phiebert
Enthusiast
I few weeks ago I decided that it was time to figure out why I was underwhelmed with my Nitrous system (the BTR package with propane assist). Tom at BTR was very helpful when I asked questions but I guess I never had anyone to compare to so I could see if what I thought was underperformance really was.
After my post a few weeks ago asking for help, it didn't take long for me to figure out that due to the low ambient temperatures where I live I wasn't getting enough pressure in my Nitrous or Propane tanks. I use my Nitrous fairly regularly even in winter here on the West Coast of Canada where the winter day time temps are in the 40's or low 50's (yeah that's right, we don't all live in igloos up here and it doesn't freeze everywhere in Canada!). The low outdoor temps mixed with the fact that I seemed to have a bad Nitrous bottle heater thermostat kept my Nitrous pressure between 600 and 700 psi or so. That doesn't give you a heck of a seat of the pants feel. However, when you get the pressure up to over 1000 psi, it's like having a Jato rocket strapped to the roof of the car. But when the Nitrous pressure is that high, you want to make sure your propane pressure is high (140 psi +) too so you don't run lean.
Well, since I'm a cheap @#$%!#$, I didn't want to shell out another $200 for a second heater for the propane tank. So today I went to the local automotive store and bought a 12 volt, 30 watt baby bottle heater for $20. I pulled it apart and strapped the heating coil and built in thermostat to the propane tank and presto, I now get my propane pressure up where I want it. Then I replaced the 30 C (86 degree) thermostats for the Nitrous bottle that are supposed to keep it at around 900 psi with a slightly higher degree set. Tie this all together and I have a Nitrous bottle that gets over 1000 psi safely, a propane bottle heater that takes nearly no amps and protects my car from running lean and best of all, a car that has 150 ft lbs more torque and nearly 100 more HP than it did with the "cold" Nitrous!!
What do ya think Tom, do I get royalties on the "Canadian Winter Upgrade Package" for your Nitrous kit? Seriously though, Tom's kit has worked flawlessly for me for 3 years and now that I have it producing the HP I was always expecting I can say it is well worth the money. Definitely the biggest bang for the buck you can get for your car. I know a lot of people think Nitrous is cheating but I'd fire a nuclear bomb out the back of my car if I could make it go faster!
After my post a few weeks ago asking for help, it didn't take long for me to figure out that due to the low ambient temperatures where I live I wasn't getting enough pressure in my Nitrous or Propane tanks. I use my Nitrous fairly regularly even in winter here on the West Coast of Canada where the winter day time temps are in the 40's or low 50's (yeah that's right, we don't all live in igloos up here and it doesn't freeze everywhere in Canada!). The low outdoor temps mixed with the fact that I seemed to have a bad Nitrous bottle heater thermostat kept my Nitrous pressure between 600 and 700 psi or so. That doesn't give you a heck of a seat of the pants feel. However, when you get the pressure up to over 1000 psi, it's like having a Jato rocket strapped to the roof of the car. But when the Nitrous pressure is that high, you want to make sure your propane pressure is high (140 psi +) too so you don't run lean.
Well, since I'm a cheap @#$%!#$, I didn't want to shell out another $200 for a second heater for the propane tank. So today I went to the local automotive store and bought a 12 volt, 30 watt baby bottle heater for $20. I pulled it apart and strapped the heating coil and built in thermostat to the propane tank and presto, I now get my propane pressure up where I want it. Then I replaced the 30 C (86 degree) thermostats for the Nitrous bottle that are supposed to keep it at around 900 psi with a slightly higher degree set. Tie this all together and I have a Nitrous bottle that gets over 1000 psi safely, a propane bottle heater that takes nearly no amps and protects my car from running lean and best of all, a car that has 150 ft lbs more torque and nearly 100 more HP than it did with the "cold" Nitrous!!
What do ya think Tom, do I get royalties on the "Canadian Winter Upgrade Package" for your Nitrous kit? Seriously though, Tom's kit has worked flawlessly for me for 3 years and now that I have it producing the HP I was always expecting I can say it is well worth the money. Definitely the biggest bang for the buck you can get for your car. I know a lot of people think Nitrous is cheating but I'd fire a nuclear bomb out the back of my car if I could make it go faster!
