When you want to enhance the performance of your engine and looking to boost it up then you have to make sure that all the components perform at their optimum level. When it comes to performance optimization of the engine, the motor sports most favorite technique or treatment, which is applied by the experienced car racers and pimped out car's owners in order to enhance the durability of the engine, which is known as cryogenic treatment.
What Is Cryogenic Engine Treatment?
Now the question arise that what really is cryogenic treatment? This treatment involves the cooling and heating of the engine block to temper the metal, changing its structure. It takes place in more than one step. In the first step, the engine is very slowly cooled down in liquid nitrogen. Be careful not to rush or you will cause the threat of stress fracture on the metal. The liquid nitrogen is added very carefully and precisely to the sealed tank.
Let the engine be there for a period of 12 hours or so with the engine temperature at 300F. This whole process is repeated 3-4 times during a week. This process is practical on any metal engine part with popular use for hardening the block, pistons and crank. The high wear area of performance tuned engine, i.e. Camshaft, will also benefit from this “Cryogenic Treatment”. However it is advised that the parts are treated separately and then assembled integrated.
The logic behind this treatment is a basic science. The heating and cooling effect of the metal engine causes its molecules to pack tightly as a result the carbon atoms are trapped and they do not have time to diffuse the crystal structure, thus forming a more crystalline lattice which is much more rigid than non-treated metal and can therefore endure wear and tear more effectively than a non-treated metal engine. This process is also used to strengthen blades and other cutting surfaces and now it is being used for engine treatment.
This treatment also improves the efficiency and power of the engine as It allows the head gasket and valves to seat better. After the treatment the lubricity of the two surfaces also increases thus causing less friction and therefore more power and efficiency. This reduced friction enhances the reliability of the engine. Some experts have even claimed that the certain cryogenic treatment has increased the wear and tear resistance of the engine by eight times along with improved tensile strength.
The major drawback of cryogenic treatment is that as it is regarded as one of the most sophisticated car engine treatments, therefore very few specialists are available to provide this service. Furthermore, it may put a little burden on your pockets but at the end of the day you are definitely going to be contended as the cost benefit analysis reveals some encouraging results as cryogenic treatment is going to give you a better fuel consumption because of the reduced friction and therefore less work to be performed by the engine. Along with that if you happen to be in the “motor sports” field then I can say for sure that you are going to love it and it will give a decisive edge over the racers who are ignorant about this treatment.
