UNDERSTANDING TORQUE AND B.H.P. (BRAKE HORSE POWER)

UNDERSTANDING TORQUE AND B.H.P

I.                         TORQUE:

1.     WHAT IS TORQUE?

The explanation is simple. Torque is nothing but the “PULLING CAPACITY”. When we say an engine produces 150NM of torque, it signifies that the engine can lift nearly 160KG FORCE from a standstill.

In vehicles, we need torque to pull the car. So whenever your vehicle’s engine is below 2000 rpm and the force that moves you till around 3500rpm is TORQUE. When your engine revs more than 3500rpm, the force that pulls you is not TORQUE.

2.     WHEN DOES ONE NEED TORQUE?

Ø  We need torque when our vehicle has to move something heavy (be it a payload or a healthy rider).

Ø  We need torque to overtake other slow moving traffic on the roads.

Ø  We need torque when changing gears.

3.     WHEN IS “TORQUE” THE DECIDING FACTOR WHEN PURCHASING A VEHICLE?

When you travel mostly in cities where you remain mostly below 4000rpm and you change gears very often and where overtake is very essential.

4.     DIESEL ENGINE HAS THE MAXIMUM TORQUE.

Yes, diesel motors pack a very powerful punch of torque. This is why especially in India; consumers prefer diesel cars more than the petrol cars.

For example, MARUTI SUZUKI SWIFT (PETROL) HAS a 1.2LT ENGINE THAT PRODUCES MAXIMUM OF 113NM TORQUE @ 4500RPM.

AND A SIMILAR MARUTI SUZUKI SWIFT (DIESEL) HAS A 1.3LT ENGINE THAT PRODUCES MAXIMUM OF 190NM TORQUE @ JUST 2000RPM!!

So it’s clear that a diesel engine has a better torque, which is a blessing for a person driving in traffic congested cities.

II.                   BRAKE HORSE POWER:

1.     WHAT IS TORQUE?

Brake horsepower (bhp) is the measure of an engine's horsepower before the loss in power caused by the gearbox, alternator, differential, water pump, and other auxiliary components such as power steering pump, muffled exhaust system, etc. it is the force that moves your vehicle when it’s engine is above 3500rpm.

2.     WHEN DOES ONE NEED BHP?

·         WHEN YOU DRIVE MOSTLY ON HIGHWAYS OR FREEWAYS

·         WHEN YOU CAN DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS

3.     WHEN IS “BHP” THE DECIDING FACTOR WHEN PURCHASING A VEHICLE?

When you travel mostly on a highway or a road with no traffic and it allows you to touch high speeds.

4.     PETROL ENGINE HAS THE MAXIMUM BHP.

Again, I’ll take the example of a standard MARUTI SUZUKI SWIFT.

Its DIESEL 1.3LT ENGINE PRODUCES A MAXIMUM POWER OF 75BHP @ 4000RPM.

AND ITS PETROL 1.2LT PRODUCES A MAXIMUM POWER OF 85BHP @ 6000RPM.

So the petrol engine can rev hard, and makes you smile hard when you travel @ high speeds.

amanverma