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Why does nitrous oxide make cars go faster?

Some of my friends who race cars were talking about nitrous oxide and how it’s good for speed—I don’t know much about fuel or cars so why does nitrous oxide make cars go faster?

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Andrew Biro · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Nitrous oxide—a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen—makes cars go faster because it supplies more oxygen for the combustion process, allowing the engine to produce more power.
When nitrous oxide heats to 570℉, its molecules split into oxygen and nitrogen—so injecting nitrous oxide into your engine increases the oxygen available for combustion, allowing more fuel to be injected, resulting in higher power output.
As a bonus, nitrous oxide also provides a cooling effect on the intake air after it is vaporized, increasing its density and providing even more oxygen inside the engine cylinder.
Knowing how different fuels affect your engine is important—but so is making sure the right insurance policy protects your vehicle. Licensed
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