Approval Details

Valid E.O.

Validity

This Executive Order approved the specified parts on on October 19, 1992.
As of Tuesday, February 4th, 2025 this Executive Order has not been overturned or superceeded.

Approved Parts

Part NumberModels
5170, 5170-II1985-1992 Camros and Firebirds equiped with a 5.7 L V-8 gasoline engine

This Executive Order may be listed as:
  • C.A.R.B.E.O. D-266-1
  • Executive Order 266-1 / D266-1
  • ARB # D-266-1
  • Executive Order No: D-266-1
  • C.A.R.B. No. D-266-1
  • Resolution D-266-1
For Free CARB Executive Order Status verification, email an image of the device Executive Order label as well as the Year/Make/Model and Test Group # of the vehicle to [email protected]

Download: Executive Order D-266-1 PDF

D-266-1 Document:

CARB_D-266-1

(Page 1 of 2) State of California AIR RESOURCES BOARD EXECUTIVE ORDER D—266—1 ~ +o 0l> Relating to Exemptions Under Section 27156 of the Vehicle Code ! r NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEMS, INC. NITROUS OXIDE. INJECTION KIT #5170 & #5170—II Pursuant to the authority vested in the Air Resources Board (ARB} by Section 27156 of the Vehicle Code; and Pursuant to the authority vested ih the undersigned by Sections 39515 and 39516 of the Health and Safety Code and Executive Order G—45—5; IT IS ORDERED AND RESOLVED: That the installation of the Nitrous Oxide Injection Kit #5170 & #5170~II manufactured by Nitrous Oxide Systems, Inc, have been found not to reduce the effectiveness of required motor vehicle pollution control devices and, therefore, are exempt from the prohibitions of Section 27156 of the Vehicle Code for installation on the following General Motors‘ vehicles that are Tuned Port Injected: The 1985 to 1992 Camaros & Firebirds equipped with a 5.0L V—8 qgasoline engine, 1985 to 1992 Corvettes equipped with a 5.7L V—8 gasoline engine, and 1987 to 1992 Camaros & Firebirds equipped with a 5.7L V+8 gasoline engine. This Executive Order is valid provided that installation instructions for the Nitrous Oxide Injection Kit #5170 & #5170—II will not recommend tuning the vehicle to specifications dlfferent from those submitted by the device manufacturer. Changes made to the design or operating conditions of the device, as exempted by the ARB, that adversely affect the performance of a vehicle‘s pollution control system shall invalidate this Executive Order. + Marketing of this device using an identification other than that shown in this Executive Order or marketing of this device for an application other than those listed in this Executive Order shall be prohibited unless prior approval is obtained from the ARB. This Executive Order does not constitute any opinion as to the effect the use of this dqyxce may, K4xs on any warranty either expressed or implied by 1 the vehicle manufacturer. i This Executive Order is granted based on results from emissions tests conducted in accordance with Cold—Start CVS—75 Federal Test Procedure. However, the ARB finds that reasonable grounds exist to believe that use of the Nitrous Oxide Injection Kit #5170 & #5170—~I1 may adversely affect emissions of motor vehicles when operating under conditions outside the parameters of the previously prescribed test procedures. Accordingly, the ARB reserves the right to conduct additional emission tests, in the future, as such tests are developed, that will more adequately measure emissions from all cycle phases. If such test results demonstrate that the Nitrous Oxide Injection Kit #5170 & #5170—I1 adversely affect emissions during off— cycle conditions (defined as those conditions which are beyond the parameters of the Cold—Start CVS—75 Federal Test Procedure), this Executive Order shall be effectively rescinded as of the date the test results are validated. Further, if such test results or other evidence

NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEMS, INC. ‘EXECUTIVE ORDER D—266—1 Nitrous Oxide Injection ‘ (Page 2 of 2) Kit #5170 & #5170—II _ provides the ARB with reason to suspect that the Nitrous Oxide Injection Kit #5170 & #5170—II will affect the durability of the erission control system, Nitrous Oxide Systems, Inc. shall be required to subrmit durability data to show that the durability of the vehicle emission control system is not, in fact, affected and/or that the add—on or modified part demonstrates adequate durability. < > In addition to the foregoing, the ARB reserves the right in the future to review this Executive Order and the exemption provided herein to assure that the exempted add—on or modified part continues to meet the standards and procedures of Title 13, California Code of Regulatiors, Section 2222, et seq. THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CERTIFICATION, ACCREDITATION, APPROVAL, OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF ENDORSEMENT BY THE AIR RESOURCES BOARD OF ANY CLAIMS OP THE APPLICANT CONCERNING ANTI—POLLUTION BEKZFITS OR ANY ALLEGED BENEFITS OF NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEMS, INC.‘S NITROUS OXIDE INJECTION KIT #5170 & #5170—II. No claim of any kind, such as "Approved by the Air Resources Board" may be made with respect to the action taken herein in any advertising or other oral or written communication. ! Section 17500 of the Business and Professions Code makes untrue or misleading advertising unlawful, and Section 17534 makes violation punishable as a misdemeanor. Section 43644 of the Health and Safety Code provides as follows: "43644, (a) No person shall install, sell, offer for sale, or advertise, or, except in an application to the state board for certification of a device, rebresent, any device as a motor vehicle pollution control device for use on any used motor vehicle unless that device has been certified by the state board. Ko person shall sell, offer for sale, advertise, or represent any motcr vehicle pollution control device as a certified device which, in fact, is not a certified device. Any violation of this subdivision is q,mis%ggganor." Any apparent violation of the conditions of this Executive Order may result in its rescission or submission to the Attorney General of California for such action as he deems advisable. The Bureau of Automotive Repair will be notified by copy of this order. Executed at El Monte, California, this céf/"df3>‘¢ October, 1992. < L7227 R. B. Summerfiel Assistant Division Chief Mobile Source Division

State of California AIR RESOURCES BOARD EVALUATION OF NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEMS, INC. NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEM, KIT #5170 & #5170—II FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE PROHIBITIONS OF VEHICLE CODE SECTION 27156 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2222, TITLE 13, OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS October 1992

State of California ALIR RESOURCES BOARD EVALUATION OF NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEMS, INcC. NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEM, KIT #5170 & #5170—II FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE PROHIBITIONS OF VEHICLE CODE SECTION 27156 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2222, TITLE 13, OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS by Mobile Source Division State of California Air Resources Board 9528 Telstar Avenue El Monte, CA 91731 (This report has been reviewed by the staff of the California Air Resources Board and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Air Resources Board, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.)

SUMMARY Nitrous Oxide Systems, Inc. has applied for an exemption from the prohibitions of Vehicle Code Section 27156 for their Nitrous Oxide System (NOS), kit #5170 & #5170—II for installation ;n the fol¥Yowing General Motors‘ vehicles that are Tuned Port Injected: 1985 to 1992 Camaros & Firebirds equipped with a 5.0L V—8 gasoline engine,l1985 to 1992 Corvettes equipped with a 5.7L V—8 gasoline engine, and 1987 to 1992 Camaros & Firebirds equipped with a 5.7L V—8 gasoline engine. Nitrous Oxide Systems, Inc. has submitted a completed application and all the required information. Comparative temperature testing, usiné simi;ar NOS hardware, was previously conducted on a 1992 LT—1 Corvette and a 1990 Mustan§ which demonstrated no significant increase in catalyst inlet or bed temperatures when compared to baseline. Based on the submitted information and temperature test data on similar vehicles, the staff concludes that the installation of the Nitrous Oxide System, kit #5170 & #5170—II will not adversely affect exhaust emissions on the affected vehicles when tested in accordance with the Cold Start CVS—75 Federal Test Procedure. * The staff recommends Nitrous Oxide Systems, Inc. be granted an exemption as requested and that Executive Order D—266—1 be issued.

