Theoretical questions, nitrous, turbos and horsepower!!!!!

[MandarinaRacing]

Theoretically speaking:

Is nitrous more "violent" than boosted air/fuel at the time of ingnition? I hear this ALL the time: an engine can take more #'s of pressure from a tubo than say, higher Hp jets on a nitrous set-up. I know that there may be a lot of variables involved here but, for the heck of it, could one of our sixes (cast pistons and studs) handle 150+ Hp of boost, why can't it handle 150 Hp jets from N2O???

Alex

 

[Mustang Boy]

i think it is because nitrous is an all of sudden HP increase while a turbo is more subtle than nitrous where like i said u get everything all at once now if it was a constant 150 shot the motor may be able to handle it better

 

[Stubby]

Do the math and you will see that a 150 hp nitros on a six will be like putting a bigger system on one of those other motors. If your compression is maxed out for your combination you might break something.

I think the turbo is easier on parts but nitros can be fun if done well. Personaly I would only run it with a return regulator and a return line to the tank. If you have a little safety margin on compression buy the adjustable system and start with 75 hp jets. Start out on the rich side and taylor it to where you want it you will probably get away with it for awhile. Starting with a smaller system you can work out the bugs and keep an eye peeled for signs of problems.

Don't ever start out where the company says. Always start with a little extra fuel pressure and lean it from there. That way if you have some other problem it won't be as catastrophic.

As a general guide. If your engine is maxed out on compresion and tuned on the ragged edge you don't have much room. If you have a smogger with low comprerssion, load it up.

 

[Anonymous]

Theoretically speaking:

Is nitrous more "violent" than boosted air/fuel at the time of ingnition? I hear this ALL the time

Alex, you are correct. A fuel/air mixture in the presense of nitrous oxide burns MUCH faster (not explodes, but not gentle either) than a boosted engine.

There are a couple of reasons for this:

1) Nitrous releases oxygen above a certain temperature. Oxygen makes any fuel burn faster. With enough oxygen (too much), a fast burn becomes an explosion.

2) Our atmosphere is 78% Nitrogen, 21% oxygen plus 1% other gases.
A boosted engine not only has more fuel/air mixture (fuel/oxygen), but also has a whole lot more nitrogen in the cylinder as well. The extra nitrogen is a "Shock absorber" and makes the flame burn "softer". This is why some engines can have a little detonation on boost and still survive, where detonation on a nitrous engine almost always measn broken parts.

3) If you could watch a pressure gauge connnected to the cylinder in slow motion, the nitrous engine will have a much faster and higher pressure spike than a boosted engine, which rises much more gradually.

All of the above engines are in relation to equal horsepower, naturally.
.