Engine Terminology

Measuring Engine
Performance

Lesson 7

March 2008
Definition of Engine Torque

Turning or twisting force that causes a body to turn (rotate).

Torque = Length x Force Applied

Engine torque is a rating of the turning force

(torque) at the crankshaft end. Engine torque
specifications can be found in shop manuals.
Engine Torque Specs

Given in a shop manual

Torque specification example:
450 ft lb @ 3000 rpm
engine would be capable of producing a maximum of
450 ft lb of torque at an operating speed of 3000
revolutions per minute
The metric unit for engine torque is newton-meters
(N•m)
Definition of Horsepower

Horsepower is the rate at which torque is

produced.

One horsepower is equal to 33,000 foot-

pounds of work in one minute.

One horsepower is equal to 746 watts, 545

Btu, 1055 joules, or 252 gram-calories.
1 HP is equal to 33,000 ft.lbs. of Work
Horsepower Formula
Remember laws of mechanics (physics)

work = Distance (ft.) Moved x Force (lbs.) Applied

Horse power example
BHP & IHP

BHP – Brake Horsepower

usable power at the engine crankshaft
IHP – Indicated Horsepower
power formed in the combustion chamber

There is a third HP rating that is important

**WARNING**

Horse Power Loss

Friction and Load (HP robbers)

Can you describe the difference between friction and

load?
Engine Friction

What are the components that cause engine friction?

 Engine Load

What components cause engine load?

Does it not take horse power to drive these accessories?
FHP (Frictional Horse Power)
The power needed to overcome engine friction and load

IHP (Indicated Horse Power)

_
FHP (Frictional Horse Power)
=
BHP (Brake Horse Power)
Efficiency

How efficient is the four stroke cycle engine?

5% loss to engine friction and load
2 % chassis and transaxle weight
3 % tire resistance
2 % loss to aerodynamics
35 % Cooling system
35 % Exhaust system

20 % or less to do work

.80 cents of every dollar thrown away

 Designed Loss of Efficiency

Do you remember our discussion about engine

friction and load?
Now you can see the impact they have on
efficiency.
2 Greatest Wastes of Power?
Exhaust System 35% Cooling System 35%
Thermal Efficiency

Thermal efficiency is the

measured comparison between
horsepower output in relation to
the amount of fuel burned to
create this power.
To look at it differently, thermal
efficiency is the measurement of
how well the engine uses the
energy (heat) produced from
combustion (burning fuel charge)
to turn the crankshaft.
Normal rating is 20-30 %.
Keep the Heat

In general, less heat

rejected to the cooling
system or atmosphere
results in more heat energy
to be converted to
mechanical energy
Exhaust coatings and
wraps
Coated piston crowns
FHP / NHP /GHP /THP

NHP – Net Horsepower – maximum power developed by an

engine when all accessories on

GHP – Gross Horsepower – maximum power developed with

only minimum accessories on

THP – Taxable Horsepower – rating of engine size

Formula
thp = bore squared x number of cylinders x .04
Reducing Friction

 Low tension piston rings

 Thinner piston rings
 Low tension valve springs
Lighter valves allow lower tension
valve springs
 Low-friction coatings
 Main and rod bearings
 Piston skirts
 Cam lobes and followers
 Mechanical Efficiency

Mechanical efficiency compares the difference between Brake

Horsepower (BHP) and Indicated Horsepower (IHP).
If 70-80% mechanical efficiency is normal, then the lost
horsepower was caused by our horsepower thieves and
Frictional Horsepower.

FHP(frictional) = IHP(indicated) – BHP(brake)

Example : 30 (IHP) – 25(BHP) = 5 FHP

Engine Efficiency

Engine efficiency is the ratio of BHP (Brake Horsepower)

to the power produced by the burning of a fuel charge
(combustion) in the engine cylinders.

BHP in relation to Fuel quantity = Engine efficiency

As previously seen, only an average of 20% heat energy is

available to do work (turning crankshaft).
 Engine Dynometer
• measuring engine performance without driveline
frictional losses
 Chassis Dynometer
 Measures the horsepower delivered to the rear wheels
 Indicates the amount of horsepower available to propel the car
 Accounts for any power consumed by the drive train
Dyno Performance Chart
 Example of Engine Rating

141 @
2.0 150 @ 5,200 rpm
liter 6,400 rpm 135 @
5,200 rpm

Engine HP (Dodge.com) Lb-Ft