Nitrous.
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Nitrous.
How safe is a nitrous system on a relatively stock 5.4L engine? By relatively stock I mean modified intake with aftermarket filter, and Magnaflow exhaust.
What sort of damages, if any, will be caused to the engine? I'm talking between a 50-75 HP shot, not some crazy 300 HP shot.
Will a high mileage (over 125,000 miles) engine be prone to catastrophic failure with say, a 75 HP nitrous shot?
I'm not actually doing this to my truck so don't get alarmed. It's simply hypothetical questioning and possibly future planning.
What sort of damages, if any, will be caused to the engine? I'm talking between a 50-75 HP shot, not some crazy 300 HP shot.
Will a high mileage (over 125,000 miles) engine be prone to catastrophic failure with say, a 75 HP nitrous shot?
I'm not actually doing this to my truck so don't get alarmed. It's simply hypothetical questioning and possibly future planning.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
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From: Central Florida
I think NX said 20hp per cylinder max on a stock engine. Your talking pretty close to that, so you will need a wet system. The damage comes from the excessive heat of running lean, the nitrous breaks down at cylinder temperature/pressure to provide more oxygen. Running a wet system helps insure you keep a safe air/fuel ratio, then adding a WOT and fuel pressure switch make it almost idiot proof. There is still a chance of problem, but the safety switches and additional fuel bring the probability down a lot.
At the shot your thinking of, I don't believe our 9.0:1 compression ratio will cause a pressure issue. Temperature is the killer, I believe we have hypertueric pistons, which can't take the heat forged can.
The worst problem I can think of with a reasonable shot and proper usage, is blow by.
At the shot your thinking of, I don't believe our 9.0:1 compression ratio will cause a pressure issue. Temperature is the killer, I believe we have hypertueric pistons, which can't take the heat forged can.
The worst problem I can think of with a reasonable shot and proper usage, is blow by.
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I don't quite understand how I'm talking close to 20 HP per cylinder, even with the upper end of my spectrum, 75 HP. 20 HP x 8 Cylinders=160 HP shot, I'm not even talking half that, and that's MAX.
Wet systems are what I looked at, and it was recommended to me that I install a 180 Degree thermostat as well.
Wet systems are what I looked at, and it was recommended to me that I install a 180 Degree thermostat as well.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
Yes, I didn't do the right math, the show came back on as soon as I recalled 20hp/cylinder.
Ford should already run 180-195. I don't think the 5.4 is going to have an issue with cooling, I would hope ford didn't make 3 or more different radiators.
Check out Nitrous Express' website, they have a great FAQ which should answer most all of your questions.
Ford should already run 180-195. I don't think the 5.4 is going to have an issue with cooling, I would hope ford didn't make 3 or more different radiators.
Check out Nitrous Express' website, they have a great FAQ which should answer most all of your questions.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: SE Texas
Stock modular+N2O=ticking time bomb.It's not a matter of if,but when it's gonna break. Especially in a truck with the extra load and sine they're much more knock prone than a car with the same engine. I know there's gonna be some guy that's "ran it on my truck for 100K miles...blah,blah,blah...", but I've seen broken pistons on stock N/A modulars.
JL
JL
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From: Mobile, AL
I gotta ask why are you considering the Nitros Oxide? Are your future plans for this in your Super Duty, or are you dropping a 5.4 into another platform?
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Postmaster
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JL
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It could be a possible future plan for the SD, as I enjoy taking my trucks up to the dragway a few times a year, but like I said, it would be a 75 shot at max. Why would a shot of nitrous that low cause my engine to fail, but people throw 'chargers putting 10+ PSI into the stock rotating assembly with no issues?
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Mobile, AL
Your sig says it's a 2002? I'd use it to haul a real drag toy, but not actually run it. I say this respectfully ofcourse. I don't think your once and a while dragway run will kill it, but just knowing that shot is there gets to be a big temptation at every stop light, and highway pissing contest. That's where you'll over do it and kill her.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
The boost works differently in nitrous. I don't know a whole lot about it, but when the nitrous oxide is heated and compressed, the two parts of oxygen separate from the inert one parts of nitrogen. The separation and heating causes a significant rise in pressure. It's not just the rise in pressure but the timing at which it occurs. A supercharger produces X pressure of air, it's X pressure in the cylinder (not quite, but close) and then compressed. Nitrous injected in to the cylinder has 14.7PSIa plus the volume of the nitrous. Then the nitrous is broken down and the 14.7psi amplifies as the cylinder is compressed, creating a pressure spike.
I think that's how it goes anyways.
I think that's how it goes anyways.
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I see what ya'll are saying, maybe I'll just stick with getting a tuner. I'd rather have a slow truck than no truck.
WeWonIt, it's difficult to get a real drag toy when you're a full time student in college with little extra cash
WeWonIt, it's difficult to get a real drag toy when you're a full time student in college with little extra cash
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Mobile, AL
I hear ya, I just try to keep people from making the same mistakes as me. I blew 3 engines, 8 transmissions and 2 rearends in my 77 2wd Blazer. Gets expensive making a slow truck faster than a sports car, but by the time you figgure it out, it's too late. Many years later, I realize the error of my ways.
Should have dropped that drivetrain in my Camaro
Should have dropped that drivetrain in my Camaro
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Lubbock
A add on n20 kit dosent include the kind of upgrades a turbo or a scharger kit does. A good turbo/scharger kit addresses timing, fuel, spark etc. Most up the fuel pump have aftermarket ignition systems and have some kind of tuning software. I would think this would be essential to have a power gain that will not have high potential of failure. Probably also reason for the high cost of the kit
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