Why Nitro Engines Outpower Everything Else
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Published 2023-10-22
Nitro Engine by itself: bit.ly/48YGCvb
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This engine here which fits neatly into my hand has a displacement of 2.95cc but it has an incredible power output of 1.8 horsepower.
If you put it side by side with a 50cc 2 horsepower brush-cutter engine you realize just how incredible 1.8 horsepower from something this tiny actually is.
But things get even crazier if we take the displacement and the power output and calculate the horsepower per liter for this little thing. The number we get is: 610 horsepower per liter.
To put that into perspective, here’s the Koenigsegg Jesko, a 3 million dollar hypercar whose 5.1 liter twin-turbocharged V8 has a power output of 1603 horsepower when it runs on E85 ethanol fuel.
These numbers give us a specific output of 316 horsepower per liter. So around half of this, and this, which is a single cylinder nitro engine, costs around 80 dollars.
Now in order to match the specific output of this tiny engine we have to go beyond 3 million dollar hypercars and into current Formula 1 specifications, so from things money can buy to things that money cannot buy.
Current Formula vehicles output between 750-1000 horsepower from their turbocharged 1.6 liter v6 engines and their hybrid drivetrain. Nobody knows the exact numbers because they’re not published but we will take the highest number which is 1000 horsepower and we will say that all of it comes from the engine alone, in other words we will ignore the hybrid capabilities of the F1 cars. In that scenario we get 625 horsepower liter. So we’re able to outmatch the specific power of this engine only when we stack the numbers in favor of Formula 1. But the only reason we can actually do this is because I’m using my budget friendly engine as reference. If take something a bit more competition oriented from a company called OS engines, which specializes in making these, let’s pick this one the O.S.SPEED R2105. It costs around 650ish dollars I think but it makes 2.76 horsepower from 3.95cc and that gives a specific output of 791 horsepower per liter, so not even Formula 1 can touch this.
ow we have to answer some questions. How does this miniature little engine manage to have such incredible specific power? Well there are three reasons.
Number 1 this engine is a two stroke, and as we know, two strokes squeeze more power from the same displacement at the expense of longevity and emissions
Because this thing is a two stroke it doesn’t have camshafts, valves and valve springs. There’s nothing in here it’s just a giant heat sink with lots of coolant fins to maximize surface are and help the engine not overheat. Because there’s no valves and valve springs and because we have an absolutely tiny and very lightweight piston, rod and crank inside this engine it can rev to around 30.000 rpm.
And this is the most important reason, it’s the fuel. This is called a nitro engine because the full it runs on is called nitromethane. And nitromethane is an absolutely incredible fuel with an incredible power potential.
To observe that power potential we have to look at some numbers once again. This time let’s talk about power per unit of weight. If we put this on a scale we will see that it weighs 355 grams. Our power output is 1.8 horsepower which means that we make 5 horsepower per kilogram, or 2.3 horsepower per pound. Formula 1 makes 2.7 horsepower per pound or 6 horsepower per kilogram when the engine and the electric motor work together.
So Formula 1 powertrains have a better power to weight ratio? Well, yes, but that’s only because the actual fuel used in this engine is only 16% nitromethane.
But fortunately there exists something in this world which can demonstrate what happens with the power to weight ratio when you crank up the percentage of nitromethane in the fuel. You get this. And these are top fuel dragsters. Their fuel is 90% nitromethane the rest is mostly methanol. Their engines weigh around 226 kg and they output 11.000 horsepower. This gives us 22 horsepower per pound or 48.5 horsepower per kilogram
In case you’re wondering, no, there is no electric motor that has a better power to weight ratio. Koenigsegg’s dark matter motor weighs 39 kilograms and is capable of outputting 800 horsepower, sounds very impressive but it gives us 9.3 horsepower per pound or 20.5 horsepower per kilogram. The most power dense electric motor currently in existence is the eHelix SPM177-165 from a company called Helix in the UK. It allegedly has a power to weight ratio of 15.4 horsepower per pound or 33.9 horsepower per kilogram.