TABLE_OF CONTENTS Page Number suMmMaARY : » po d contENTs f c > i1 I. INTRODUCTION ' 1 II. concLuston : 1 III. RECOMMENDATION . ' 1. Iv. NITRoUS OoXIDE SYSTEM DESCRIPTION . 2 v. DISCUSSION OF THE NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEM 4 ii

EVALUATION OF NITROUS OXIDE SYS&EMS, INC. NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEM, KIT #5170 & #5170—II FOR EXEMPTION FROM THE PROHIBITIONS OF VEHICLE CODE SECTION 27156 IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2222, TITLE 13, OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS I. INTRODUCTION Nitrous Oxide Systems, Inc. (NOS, Inc.) of 5930 Lakeshore Dr., Cypress, r California 90630, has applied for an exemption from the prohibitions of Vehicle Code Section 27156 for their Nitrous Oxide System (NOS), kit #5170 & #5170—II for installation on the following General‘Motors' vehicles that are Tuned Port Injected: 1985 to 1992 Camaros & Firebirds equipped with a 5.0L V—8gasoline engine, 1985 to 1992 Corvettes equipped with a 5.7L v—8 gasoline engine, and 1987 to 1992 Camaros & Firebirds equipped with a 5.7L V—8 gasoline engine. NOS, Inc. has submitted a completed application and all the required information. Comparative temperature testing, using similar NOS hardware, was previously conducted on a 1992 LT—1 Corvette and a 1990 Mustang which demonstrated no significant increase in catalyst inlet or bed temperatures when compared to baseline. II. CONCLUSIONS Based on the submitted information and temperature test data on similar vehicles, the staff concludes that,the installation of NOS, kit #5170 & #5170—II will not adversely affect exhaust emissions from vehicles for which the exemption is requested when tested in accordance with the Cold Start CVS—75 Federal Test Procedure. III. RECOMMENDATION The staff recommends that NOS, Inc. be granted an exemption as requested and that Executive Order D—266—1 be issued.

IV. NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEM DESCRIPTION The NOS, kit #5170 & #5170—II is designed for installation on the following General Motors‘ vehicles that are Tuned Port Injected: 1985 to 1992 Camaros & Firebirds equipped with a 5.0L V—8 gasoline engine, 1985 to 1992 Corvettes equipped with a 5.7L V—8 gasoiine engine;, and 1987 to 1992 Camaros & Firebirds equipped with a 5.7L V—8 gasoline engine. The kit uses the automotive grade chemical nitrous oxide to enhahce the performance of the vehicles at wide open throttle (WOT) only. The NOS, kit #5170 & #5170—II can be separated into three main components: electrical, hardware, and gas. The electrical modifications include the following components: PROM: The original PROM configuratiofl has been altered to allow an increase of fuel only at those parameters when the NOS is operational. Dual PROM Holder: The intent of the dual PROM holder is to allow the vehicle the ability to use an additional PROM in support of the NOS hardware. The holder automatically switches target PROMs through the use of a control line which is controlled by the NOS kit. This allows the ECU to automatically receive new calibration data without affecting the performance of the vehicle during the transition period. , wOT Module: The WOT relay module is designed to detect a full throttle mode. This is achieved by the use of the OEM throttle position sensor (TPS) switch and its 0 to 5 volt output that is directly related to throttle position. At a 0 voltage the throttle plate is at 0 degrees (closed), and at a 4.8 to 5.0 volt reading the throttle plate is at 90 degrees (WOT}). The WOT relay module is designed to monitor the signals out of the OEM TPS. When the relay module detects an output voltage in the range of 4.8 to 5.0, a signal is sent to the power relay to activate the flow solencids. The WOT relay module is designed to buffer the signals that it monitors, allowing no distortion from the TPS to the electronic control unit. Supply Solenoid: The supply solenoid is the valve that controls the flow of nitrous. —2—

