experience anything other than as described, switch off the system immediately and seek expert advice before using again.

Q) Will my catalytic converter be a problem?

A) Catalytic converters like many other exhaust components, act as a restriction to exhaust flow. Whilst the nitrous system is activated, the volume of exhaust flow through the exhaust system is increased. By restricting the exhaust flow from the engine, less power is produced from a given amount of nitrous.

Some people believe that nitrous oxide damages the converter, but that is not the case. Excess fuel however, can reduce the life of the catalyst, so it is very important to have the system jetted correctly, to avoid fuel wastage and damage to the converter. On most modern cars O2 monitoring and closed loop fuel adjustment normally prevents excessively rich mixtures causing damage to the catalyst.

Q) Where can I buy nitrous oxide from?

A) There are a number of suppliers you can choose from;

1) The most convenient and ultimately the cheapest option would be to purchase nitrous oxide in bulk by renting a large cylinder of nitrous oxide from one of the national gas manufacturers / suppliers (such as Nitrous Oxide Supplies, Energas or Linde Gas). This way you can store the cylinder in your garage and refill your small cylinder yourself. To carry out this procedure safely you will need a stand, a refill adaptor and line but the cost of these extras are soon offset by the cost savings on the gas price.
2) Companies that sell nitrous systems often offer a refill service. Unless you have to travel a long distance to reach their premises, this option can sometimes be more convenient. Paying per refill is also cheaper in the short term and less of a bulk drain on the wallet.
3) As for the price, I advise you to contact more than one company for a quote before deciding where to purchase it from, because the price often varies by a substantial amount.

Q) Can nitrous systems be used with automatic transmission / gearboxes?

A) Yes they can and in the majority of cases automatic transmission can handle larger power increases than a standard factory manual clutch and gearbox. Even the most likely weaknesses in an automatic gearbox, the torque converter and clutches (yes they do have them but they're inside the gearbox) won't be tested to their limitations, if used with a progressive nitrous system. Introducing the power gradually, puts all of the components under less stress, so the torque converter and clutches are less likely to slip than they would be with a basic fixed hit kit.

Q) What is the difference between Nitrous oxide and Nitro or are they the same?

A) Many people confuse nitrous oxide with nitro because the term nitro is often used to abbreviate nitrous oxide. However nitro was first used as an abbreviation for the fuel nitro methane. Nitro methane is a fuel used by top class Drag cars and is in no way similar or linked to nitrous oxide. In fact they couldn't be more different, as nitro methane is a flammable fuel, while nitrous oxide is a non-flammable oxidiser.

Nitrous Oxide ( Nos ) Systems

Car Nitrous Oxide System ( NOS Kit )
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Nitrous Oxide ( Nos ) Information

Nitrous Oxide Fitting Instructions
Nitrous Oxide Book - All you need to know about NOS
Nitrous Oxide Bottle Heaters
Nitrous Oxide FAQ's - What you need to know
Nitrous Oxide - What is it?

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