Forum Discussion
ShinerBock
May 02, 2022Explorer
I don't think this thing has to create as much horsepower as the naturally aspirated engines. Just look at the 3.5L Ecoboost in comparison to the big V8 offerings. When it came out, it only made 365 horsepower and even today it makes 375 hp yet it can out tow or keep up with the 400+ hp V8's especially at altitude. Heck, the 365 hp version was even very close to the 420 hp 6.2L in the GM in an unloaded 0-60 sprint at sea level in every test of these two engines.
So it wouldn't have to make as much peak horsepower as the V8's as long as it is making more low end torque(which means more low end horsepower) than the other V8's. With even moderate boost, I would wager that this engine could make 600 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm which equates to 285 hp at that rpm. Adversely the Ford 7.3L makes about 450 hp at 2,500 which equates to 215 hp at that rpm. That 60 hp difference at that low rpm is a huge deal especially when you are towing. Will it use more fuel at this rpm, of course, because it is making more power than the 7.3L and more power means more fuel used.
The other thing that people don't discuss when talking peak horsepower numbers is that those numbers are way out in the rpm range where it can only be used in the lower gears which limits the speed you have to be at to use that peak horsepower. Also, for most transmissions, if you are in that higher rpm range for peak horsepower in higher gears, then the torque converter is unlocked(since being locked would put the engine out of its rpm range) meaning you aren't sending all that peak horsepower to the wheels and most of that power is being converted to heat in the torque converter.
For a towing application, I would take more low end torque at an rpm where the horsepower is usable in more gears than 50-75 more horsepower above 5,000 rpm where the horsepower is only usable in lower gears.
So it wouldn't have to make as much peak horsepower as the V8's as long as it is making more low end torque(which means more low end horsepower) than the other V8's. With even moderate boost, I would wager that this engine could make 600 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm which equates to 285 hp at that rpm. Adversely the Ford 7.3L makes about 450 hp at 2,500 which equates to 215 hp at that rpm. That 60 hp difference at that low rpm is a huge deal especially when you are towing. Will it use more fuel at this rpm, of course, because it is making more power than the 7.3L and more power means more fuel used.
The other thing that people don't discuss when talking peak horsepower numbers is that those numbers are way out in the rpm range where it can only be used in the lower gears which limits the speed you have to be at to use that peak horsepower. Also, for most transmissions, if you are in that higher rpm range for peak horsepower in higher gears, then the torque converter is unlocked(since being locked would put the engine out of its rpm range) meaning you aren't sending all that peak horsepower to the wheels and most of that power is being converted to heat in the torque converter.
For a towing application, I would take more low end torque at an rpm where the horsepower is usable in more gears than 50-75 more horsepower above 5,000 rpm where the horsepower is only usable in lower gears.
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