Horsepower is horsepower?
If that theory is true (in real circumstances), then a 385hp 6.7L Cummins diesel shouldn't spank a 381hp Toyota Tundra when both are tested 0-60 towing a 5740# boat. But it did. Must be the adva...
Forum Discussion
4x4ord wrote:
Horsepower and torque ratings are both an indication of the power of an engine. People often bring up the fact that torque is a measurement of force where as HP refers to the rate of doing work, but when you are talking engine torque you are talking torque at a specified or at least implied rpm which indicates power.
Exactly. I'm interested in the whole picture. The rate of doing work, aka horsepower. In our case, miles traveled in one hour. Then you can break it down into what rpm you think you need to run and how much you're willing to pay to run at that rpm. That's when torque value comes into the picture. If you want the necessary horsepower to move a load a certain speed at a lower engine rpm, you have to increase torque to produce the necessary horsepower at a lower rpm. In the end, it's still horsepower (the sum of torque X rpm/5252), not torque alone, not rpm alone, that determines speed. Doesn't matter if it's a dragster or an 80k lb OTR tractor trailer. The rate of doing work is horsepower.
