Table of Contents
- 1 How do top fuel engines make so much power?
- 2 How much fuel is burned in a Top Fuel dragster?
- 3 What makes Top Fuel cars so fast?
- 4 How much horsepower does a Top Fuel dragster make?
- 5 How much does nitromethane fuel cost per gallon?
- 6 Who is the highest paid NHRA driver?
- 7 How much does it cost to run a Top Fuel dragster?
- 8 Does adding alcohol to gas increase horsepower?
- 9 What is the compression ratio of a Top Fuel dragster?
- 10 What is top fuel motor?
How do top fuel engines make so much power?
Top Fuel cars get their power from custom engines that are 500 cubic inches and boast superchargers, making them capable of around 8,000-horsepower. These engines can’t burn regular gasoline, or even race gas. They need nitromethane, a special kind of fuel, which is how these cars got the Top Fuel name.
How much fuel is burned in a Top Fuel dragster?
The engine will consume 22.75 gallons of fuel during warmup, burnout, staging, and the quarter-mile run. 900Cost, in dollars, of a 55-gallon drum of nitromethane fuel. Current regulations allow a maximum of 85 percent nitromethane in the fuel mix.
What makes Top Fuel cars so fast?
The engine distributes power to the wheels in just 15/100ths of a second. Literally the blink of an eye. When they are accelerating, the drivers of Top Fuel dragsters feel G-forces that are comparable to an astronaut launching into space. These cars are so fast, traditional braking systems do little to slow them down.
How does a Top Fuel dragster work?
The answer is in the clutch. Unlike a street or high-performance car that uses a manual or automatic transmission, a top-fuel dragster uses a centrifugal clutch and only operates in forward, high, and reverse. That makes them pivot and push the pressure plate into the clutch pack, increasing clamp force.
How much horsepower does nitromethane add?
With nitromethane, you only need 1.7 pounds of air. Drag racing motors are big, with an average engine displacement of 8.9 liters. When supercharged, they can produce about 6,000 horsepower.
How much horsepower does a Top Fuel dragster make?
11,000-horsepower
Top Fuel. Among the fastest-accelerating machines in the world, 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel dragsters are often referred to as the “kings of the sport,” and with good reason. They are capable of covering the dragstrip in less than 3.7 seconds at more than 330 mph.
How much does nitromethane fuel cost per gallon?
Nitromethane used to power the engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars costs about $16 US per gallon!
Who is the highest paid NHRA driver?
John Force net worth: John Force is an American drag racer, Funny Car driver, and car owner who has a net worth of $20 million dollars. With 15 NHRA Championship wins and a total of 132 wins overall, John Force has dominated his field for over 30 years.
How much does nitromethane cost per gallon?
What’s the fastest 1/4 mile time ever?
3.58 secs
Fastest 1/4 mile ever 3.58 secs @ 386 mph (621.61 km/h)Santa Pod dragstrip is the venue in which the current world drag racing record, a time of 3.58 seconds…
How much does it cost to run a Top Fuel dragster?
Top fuel cost between $8k – $10K PER PASS. There are 24 NHRA national events.
Does adding alcohol to gas increase horsepower?
High-octane fuels, like ethanol, help deliver more horsepower and speed. Most cars require fuel with a minimum octane rating of 87. Small, high-compression boosted engines use less fuel, and the octane increase provided by higher ethanol blends would make it possible to reduce size without sacrificing performance.
What is the compression ratio of a Top Fuel dragster?
The typical compression ratio of a top fuel dragster engine is about 6.5:1.
What fuel does a nitro dragster use?
Their name is derived from the mix of fuel in use which consists of 90% nitro methane and 10% alcohol. By using this mixture instead of regular gasoline, the cars are able to produce more power in their engines. The Top Fuel Dragster uses small front wheel with a long front frame.
What are the dimensions of a Top Fuel dragster?
The dragster is a special body/style of race car which competes in the Top Fuel and Top Alcohol classes of amateur and professional drag racing. The dragster is characterized by a long nose (the Top Fuel car is usually 25 feet long , nose to tail), with an open wheel format, a large power plant, and runs on a mix of methanol and nitro methane.
What is top fuel motor?
Although the Top Fuel engine is built exclusively of specialist parts, it retains the basic configuration with two valves per cylinder activated by pushrods from a centrally-placed camshaft. The engine has hemispherical combustion chambers, a 90 degree valve stem angle; 4.8 inches (120 mm) bore pitch.