has anyone run CO2 injection instead of NOS

[1978vcar]

I have a forged 355 stroker (Bcast) and picked up a NOS Powershot kit on the cheap recently. ( HOLLEY VACUM SECONDARIES TYPE)
Now I have heard rumors of the boys in the states using CO2 instead of NOS around the traps and was wondering if anyone out there has tried or heard of this being done before as am considering installing the kit if I can run CO2 as in theory is just like an instant supercharger and a lot cooler than Nos and safer on the engine.
Any help or info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Immortality]

Nitrous or N²O provides oxygen and nitrogen (oxygen been the oxidiser needed to help burn the fuel), regular air has about 21% oxygen, N²O has about 33% oxygen so when you injector nitrous you displace some regular air but because the nitrous contains more oxygen than air there is a net gain (it also helps that it is in liquid form, the reason it makes great power). CO2 doesn't have any oxygen so can't add anything in terms of making power like nitrous does. What I have seen is N²O or CO2 sprayed directly onto A2A intercooler cores to help bring the temps down.

 

[Bigfella237]

Yep, CO2 extinguishers put fires out, the same would happen if you squirt it into your engine!

 

[1978vcar]

Cheers, and thank you boys for the info.. as will the bin idea. And flog of Powershot kit on eBay as have not got the heart to belt no2 into her and risk damage. ( will up old m8 to for feeding me shite 2!)
Once again thank you for your incite.

 

[Skylarking]

Yep, good ol’ N2O, or laughing gas to dentists, decomposes when heated to 300C. Thus if you squirt in 2 molecules of N2O (nitrous oxide) into a combustion chamber, when it gets hot, it decompose to 2 molecules of N2 (nitrogen) and 1 molecule of O2. Thus, extra oxygen is released by the decomposition of nitrous oxide. Such an oxygen boost will further combust any extra fuel that one injected into the combustion chamber in anticipation Ordinarily, such extra fuel would remain unburnt as the oxygen available via atmospheric intake would have been largely consumed already, but for the decomposing gas

The fact that nitrous oxide is stored as a liquid, when it’s injected into the intake air stream, it instantly turns to gas. As a result of this gas expansion, the added benefit is a cooling of the intake charge. Cooling = increases density of the air, which also increases the oxygen actually getting into the engine. It’s a double win of sorts but the main win is the decomposition induced O2 boost.

But CO2 doesn’t decompose in the same way as N2O so all such benefits don’t exist. Some use CO2 as an intake charge cooler and fuel cooler, though the CO2 displaces air and doesn’t decompose like N2O so I’d think you'd loose volumetric efficiency as a result. Whether cooling the incoming air would overcome air/oxygen displacement, I don’t know but people do sell such kits…

People also sell cook books with food that supposedly cures cancer… So read, learn and make up your own mind before shelling out for snake oil cures

 

[1978vcar]

I'm hearing you and thanks. I only paid $ 100 for the kit so might throwback on the shelf and see what future technology may arise and stick to what I got and be happy.
ps thanks for the simple breakdown of how N2O and CO2 differ and work in layman's terms so to speak as was easy to get the gist of what everyone has been saying to me and am now have a greater understanding of it all.
thank you all.

 

[Immortality]

, I don’t know but people do sell such kits…

That's what I was talking about earlier, it works on boosted engines with intercoolers.

I have also read it was used a bit like an EGR system, injected in small amounts.

 

[1978vcar]

Is it true that using no2 in minor hp shot, and running high octane gas like avgas or racing fuel won't damage the motor if built fully forged crank rods 4 bolt main arp bolt.. pistons..properly no Chinese crap all Aussie forged steel or yank. Or do I have to go converting to roller cam and solid lifters, etc? (as have hydraulic set up now). top end y/terra rollerised Edelbrock manifold etc motor built for solidness first then hp. ( last dynoed in 2004 no msd Celica box 372 rwhp.)
I am only talking about say a 50/80 hp boost shot on a 350/380 rear wheel hp motor?
As am thinking of using old girl when finished in the odd bracket race now and then and don't want to break 10s but early 12s or late 11s
would be great and not kill the old girl in the process.
As now you have given me the grasp of the idea of no2 and how it works it would be great to get some more of your insight as you boys know far more about this stuff than me and seem to the ones to ask and any help would be greatly appreciated as people say won't hurt motor and others say will kill it would like your advice as you boys know.

 

[Deuce]

A small shot is usually safe on any motor, regardless of if it is built or stock.
Cam specs would be more important than design. But a reasonable N/A cam is fine for small shots.

I say put your smallest n2o nozzle in and see how it goes. Keep an eye on temperatures, wideband, and plugs. Then sneak it up slowly.

Someone else may confirm, but I think n2o increases the burn speed so therefore you ease off on the timing a bit. Probably not a thing with very small shots though (especially if running higher octane than what it was tuned for originally)

 

[1978vcar]

so it is the actual amount of n2o and heat generation created that causes all the damage? heat shot duration( how long you spray it in) and the amount of actual n2o being pumped in?
as was always led to believe that it was the heat shock and higher cylinder temp that just burnt out your pistons all the time even when using low amounts.
I am learning something here, and thank you
as was told you had to run high octane or racing /avgas fuel to help buffer the heat shock that n2o creates as burns at a higher temp than pump gas and doesn't shock the metal as much weakening pistons and burning them out as quick. ( forged pistons)
So will look further into n2o and if anyone knows of an n2o specialist in Mckay/Townsville region it would be greatly appreciated for their details.
or if your one on here love to hear from you and your knowledge would greatly apreciated