The additional oxygen that nitrous oxide supplies to the combustion process allows an engine to burn more fuel â and that means it can convert more energy into mechanical force. An engine that burns 600 pounds of fuel per hour could burn 900 pounds of fuel per hour with the addition of nitrous oxide injection. This additional fuel volume represents a huge increase in potential performance. Like a supercharger or a turbocharger, nitrous oxide increases the oxygen supply in the cylinder.