Nitrous Oxide (often called nos) is a gas commonly known as laughing gas. When burned, N2O breaks up into nitrogen and oxygen; the oxygen provides the power boost by allowing more fuel to be burned.

There are kits available to hook up nitrous oxide systems to any car. Horsepower gains vary on engine size, but most four cylinder engines use kits that gain 40-150 horsepower. These kits cost a fraction of what turbo and supercharger kits cost, which is one of the reasons for nitrous kits' popularity. (Cost of a basic starter kit jetted for 50-75 hp = $550US)

Nitrous is commonly used in drag racing as the power from nitous is only temporary. When the bottle is used up it must be replenished at a refill station.

Nitrous Oxide fact: Nitrous Oxide has been popularized on the big screen in such movies as 'The Fast and the Furious' and 'Gone in Sixty Seconds'.