Nitrous Explosions
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque NM
Nitrous Explosions
I was reading in a magazine tonight about bad things that happen to nitrous people when for example, they spin off the line and get off the throttle. This causes the fuel to stop spraying but not the nitrous and thereby results in an extremely lean condition when they get back on the throttle making nice little paperweights out of your pistons. Makes sense to me, but my question is, does this only happen with "dry" kits? Seems like a wet kit would have less of a problem with this since you are also spraying fuel with the nitrous. Any info appreciated. Oh BTW they said if you run into this situation, you had better just shut it down, but for how long? I am figuring that the nitrous will eventually break down in your intake so it would be safe to start up, but how long does that take?
Thanks for helping a nitrous rookie.
Thanks for helping a nitrous rookie.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,521
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
Re: Nitrous Explosions (flynbludream)
Sounds like a tall tale by a non-nitrous user.
All of the kits today, whether wet or dry. function off of a WOT switch so if the throttle gets backed off due to wheelspin, the nitrous solenoid will close as well...no WOT=no N20.
The only thing that compares in my mind with these "findings" is when someone unfortunately leaves their traction contol on and has the basic WOT switch...it will keep spraying even though the engine is not at WOT. This scenario can be irradicated completely with the BPP WOT switch, though. It is an electronic switch that reads the TPS instead of being just a basic switch.
As far as downtime, it is always recommended to not start a engine that has recenlty been flooded with nitrous for whatever reason. To be safe, some pull all of the plugs and crank it over to release it all. This is the worst case scenario. Normally if you accidentally spray a small amount of nitrous into the engine when not running it takes no time to clear out especcially if the throttle is closed.
:cheers:
All of the kits today, whether wet or dry. function off of a WOT switch so if the throttle gets backed off due to wheelspin, the nitrous solenoid will close as well...no WOT=no N20.
The only thing that compares in my mind with these "findings" is when someone unfortunately leaves their traction contol on and has the basic WOT switch...it will keep spraying even though the engine is not at WOT. This scenario can be irradicated completely with the BPP WOT switch, though. It is an electronic switch that reads the TPS instead of being just a basic switch.
As far as downtime, it is always recommended to not start a engine that has recenlty been flooded with nitrous for whatever reason. To be safe, some pull all of the plugs and crank it over to release it all. This is the worst case scenario. Normally if you accidentally spray a small amount of nitrous into the engine when not running it takes no time to clear out especcially if the throttle is closed.
:cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 0
From: Austria
Re: Nitrous Explosions (flynbludream)
Just be sure to have all goodies then NOS will be save.
Getting off the peddal and still spraying NOS means there is no WOT switch installed. That´s crazy and so poopie may happen.
Again, get all goodies and don´t spray too much NOS.
Then it is save.
Michael
Getting off the peddal and still spraying NOS means there is no WOT switch installed. That´s crazy and so poopie may happen.
Again, get all goodies and don´t spray too much NOS.
Then it is save.
Michael
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,248
Likes: 0
Re: Nitrous Explosions (flynbludream)
This might be a descript of the dreaded Nitrous backfire when fuel or nitrous puddles in the intake.
As far as getting nitrous out, I think you have to cold crank the engine. I'm kinda tired right now, so take this with a grain.
As far as getting nitrous out, I think you have to cold crank the engine. I'm kinda tired right now, so take this with a grain.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg PA
Re: Nitrous Explosions (flynbludream)
As the others have stated you MUST have a WOT switch.
Other safety features:
On and Off regulator. Get an MSD that lets you install RPM pills to turn the nitrous On (eg. 3000 RPM) and Off (eg. 6000RPM). This can help with traction, missed shift, and allows the engine to be cranking before you hit it with the juice.
Low fuel pressure off switch. If the fuel pressure drops below a determined level the nitrous will not flow.
Other safety features:
On and Off regulator. Get an MSD that lets you install RPM pills to turn the nitrous On (eg. 3000 RPM) and Off (eg. 6000RPM). This can help with traction, missed shift, and allows the engine to be cranking before you hit it with the juice.
