Nitro-Methane (CH3NO2)
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
Nitro-Methane (CH3NO2) Recently I have had a good number of questions regarding Nitro-Methane (CH3NO2).
I will be discussing high-percentage/ concentration Nitro-Methane here, not to be confused with low-percentage/ concentration Nitro-Methane (as used in RC Cars).
This Thread is regarding the Fuel used in Drag Racing and formerly experimented with in the early days of Space Shuttle Fuels (deemed too dangerous).
It is one of the most explosive organic chemical compounds, carries it's own Oxygen Source, and behaves very similarly to Dynamite (Nitro-Glycerin).
Dynamite also has the same ignition characteristics as Nitro-Methane. Dynamite is not to be confused with TNT (Trinitrotoluene).
There are other compounds that can be combined with Nitro-Methane to make it more explosive.
I will absolutely NOT be giving out any information on that topic.
Nitro-Methane is difficult to ignite via a flame or heat source...
Instead it is very easily ignited by a shock source (like Dynamite).
Poor a tiny amount in a frying-pan and hit it with a hammer, it will blow up in your face.
Poor a large amount in a frying-pan and hit it with a hammer, it will blow explode the pan and kill you.
Engines burning high concentration Nitro-Methane must have all fuel and residue evacuated from the engine prior to starting the engine.
OTHERWISE a minuscule amount of left behind Nitro-Methane will ignite as any cylinder comes up on compression...
OFTEN EXPLODING THE ENGINE!
This fuel is used to power the most powerful vehicles and crafts in racing.
It can be used (with the proper education) as a power-adder in automotive engines as well.
It will often triple the output of an engine running on gasoline.
I will be discussing high-percentage/ concentration Nitro-Methane here, not to be confused with low-percentage/ concentration Nitro-Methane (as used in RC Cars).
This Thread is regarding the Fuel used in Drag Racing and formerly experimented with in the early days of Space Shuttle Fuels (deemed too dangerous).
It is one of the most explosive organic chemical compounds, carries it's own Oxygen Source, and behaves very similarly to Dynamite (Nitro-Glycerin).
Dynamite also has the same ignition characteristics as Nitro-Methane. Dynamite is not to be confused with TNT (Trinitrotoluene).
There are other compounds that can be combined with Nitro-Methane to make it more explosive.
I will absolutely NOT be giving out any information on that topic.
Nitro-Methane is difficult to ignite via a flame or heat source...
Instead it is very easily ignited by a shock source (like Dynamite).
Poor a tiny amount in a frying-pan and hit it with a hammer, it will blow up in your face.
Poor a large amount in a frying-pan and hit it with a hammer, it will blow explode the pan and kill you.
Engines burning high concentration Nitro-Methane must have all fuel and residue evacuated from the engine prior to starting the engine.
OTHERWISE a minuscule amount of left behind Nitro-Methane will ignite as any cylinder comes up on compression...
OFTEN EXPLODING THE ENGINE!
This fuel is used to power the most powerful vehicles and crafts in racing.
It can be used (with the proper education) as a power-adder in automotive engines as well.
It will often triple the output of an engine running on gasoline.
Last edited by vorteciroc; Feb 15, 2023 at 12:00 AM.
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
Up to triple your HP and torque with a fuel change!
To date it is the safest Fuel that can be used...
That can also have the needed fuel volume to make 15,000 HP (with current safety rules) and remain stoichiometric.
To date it is the safest Fuel that can be used...
That can also have the needed fuel volume to make 15,000 HP (with current safety rules) and remain stoichiometric.
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
It was NOTORIOUSLY mixed with Nitro-Methane in the 1960s NHRA Drag Racing.
It almost always produced extreme complete Engine Explosions on Engine start-up.
Nearly always causing near fatal or fatal injuries to anyone standing near the Vehicle/ Starting-Line.
Avoid at all costs!!!
Anyone else that brings up Hydrazine...
Kindly please:
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 475
From: Bostwick, GA.
"It was NOTORIOUSLY mixed with Nitro-Methane in the 1960s NHRA Drag Racing.
It almost always produced extreme complete Engine Explosions on Engine start-up.
Nearly always causing near fatal or fatal injuries to anyone standing near the Vehicle/ Starting-Line".
We ran T/f in the 60's with this exact combo.
Had not a single explosion. Did a few stock iron block 392's in, tho.
To add to the mystery, we were known to use some Propylene oxide, organic compound with the molecular formula CH3CHCH2O, too.
Ya, it was dangerous to use. Some of the others used "weird love potions", too.
Last use was at the World Series in Cordova, Il... Circa 1965. NHRA put the kibosh on it really fast.
And no, I didn't STFU
It almost always produced extreme complete Engine Explosions on Engine start-up.
Nearly always causing near fatal or fatal injuries to anyone standing near the Vehicle/ Starting-Line".
We ran T/f in the 60's with this exact combo.
Had not a single explosion. Did a few stock iron block 392's in, tho.
To add to the mystery, we were known to use some Propylene oxide, organic compound with the molecular formula CH3CHCH2O, too.
Ya, it was dangerous to use. Some of the others used "weird love potions", too.
Last use was at the World Series in Cordova, Il... Circa 1965. NHRA put the kibosh on it really fast.
