Car enthusiasts are well aware of the concept of engine power and that it is measured in “horsepower” (hp or simply “horses” and even “mares”). They understand perfectly well that 100 horses is perfect for a small hatchback, but of course it will not be enough for something larger and heavier, for example, a sedan or SUV. Well, 600 horses is certainly too much for any car.

The main indicator of an engine is power. Power shows how strong the motor is. But the power, or rather the power reserve of the engine, directly depends on the speed. When the engine speed is 6,000 i.e. at medium speeds, a modern engine will produce the most power, but we don’t drive around the city at such speeds. For city driving, approximately 3,000 rpm on our tachometer is sufficient. It turns out that if the engine of our car produces approximately 100 horses at maximum speed, and if we move in the city at medium speeds, we will have 50 horses in reserve.

And which motorist knows what kind of “beast” this engine torque is and how it is measured?

Measured engine torque in “newton meters” (Nm). How much is 100 Nm, is it good or bad, is it a little or a lot? And how to understand the phrase that the engine has as much as 200 Nm at just 1,750 rpm. So what kind of torque is this?

Let’s say we needed to overtake someone, 50 horses are no longer enough for us and we need all our 100 horses. Our engine will be able to gain the missing “horses” only gradually. From 3,000 rpm, our engine will spin up to 4,000 and the “horses” will increase by about 20, and we already have 70 horses. Then we spin up to 5,000 rpm and now there are 90 horses. It follows that to achieve our 100 horsepower according to the passport, we need to dial 6,000 rpm.

In this example, it just manifests itself torque, concentrating all the “horses” of our engine into one “horse herd”. The speed of acceleration depends directly on the engine torque. The greater the torque, the faster all the engine power is collected into a single force vector and, as a result, the acceleration of your car will increase significantly.

At what speed does the engine develop full torque? Let’s assume that the maximum torque will be produced at 4,000 rpm, it is to this value that the engine needs to be revved up to achieve maximum acceleration of the car. And the engine will have to accelerate to 4,000 rpm from 2,000 rpm, i.e. from the speed maintained during normal movement. The engine needs time for this, time that is sometimes not enough and which is so necessary when overtaking.

The picture changes if the engine produces maximum torque at 2,000 rpm. In this case, you just need to press on the gas and the car, precious time will not be lost on revving the engine and the car will easily gain acceleration.

Torque also directly depends on engine size. As a result, small cars have less high-torque power. For example, on a Zhiguli with an engine capacity of 1.5 liters or lower, we certainly will not get good torque. And you will often have to switch to a low gear to artificially maintain high speeds. Otherwise, the motor will not, as they say, “pull”.

Conclusion: The maximum engine torque should be at low speeds. It turns out that at just 1,750 rpm the engine develops a maximum of 200 Nm. The emphasis is placed precisely on low speeds at which such torque develops. This parameter is called the “torque” of the engine.

Our experienced technicians will always tell you and show you everything about the engine structure. Our service center offers excellent engine repairs and diagnostics at excellent prices. Contact us, call and make an appointment! We will be glad to see you!