Ram Eco-Diesel vs F150 2.7 TT - Davis Dam

DirtyOil wrote:
If HP puts you into the back of the seat, why doesn't it continue to put you there as the torque tops out while the HP continues to increase? (all engines have their torque peak, then flatten out, then drop off as their HP continues to increase)

Because you've left out the most important term in the physics equation - velocity.

Power is defined as force x velocity.

When you peak torque is over and your hp is still climbing, your vehicle speed has reached a point where your rate of increase in hp cannot overcome the increase in speed. Hence, by definition, your seat of pants feel declines.

If you had an engine who's torque increased all the way to redline, then you'd feel a constant or increasing acceleration all the way to redline. But the reason is not torque, rather, because of your rate of increase of hp exceeds rate of increase of velocity. In physics terms you can say your dP/dt is greater than dV/dt.

Torque is simply a method of producing power. I cannot stress this enough.

The shove in the seat you feel is due to power. Power that is produced by torque. But you didn't "feel" torque.

Ask yourself this, when you feel the acceleration on an F18, rocket sled, or space shuttle, where's the torque?