Horsepower and Torque Explained
August 16th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
Horsepower and torque are frequently used to measure a car’s performance. To understand horsepower and torque and their importance, let’s look at both of these car performance metrics in detail.
What Is Horsepower?
Scottish inventor and engineer first used the term “horsepower” in the 18th century to describe how a steam engine could outperform horses in terms of pulling, lifting, and pushing industrial loads. Watt calculated 1 horsepower as the equivalent of one horse doing approximately 33,000 ft. lbs. of work in 1 minute. With this measurement, Watt was able to show factories, mills, and other industrial businesses that a steam engine could do more work at a faster rate than horses.
Today, horsepower is a measurement of a car engine’s power, and 1 horsepower is considered the equivalent of a horse lifting 550 lbs., 1 ft. high, for 1 second. Horsepower correlates to a car’s speed — the greater the horsepower, the faster a car can accelerate.
What Does Horsepower Do?
Horsepower helps a car go faster, quicker. Cars that receive high ratings for horsepower have better acceleration than other models.
Although horsepower is a crucial metric to consider when evaluating a car’s engine, it is essential to note that this measure alone won’t dictate a vehicle’s performance. Horsepower should often be assessed in combination with torque, as these two metrics are closely related to one another.
What Is Torque?
Since a car’s engine rotates on an axis, it creates torque or a twisting force.
Torque is measured in pounds-feet. A typical car generates up to 400 lbs. ft. of torque. Additionally, torque may be used to help calculate a car’s horsepower.
What Does Torque Do?
The amount of torque produced by a car’s engine helps determine how quickly the vehicle will accelerate. Or, it may dictate how much a load a vehicle can pull.
Torque varies based on the size of a car’s engine. Furthermore, a vehicle’s purpose may dictate how horsepower and torque are applied.
For instance, a sports car and a heavy-duty truck may provide comparable horsepower and torque, but each vehicle uses it for a different purpose. With the sports car, horsepower and torque help determine how quickly the vehicle can accelerate. Comparatively, with the heavy-duty truck, horsepower and torque may be used to determine how much weight the vehicle can pull.
What Is the Difference Between Horsepower and Torque?
Torque can be measured to help determine a car’s horsepower, which is the power produced by the vehicle. Together, horsepower and torque help measure a car’s engine and how much power it can produce.
Which Is a Better Choice to Measure a Car’s Performance: Horsepower or Torque?
For people who are evaluating cars, it is crucial to assess horsepower and torque. Both metrics dictate an engine’s performance, and they should be examined in combination with one another. That way, people can see how much power a car’s engine can produce and determine if the vehicle can fulfill their requirements.
How Can You Improve a Car’s Horsepower and Torque?
Regular car maintenance is a great option for drivers who want to maximize their vehicle’s engine performance. With periodic car check-ups, drivers can get their vehicles inspected by certified automotive technicians. They may also receive expert tips and recommendations to boost their car’s horsepower and torque.
Along with car tune-ups, you may want to get exterior vehicle damage repaired. At Fix Auto, we offer comprehensive services to repair dents, dings, and other car exterior damage. To learn more or to request a service appointment, please contact us online or call us today at 800.INFO.FIX.
This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto Sonora, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing the Tuolumne County.
