Nitrous or Water/Meth?

Mwilbur516 · Feb 22, 2012

I'm looking to up the power a bit and have been eyeballing at these options.

I like the Water/Meth kits (SnowPerformance MPG-MAX system) since it is an automatic set and forget deal. It lowers EGT's while adding horsepower and fuel econ. Seems like a good kit with everything needed for install and programming included for less than $1k.

I never really thought about nitrous as an option considering I'm still on stock fuel and air ( for now), but after talking to Chris B at TSD I'm thinking about at least giving it a chance. The ZEX Nitrous kits are around half the price of the Snow Performance Water/Meth kits and also claim to lower EGT's and give a higher HP increase. They also claim to reduce turbo lag, but I thought spraying before spool up was what caused the nitrous backfires.

In all honesty I really respect Chris and his opinion (great guy and awesome tuner), but I still think for my current needs, the water/meth is the way to go. I still tow and in all honesty, coming from the gasser world, I'm kinda afraid of nitrous on a DD and tow rig. I think the largest I'll ever go with injectors and turbo would be 175/75's and a Pmax. I know it isn't the big power combo some of you guys are running, but this one still has to work.

My goal is to make more power and lower EGT's while retaining drive-ability and my ability to tow. I understand that the nitrous won't affect my towing or drive-ability unless I push the "go button", but from my understanding the water/meth kit will lower EGT's while towing and provide more power. The nitrous, I'm sure, will make more power and be more fun at the track, but otherwise won't benefit me. Just want to get some different opinions as to what kit would best suit me and my truck. Also, any more info on the nitrous and how it would need to be set up and used would be great since I have the least knowledge of this option. Thanks.

Zmann · Feb 23, 2012

no contest IMHO meth

filling Nitrous isn't nearly as easy as stopping at any gas station and getting some windshield washer fluid

Mwilbur516 · Feb 23, 2012

Good point

Extended Power · Feb 23, 2012

Yeah... I loved the way the water meth/ windshield washer fluid rusted all the intake ports on my heads...awesome!
Oh....and when you run the 7 gallon tank out in less then 3 hours...and use up all the rest you brought with you....and that finding winter grade fluid in the summertime is impossible....and summer fluid usually contains a detergent that foams up like a mofo...see no reason to ever use nitrous.

I choose nitrous.

Mwilbur516 · Feb 23, 2012

Again, good points. Great info for both sided guys, keep it coming.

Zmann · Feb 23, 2012

on the rust comment
did you always shut the system down a while before shutting the truck off?

Mwilbur516 · Feb 23, 2012

Extended Power said:
Yeah... I loved the way the water meth/ windshield washer fluid rusted all the intake ports on my heads...awesome!
Oh....and when you run the 7 gallon tank out in less then 3 hours...and use up all the rest you brought with you....and that finding winter grade fluid in the summertime is impossible....and summer fluid usually contains a detergent that foams up like a mofo...see no reason to ever use nitrous.

I choose nitrous.

7gallons in less than 3 hours?!?! I had no idea these sytems moved that much fluid. Also wouldn't of thought about the detergent issue. Can't you use straight water in these systems as well if you run out of mix? Also, how much more complicated are the nitrous systems? Both systems seem to be fairly straight foward installation wise, the biggest downside I see to the nitrous is no gains towing and no mpg gains unless I'm missing something.

Pizza pig · Feb 23, 2012

I say get a ported intake manifold from doug and possibly add an intercooler versus spraying water meth. Those water/meth kits are expensive you're spending the money on a meth kit you might as well stich up the wound correctly and get rid of all the airflow restrictions. One time cost for the manifold, meth kit you have to maintain

Mwilbur516 · Feb 23, 2012

pizza pig said:
I say get a ported intake manifold from doug and possibly add an intercooler versus spraying water meth. Those water/meth kits are expensive you're spending the money on a meth kit you might as well stich up the wound correctly and get rid of all the airflow restrictions. One time cost for the manifold, meth kit you have to maintain

OK, a third option. The only downside to this option is the $2200+ price tag. The meth kit would cost around $950 and I could buy a lot of windsheild washer fluid for $1200+. I do see what you're sayin' though and I have already considered upgrading the intercooler in the future. This is great feedback guys.

Pizza pig · Feb 23, 2012

with a ported intake and your setup wouldnt even need an intercooler

1200 vs 950

motoxracer42 · Feb 23, 2012

nitrous is a hell of a drug

Mwilbur516 · Feb 23, 2012

pizza pig said:
with a ported intake and your setup wouldnt even need an intercooler

1200 vs 950

Do you know the actual gains achieved with the GoGo intake?

strokin6L · Feb 23, 2012

Extended Power said:
Yeah... I loved the way the water meth/ windshield washer fluid rusted all the intake ports on my heads...awesome!
Oh....and when you run the 7 gallon tank out in less then 3 hours...and use up all the rest you brought with you....and that finding winter grade fluid in the summertime is impossible....and summer fluid usually contains a detergent that foams up like a mofo...see no reason to ever use nitrous.

I choose nitrous.

i've been running water injection for a long time now. Always run the winter blend windshield washer fluid. Not sure if it matters where you live...but i can get winter blend washer fluid at walmart or carquest year round. I also run snow's 7 gallon tank mounted to a custom 5th wheel plate on the rails inside my bed. I always mix two bottles of radiator rust inhibitor and water pump lubricant into the windshield washer fluid. This will keep rust from forming. Alot of the tractor and truck pullers use this in their water injection systems mainly for that reason...plus it lubricating the pump is a plus. Been running it this way for a long time with zero issues.

Mwilbur516 · Feb 23, 2012

motoxracer42 said:
nitrous is a hell of a drug

"Fu*K yo couch, nigga!"- Rick James

Zmann · Feb 23, 2012

strokin6L said:
I also run snow's 7 gallon tank mounted to a custom 5th wheel plate on the rails inside my bed.

since they are adjustable what are you getting for usage on you 7 gallons

3 hours seems like crazy Spray :shrug:

Mwilbur516 · Feb 23, 2012

Zmann said:
since they are adjustable what are you getting for usage on you 7 gallons

3 hours seems like crazy Spray :shrug:

I 'm curious about this as well. Maybe he was at the track to only get 3hrs.

Extended Power · Feb 23, 2012

Zmann said:
on the rust comment
did you always shut the system down a while before shutting the truck off?

Yes...probably 15 minutes when in town, and on the highway.

Extended Power · Feb 23, 2012

Mwilbur516 said:
I 'm curious about this as well. Maybe he was at the track to only get 3hrs.

I was playing with it while towing.
Even at that rate I never saw what they claimed for temp reduction.
So to me...it was a pita.

In regards to using the straight water...it better be distilled, or you will just plug up the jets with crap.