Low fuel pressure off switch. If the fuel pressure drops below a determined level the nitrous will not flow.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
Re: Nitrous Explosions (Second Childhood)
Anyone who runs nitros gets what they deserve :lol:
Those of us who don't have it, and are afraid of it, consider it cheatin. Kind of like Karl Malone. He plays dirty. But if he played for my team, he'd be the most awesome player that ever lived. :cheers:
Those of us who don't have it, and are afraid of it, consider it cheatin. Kind of like Karl Malone. He plays dirty. But if he played for my team, he'd be the most awesome player that ever lived. :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 154
From: Green Bay WI
Re: Nitrous Explosions (jschindler)
This past spring at the C5 B'day bash in Bowling Green, I was in the staging lanes at Beech Bend dragway when a C5 (in line about 20 feet behind me) with nitrous blew up and caught fire. The explosion blew a nice hole in the composite plastic intake. Don't know exactly what happened, but the explosion was enough to convince me to never add nitrous to mine. my .02
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 154
From: Green Bay WI
Re: Nitrous Explosions (jetskifast)
CliffB-99
Very interesting how Nitrous blew up and caught fire. Nitrous is non-flammable
Very interesting how Nitrous blew up and caught fire. Nitrous is non-flammable
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,858
Likes: 0
From: Northern Calif/ San Juan Island, Wa
Re: Nitrous Explosions (CliffB-99)
CliffB-99
Most nitrous systems are setup to activate at WOT only. Floor mounted micro switch or elecronic N20 activation are most common activation switches. Some owners do use hand held on/off switch.
Since C5 sounds like it was lined up in front of you, not at WOT, problem may not have been nitrous related.
Intake could explode if you have a build up of nitrous inside intake manifold, from some sort of failure, such as solenoid leaking N20. Back fire when spraying N20 could also do a job on your intake.
Most nitrous systems are setup to activate at WOT only. Floor mounted micro switch or elecronic N20 activation are most common activation switches. Some owners do use hand held on/off switch.
Since C5 sounds like it was lined up in front of you, not at WOT, problem may not have been nitrous related.
Intake could explode if you have a build up of nitrous inside intake manifold, from some sort of failure, such as solenoid leaking N20. Back fire when spraying N20 could also do a job on your intake.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,573
Likes: 0
From: Tewksbury MA
Re: Nitrous Explosions
While using N20, it's all about the safety switches to eliminate any possibility of N20 damage. This incluse WOT switches, Window (RPM) switches & pressure gauge. W/ all these in place and a correctly installed N20 setup, only real damage that can be caused to a stuck solenoid.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,303
Likes: 154
From: Green Bay WI
Re: Nitrous Explosions (Viprklr)
CliffB-99 -- Nice lift man!!! Wish I had one. :yesnod: :chevy
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,957
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From: Albuquerque NM
Re: Nitrous Explosions (jetskifast)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,540
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From: Milwaukee WI
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Re: Nitrous Explosions (flynbludream)
Whew.. got any more of that video after the flame burst? The flame appears to originate IN FRONT of the radiator???
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 0
From: Austria
Re: Nitrous Explosions (nevrenuf)
I know about that car.
The car was detonating worse bevore that run.
They wanted to know anyway.
I think it was a dead plug because of the high NOS shot
(150wet+50 dry, or so).
So they sprayed with a damaged plug.
It HAD to backfire.
The backfire blew off the airfiltercase.
If I remember right, the car ran after that.
The guy only had to pull the plugs and put in new ones.
He was lucky.
Don´t play with NOS and you´ll be safe.
Michael
The car was detonating worse bevore that run.
They wanted to know anyway.
I think it was a dead plug because of the high NOS shot
(150wet+50 dry, or so).
So they sprayed with a damaged plug.
It HAD to backfire.
The backfire blew off the airfiltercase.
If I remember right, the car ran after that.
The guy only had to pull the plugs and put in new ones.
He was lucky.
Don´t play with NOS and you´ll be safe.
Michael
Drifting
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
From: Miami, Fl
Re: Nitrous Explosions (jschindler)
Anyone who runs nitros gets what they deserve :lol:
Those of us who don't have it, and are afraid of it, consider it cheatin. Kind of like Karl Malone. He plays dirty. But if he played for my team, he'd be the most awesome player that ever lived. :cheers:
Those of us who don't have it, and are afraid of it, consider it cheatin. Kind of like Karl Malone. He plays dirty. But if he played for my team, he'd be the most awesome player that ever lived. :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
From: Grayson Ga.
Re: Nitrous Explosions (flynbludream)
Over the years I have seen hundreds nitrous explosions. Two of them the cars were burned to the ground and the driver barely made it out with their lives. One eplosion happens 2 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. The fire took only seconds to go from the front to the rear of the car, and nobody could get to the driver. Oh ! These guys were/are nitrous experts.
I want to go fast, but I want to do it next week too.
I want to go fast, but I want to do it next week too.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 0
From: Austria
Re: Nitrous Explosions (Wt99C5)
Over the years I have seen hundreds nitrous explosions. Two of them the cars were burned to the ground and the driver barely made it out with their lives. One eplosion happens 2 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. The fire took only seconds to go from the front to the rear of the car, and nobody could get to the driver. Oh ! These guys were/are nitrous experts.
I want to go fast, but I want to do it next week too.
I want to go fast, but I want to do it next week too.