​Ready to Win? How our Nitrous Kits Will Give You the Edge Over the Competition.

How does nitrous work, and how can our nitrous kits deliver so much power for such a low price?

What is Nitrous?

Whether you call it nitrous, nitro, NOS, or laughing gas, it's all Nitrous Oxide (N2O,) a molecule that contains two nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. It's used medically as an anesthetic and sedative: if you've had sedation dentistry, your treatment probably began by inhaling this gas.

How Does Nitrous Improve Performance?

Increasing the amount of fuel burned inside the engine results in more power, but there needs to be a matching amount of oxygen to increase combustion. Normally, getting this extra oxygen in the combustion chamber involves increasing the amount of air by porting the heads, increasing the duration and lift of the valves with a cam, or by adding forced induction with a supercharger or turbocharger.

A nitrous injection system sidesteps this entirely, using nitrogen oxide directly to increase the amount of oxygen inside the engine. Installing a nitrous system is a lot simpler than forced induction or engine modification, and it can be turned on and off as needed.

How does a Nitrous System Work?

Nitrous oxide is stored in a tank at pressures high enough to make it a liquid. This tank is connected via a hose to a solenoid-activated injector mounted on a plate bolted to the intake. That's a pretty simple setup compared to a forced induction system, which is why a nitrous kit can deliver so much performance for the price.

When the solenoid is activated, it opens the injector. The nitrous rushes out and becomes a gas as pressure is reduced. This sudden decompression lowers the temperature of the nitrous to -127°F (-88°C.) This cools down the air and fuel in the intake, increasing density and power.

The heat inside the combustion chamber breaks the bonds that hold a nitrogen oxide molecule together, leaving the oxygen free to react with the hydrocarbons in the fuel. More fuel burns, more energy is produced, and power increases.

What's the Difference Between Dry and Wet Systems?

A "dry" system only injects N2O into the intake. The ECU to automatically add fuel when it detects a lean mix from the oxygen sensor. Naturally, this is limited to what the stock fuel system can handle.

A "wet" system also injects fuel to help compensate for the added oxygen. To do this, an adapter is added to the fuel rail or the fuel line running to the injectors. From here, a hose connects the fuel to a second solenoid which opens a second injector injection plate. When the system is activated, both solenoids open, injecting nitrous and fuel at the same time.

How is a Nitrous System Activated?

First, the system has to be turned on with an arming switch. This way, it's only used when you want it.

On throttle-by-wire cars, the system is wired to the throttle sensor. When the sensor detects wide open throttle (WOT,) the nitrous system switches on. On cars with a cable-operated throttle, the system is activated by a button, usually mounted behind the gas pedal so it's switched on when the pedal reaches the floor.

How Can a Nitrous System Offer a Range of Power Increases?

They can be installed with a range of injector nozzles, letting you pick the right size for the application. For wet systems, the nozzles come in pairs so that fuel is added to match the increase in oxygen. Of course, actual performance will vary depending on your individual setup.

Where Can I Learn More?

If you're looking to add a Nitrous system to your Mustang, talk to Anderson Ford Motorsport. We've been tuning and racing Mustangs for over 25 years, and we can help you find the right system for your car.