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All Comments (21)
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RC Car from the video (engine included): bit.ly/46FJDPn Motivation: www.youtube.com/channel/UCt3YSIPcvJsYbwGCDLNiIKA Nitro Engine by itself: bit.ly/48YGCvb Find more engines: www.enginediy.com/?ref=d4a Extra 10% off code: d4a I earn a small commission if you purchase something from the link above Patreon: www.patreon.com/d4a
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Fun fact, a hyper 7 offroad rc buggy has enough power to tow you behind it on a skateboard to a scary speed on concrete, don’t attempt it, skateboards shouldn’t go as fast as I did that fateful day. Lol
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Will definitely fit in a miata
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As someone who has gone to a local dragstrip many times (Summit Motorsports park) I can say that watching top fuel is an experience like exceptionally few others. That kind of power level can be felt in the ground, in your chest, shaking windows and stadiums. Only things that come close are the jet dragsters, which, well, you can guess why.
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I already knew about nitromethane, but stayed regardless for the entire thing just because your way of presenting is very entertaining
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I run methanol in my dragster. I've gone faster since switching from gas to methanol than I ever did running gas. I've tried to explain this to many people and they simply don't understand. This is one of the best explanations of how this works that I've seen. Bravo!
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Just want to update your info. Being a top fuel junkie. The 1000ft finish line rule change happened because NHRA did a study and found more than 95% of the engine failures and engine explosions happened in the last 320ft of a 1/4mile. After working with crew chiefs they found out the engines made the 1000ft easy but the engineers were hoping and praying it holds that last 320ft so they limited track length and dramatically limited eninge explosions. So many people have responded to my post with something about a death. But no one who responded has taken the time to do the research. Scott's death was the final death. Combined with multiple years of spectator deaths. Oil downs every race. Engines blowing every race. All this come to a head with scotts death it was NOT Scotts death that changed the rules. Not even close if Scott had been the only death or even one of the first 10 then there would have been no rule changes. Scoots death was the final death to open an investigation and find out why. The results came back that the engines were all or nearly all blowing up in the 320. By shutting down the engines at 1000ft both the engines are surviving and there is an extra distance to slow the car before track end. But if you watch the documentary they clearly lay out the investigation was prompted by the US government because of on track and spectator deaths. NHRA was facing the possibility of ending top fuel and funny car. .. There are years and years leading up to the investigation that lead to the rule change. Scotts death was just the last one and rhe one people know because things happen immediately after
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this is by far the most automotive engineering information-worthy channel ive ever came across. you are incredible and deserve the best for sharing all that with us! wishing you all the best! thank you bro!
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You are wrong about NOS, if Yakuzas shoot at your car it will explode it in green flames according to the first Fast and Furious movie.
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Fun fact : O.S. Engines , a japanese RC engine manufacturer, makes .21 cubic inches (or 3,5cc) Nitro engines for 1/8th scale On-road competitions, top of the line is the OS Speed R2105 which has a total power output of over 2.8hp at 35.000rpm , but it revs close to 50k rpm . Legend has it reaches over 3.5hp with high nitro percentage at around 40k rpm, making it a 1000hp/litre engine effectively . Just INSANE! Edit: never mind, he actually says that .
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Have noticed this before but in 2:42 it shows the peak output at 35000rpm with practical top at 45000! That's insane for reciprocating engine even if the masses are miniscule.
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I'm just your average Joe (no super mechanic or anything), but wow watching your videos is amazing! Such good and fascinating explanations and examples!! It's always a pleasure watching your videos. 👍
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Simply Amazing...one very informative video. I have learned my trade back in the 70's and entered my car into street drags, my motorcycle into bike drag racing after doing all the performance tweaks of the era. I even had those little engines in my model planes,but never really looked at anything in this way. Thanks for teaching a retired old dog something new.
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I LOVE THE NEW BACKGROUND I like stable things to look at, they don't distract me or hype my brian too much.
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I used to drive these nitro-power RC cars and I was always impressed with how sturdy and powerful the engines were in them. They're a load of fun and I suggest any enginehead out there grab one.
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You literally have some of the best engine videos on YT. We researched, informative, fun - everything I want. R/C cars, trucks, whatever are awesome. Thanks D4A!
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I can't believe I watched that lecture, But you did a great job. And you had no distracting background music so I can still enjoy my music and learn. Just good banter and tech, is all this guy needs. So I subscribed.
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A top-fuel event is something every human should go to if the opportunity is there. Nothing can prepare you for it.
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Top Fuel is something everyone should experience once in their life, just the switch from alcohol (they cannot be started on 90% nitro, they just explode !) Is mind blowing. They burn 15 gallons or 57 liters for warm up, burn out, and 1 run .
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Your channel is on the only ones that ever does anything justice across all types of motorsports to where people want to engage and those that don’t know about it will be able to and so one Thank you for continuing to make amazing content!!
