Editing Nitrous oxide engine (section)

{{Short description|Automotive supplement}}

{{about|the use of nitrous oxide in a motorsports context|other uses|Nitrous oxide}}
{{redirect|Nitrous|the chemical terminology and other uses|nitrogen compounds}}

{{Refimprove|date=April 2009 }}

[[File:DragRacerPurgingNitrousOxide.jpg|thumb|right|A performance vehicle using a nitrous oxide purging system]]

A '''nitrous oxide engine,''' or '''nitrous oxide system''' ('''NOS''') is an [[internal combustion engine]] in which oxygen for burning the fuel comes from the decomposition of [[nitrous oxide]], N<sub>2</sub>O, as well as air. The system increases the  engine's power output by allowing fuel to be burned at a higher-than-normal rate, because of the higher [[partial pressure]] of oxygen injected with the [[fuel mixture]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.automoblog.net/2011/09/27/nitrous-everything-you-need-to-know/|title=Nitrous: Everything You Need to Know|publisher=Automoblog.net |date=2011-09-27 |access-date=2013-07-11}}</ref> Nitrous injection systems may be "dry", where the nitrous oxide is injected separately from fuel, or "wet" in which additional fuel is carried into the engine along with the nitrous. NOS may not be permitted for street or highway use, depending on local regulations. N<sub>2</sub>O use is permitted in certain classes of auto racing. Reliable operation of an engine with nitrous injection requires careful attention to the strength of engine components and to the accuracy of the mixing systems, otherwise destructive detonations or exceeding engineered component maximums may occur. Nitrous oxide systems were applied as early as World War II for certain aircraft engines.