And no, I didn't STFU
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
"It was NOTORIOUSLY mixed with Nitro-Methane in the 1960s NHRA Drag Racing.
It almost always produced extreme complete Engine Explosions on Engine start-up.
Nearly always causing near fatal or fatal injuries to anyone standing near the Vehicle/ Starting-Line".
We ran T/f in the 60's with this exact combo.
Had not a single explosion. Did a few stock iron block 392's in, tho.
To add to the mystery, we were known to use some Propylene oxide, organic compound with the molecular formula CH3CHCH2O, too.
Ya, it was dangerous to use. Some of the others used "weird love potions", too.
Last use was at the World Series in Cordova, Il... Circa 1965. NHRA put the kibosh on it really fast.
And no, I didn't STFU
It almost always produced extreme complete Engine Explosions on Engine start-up.
Nearly always causing near fatal or fatal injuries to anyone standing near the Vehicle/ Starting-Line".
We ran T/f in the 60's with this exact combo.
Had not a single explosion. Did a few stock iron block 392's in, tho.
To add to the mystery, we were known to use some Propylene oxide, organic compound with the molecular formula CH3CHCH2O, too.
Ya, it was dangerous to use. Some of the others used "weird love potions", too.
Last use was at the World Series in Cordova, Il... Circa 1965. NHRA put the kibosh on it really fast.
And no, I didn't STFU
As i already said, yes It almost always produced extreme complete Engine Explosions on Engine start-up.
I had been running TA/D with the optional Normally Aspirated Fuel (Nitro-Methane) combo Dragster until 2019.
I am a Third Generation Semi-Pro Driver in Division 1 (NED)...
With Family that ran in AA/G, A/A, AA/A, AA/FA, TA/FC, TA/D, AF/D, AND T/F.
Last edited by vorteciroc; Feb 15, 2023 at 07:26 PM.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Glad to see this guy is still around always enjoyed his threads of useless nonsense and the banter that follows. So vortec can I run this stuff in my turbo car and make like a million horsepower? My fuel system only leaks a little bit on the exhaust manifolds so is this stuff pretty safe to drip on hot stuff.
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
Glad to see this guy is still around always enjoyed his threads of useless nonsense and the banter that follows. So vortec can I run this stuff in my turbo car and make like a million horsepower? My fuel system only leaks a little bit on the exhaust manifolds so is this stuff pretty safe to drip on hot stuff.
You don't like my Threads of useless nonsense?
Thats too bad.
No one is forcing you to read my Threads...
Yet you still are reading them.
Like for instance all the NA guys that spend retarded amounts of money with forged rods, crank, pistons. Aftermarket heads and $2k intakes just to get their **** railed by some guy with a stock 5.3 and $500 turbo. I’ve seen more people have problems with spinning bearings on “built” motors compared to the sbe guys.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 1,137
From: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Oh, bench racing is fun... I'll throw some thoughts out there. Since nitro is stoich around 1.7:1, if we were trying to build an LS that used it as a fuel, would we have to run mechanical injection and a positive displacement blower in order to get the most out of it? I don't see any way you could use EFI without running 4 injectors per cylinder to get the required flow. And even then, what injectors could keep up?
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,202
Likes: 1,390
From: Nitro Alley
Oh, bench racing is fun... I'll throw some thoughts out there. Since nitro is stoich around 1.7:1, if we were trying to build an LS that used it as a fuel, would we have to run mechanical injection and a positive displacement blower in order to get the most out of it? I don't see any way you could use EFI without running 4 injectors per cylinder to get the required flow. And even then, what injectors could keep up?
Larger amounts can be used with an EFI configuration similar to what is needed for Methanol use.
TECH Regular
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 423
Likes: 132
From: Ohio
It doesn't mix with gasoline so guessing it's have to be a completely seperate fuel system with different injectors and whatnot
I hear it mixes well with methanol. Also heard stories of old sprint cars ch3ating by throwing a bit into their tanks. But anyhoo, wonder if the little amount of gas on E85 will make it so it does or doesn't mix
I hear it mixes well with methanol. Also heard stories of old sprint cars ch3ating by throwing a bit into their tanks. But anyhoo, wonder if the little amount of gas on E85 will make it so it does or doesn't mix
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 475
From: Bostwick, GA.
May/may not do much for the performance in a small load.
But! It sure makes the starting line guys go bonkers!
My alky fe rail was a great "attention getter" with < a pint to 5 gallons.
Strait meth, thru a "Laguna leanout" injection. Tuning was a piece of cake.
But! It sure makes the starting line guys go bonkers!
My alky fe rail was a great "attention getter" with < a pint to 5 gallons.
Strait meth, thru a "Laguna leanout" injection. Tuning was a piece of cake.
Correct.
People add a small amount of it to their meth injection tanks for that extra power bump.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 532
Likes: 630
One thing to remember is that the power from nitromethane wasn't so much from its own oxygen or how rich it can run, its from that nitrogen atom. When it decomposes or burns correctly that nitrogen SNAPS right to another nitrogen atom and bonds to form N2, the nitrogen species that makes up 80% of air. The heat of formation of that N2 is very high. Everything else can burn with oxygen, and even forms some nitric acid due to incomplete combustion, which is why a fuel car burns your nostrils and smells like the dirtiest mexican restaurant ever burning to the ground in a grease and rubber fire.