Why do horsepower and torque curves crossover around 5252 rpm's?

  • Thread starter hxtasy
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In summary, torque and horsepower have a direct relationship with a common equation of hp = ((tq X rpm)/ 5252). However, on dyno graphs, the crossover point of these lines is not exactly at 5252 rpm. This is due to the difference in units for torque and horsepower. Some people may tune engines to make the lines cross at exactly 5252 rpm, but this does not change the relationship between torque and horsepower. The equations for torque and power can be calculated using different units, such as Newton meters and kilowatts.
  • #1
hxtasy
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This is more of an automotive question I guess but anyways:

I'm pretty familar with how torque and horsepower are related, the common equation most people think of is hp = ((tq X rpm)/ 5252).

If you look at a lot of dyno graphs, the hp and torque curves always crossover around 5252. Obviously this is because they are equal around 5,252 rpm's. What i don't get is that they do not cross exactly at this point, and another thing I've heard is that some people will tune engines so that they do cross at this point. What is the advantage of this?

here are some example dyno sheets/graphs:

http://www.electricsupercharger.com/images/dyno/DYNO-PORSCHE_84_911_STOCK.jpg

http://dynos.evans-tuning.com/750whpsc300featurecar.jpg
 
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  • #2
Well, since the horsepower is a calculation based on the torque output, the lines always cross at 5252 rpm. Any graph that shows otherwise is incorrect. You cannot "tune the engine" to change the location of the crossing point.
 
  • #3
Although the lines cross, the units are not the same. Also the lines only cross at 33000/(2 pi) = 5252.113... when using English units. Using kilowatts and Newton meters, the lines cross at 60,000 / (2 pi) = 9549.296...

Wiki link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque
 
  • #4
Here are the equations:
Torque measured in Newton meters. (USE MKS units)

Power (watts) = torque x 2 pi (RPM/60) = torque x RPM/9.549

Power (HP) = watts/746 = torque x RPM/(746 x 9.549) = torque x RPM/7124
 

1. What is horsepower and why is it important in automotive?

Horsepower is a unit of measurement that quantifies the rate at which an engine can do work. In simpler terms, it measures an engine's power output. This is important in automotive because the higher the horsepower, the more power and speed a vehicle can produce.

2. How is horsepower calculated?

Horsepower is calculated by multiplying torque (force) and engine speed (RPM) and then dividing the result by a constant. The formula is: horsepower = (torque x RPM) / 5252. This calculation gives the power output of an engine in horsepower.

3. Is higher horsepower always better?

Not necessarily. Higher horsepower can provide a vehicle with greater acceleration and top speed, but it also means more fuel consumption and potentially higher maintenance costs. The amount of horsepower needed depends on the vehicle's purpose and the driver's preferences.

4. Can horsepower be increased?

Yes, horsepower can be increased through modifications such as adding a turbocharger or supercharger, upgrading the intake and exhaust systems, and tuning the engine's computer. However, these modifications may also have an impact on the vehicle's reliability and fuel efficiency.

5. How does horsepower differ from torque?

While horsepower measures the power output of an engine, torque measures the twisting force that an engine produces. Horsepower reflects how fast an engine can do work, while torque reflects how much work it can do. Both are important in automotive, as they work together to determine a vehicle's performance.

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