Power Relay: The power relay is an electronic switch which © monitors the signals from the arming switch, WOT relay, and the dual PROM holder. The power relay will switch on the supply solenoid if the vehicle is at full throttle and the arming switch is on. The hardware components of the nitrous oxide system can be separated r into two categories, primary and support: Primary: The primary components include the supply bottle and injector. The supply bottle weighs 19 lbs. and can hold a maximum of 15 lbs. of nitrous oxide which translates to a total bottle weighing 34 lbs. A #42 flare jet is used on the 5170 kit & a #67 flare jet is used on the #5170—II kit. Flare jets are designed to deliver the nitrous oxide into the intake track. Support: Support hardware includes reinforced tubing, associated brackets, emergency pressure relief _ valve, and a bottle heater. The reinforced tubing runs from the supply bottle to the flow solencids and then to the nitrous oxide injector. Typical brackets included in the kit are those used to support the bottle and flow solenoid. A bottle heater is installed around the supply bottle to maintain a 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit when required. ‘An emergency pressure relief valve, vented away from the passenger compartment, is incorporated with the supply bottle. An automotive grade nitrous oxide which is a cryogenic gas consisting of two nitrogen molecules bonded to one oxygen molecule is used in the Nitrous Oxide System. This gas is sold and marketed under the brand name Nytrous Plus and is produced solely by Pufitan Bennett. It differs from the medical grade nitrous oxide in that it includes trace amounts of sulfur dioxide (5 ppm) to prevent substance abuse. Under ambient pressure and temperature conditions, nitrous oxide exists in a gaseous state. In automotive applications, nitrous oxide is stored as a liquid in a DOT approved pressure vessel. Bottle pressure is kept in the

800~1000 psi range. As nitrous oxide is removed from the bottle the remaining supply of nitrous oxide undergoes a phase change (liquid converting to gas) to restore equilibrium in the bottle. NOS, Inc. requires that no changes be made in either the ignition timing or spark plug‘s gap; however, 92+ ocgane fuel ig required. They also provide a warning to consumers to not use this product in conjunction with any aftermarket PROM chip due to the potential effects on performance and vehicle durability. V. DISCUSSION OF THE NITROUS OXIDE SYSTEM An engineering evaluation was conducted on the NOS kit to determine its impact on vehicle emissions and durafiility. A. Emission Impact The NOS kit injects liquid nitrous oxide into the engine‘s intake tract when two conditions are satisfied: the arming switch is "on" and the véhicle is at WOT. Injecting nitrous oxide into the inlet tract of an engine produces a decrease in the engine‘s inlet air temperature due to the latent heat of vaporization caused by the injection of nitrous oxide into the air inlet track. Additionally, nitrous oxide is a stronger oxidizer than ambient air (36 percent oxygen by weight as compared to 21 percent oxygen by weight for ambient air}). The combination of nitrous oxide and fuel result in a substantial increases in horsepower and torque when compared to the stock configuration. Effective use of the NOS kit rgquires wide—open—throttle operation. However, the Cold Start CVS~75 Federal Test Procedure (FTP), which is the official ARB test procedure for evaluating the emission impact of add—on or modified parts, does not take into account emissions during WOT conditions. —4—

Testing the NOS kit using the CVS—75 PTP proceddre will not show any effect on emissions because the kit will not be operational during the test cycle. The ARB is currently developing off—cycle testing to address the emission impact of devices such as the NOS kit which operate only when outside of the CVS—~75 FTP drive cycle. Until off—cycle pro;edures arg‘developed, the impact of the NOS kit on vehicle emissions could not be determined. The staff looked into potential chemical reaciions which could occur when liquid nitrous oxide is injected into the inlet mixture. The manufacturer provided the following chemical reaction for nifirous oxide and iso—oc;ane fuel during combustion. CBHlB + 25N20 =8'CO2 + 9H20 + 25N2 This chemical equation represents complete combustion, which seldom happens under actual driving conditions. The staff is not aware of any studies conducted to date which shows the actual. chemical reaction occurring in the véhicle's engine when injected with nitrous oxide. Studies conducted on stationary sources such as the petrochemical industry (their processes have waste gases containing high levels of nitrous oxide), have shown that nitrous oxide decomposes at sufficiently high temperatures to either nitric oxide (NO) or Nitrogen (Nz) and Oxygen (02). In the presence of rich fuel, NO reacts with hydrocarbon fragments to form intermediate species X—N (HCN + NH3). Depending on the temperature and air/fuel conditions, remaining fuel fragments may be oxidized fuily into CO, and H,O and the nitrogen species 2 2 (NHB’ HCN or NO) may be reduced to molecular nitrogen or oxidized to NOx. These chemical reactions are likely to occur in a vehicle injected with nitrous oxide. However, without the proper test procedures, relative amounts of NOx and HC could not be quantified. The manufacturer stated use —5—

of nitrous oxide is minimal because of its high cost ($2.50 per pound; a pound of nitrous oxide is approximately equivalent to 10 seconds of vehicle operation). B. Durability The staff also evaluated the NOS kit fog its effect on the durability of the vehicle‘s emission control system, specifically the potential degradation of the oxygen sensor and the catalytic converter. NOS, Inc. conducted a literature search on all Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) papers from 1965 to present_regarding the performance of exhaust gas oxygen sensors. Based on the literature search, oxygen sensor failure could either be mechanical or‘chemical. Mechanical failure was attributed to external structural damage or internal separation of components caused by impact or excessive vibration. Chemical failure, was attributed to poisoning due to presence of lead, phosphorus, zinc, calcium, or silica. Nytrous Plus (automotive grade nitrous oxide) contains no elements known to contribute any exhaust gas oxygen failure or performance degradation. Degradation of the catalytic converter has been known to accelerate when exposed to sulfur. The sulfur content of current pump gasoline varies between 30 to 3000 ppm, whereas Nytrous Plus contains only 5 ppm. Therefore, based on comparative sulfur content, any degradation in the catalytic converter will be dfie to the sulfur content in the fuel. To demonstrate that the effect of sulfur from nitrous oxide injection is insignificant, NOS, Inc. conducted a mass flow analysis of fuel and nitrous ~6—

oxide using a 1990 5.0L Mustangs and a 1991 5.0L Pontiac Firebird. Using typical customer usage‘rates (5 lbs/week), sulfur contributed by nitrous oxide injection would be between 1 to 2 percent of the total sulfur consumed by the vehicle. The use of nitrous oxide can result in ;n increase‘ in exhaust gas temperature, a factor critical to life expectancy and degradation of the catalytic converter. Due to these concerns, NOS, Ihc. has previously demonstrated that no substantial increase in exhaust temperature would be observed by conducting comparative exhaust temperature testing. Testing was conducted at the Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale, California with representatives from the Air Resourcés Board present to observe the tests. A 1992 Corvette and 1990 Mustang were used in the tests which consisted of four 0 to 80 miles per hour stand still to WOT drag strip style runs, two tests to record baseline temperatures and two tesfis to measure the modified témperatures. The test vehicles were equipped with data loggers to record the catalyst inlet and bed temperatures. Since testing was conducted on a drag strip and not under controlled laboratory conditions, the staff anticipated low repeatability of data. Also, the data logger is manually engaged/disengaged which could attfibute to some variability in test data. Therefore, a temperature increase of up to 10 percent over the baseline was considered to be insignificant. Furthetmére, staff deems the 0 to 80 MPH acceleration test to be the worst case condition, which will rarely occur when the vehicle is under normal street driving. Results of the 0 to 80 MPH runs on the 1992 Corvette and the 1990 Mustang demonstrated no significant increase in catalyst inlet or bed temperatures under nitrous operation. All catalyst bed temperatures —7—

recorded were far below the 1700 degrees F upper.limit recommended by catalyst manufacturers. Staff determined the Corvette {non LT—1}, Camaro, and Firebird would also record similar temperatures as the tested vehicles due to similarities in exhaust hardware and engine displacement. Thus, no significant increase in catalyst inlet or be& temperatures would occur from the use of NOS on the Corvette, Camaro, and Firebird vehicles. NOS, Inc. submitted all the required informatibn and has met the requirements for an exemption.


Document Created: 2005-09-01 12:44:42
Document Modified: 2005-09-01 12:44:42

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