Explain brake horse power to me.
- Thread starter Sara_H
- Start date
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Yellow Saddle
Guru
- Location
- Loch side.
You can have two similar engines with different power outputs (forget about bhp, just think delivered power) if one has been fiddled/tuned/set up to use more fuel or, if one has had some fancy work done to it such as balancing, porting, exhaust work etc etc.
Two identical engines will have extremely similar power delivery, so if the one delivers more than the other, they are not similar. Similarity is not only defined by engine size. Typically, a company will have three variants of say, it's 1.9l engine ranging from 74kw to 115 kw. It is not just about engine size but also about fuel delivery, engine management and inlet/outlet port differences.
Two identical engines will have extremely similar power delivery, so if the one delivers more than the other, they are not similar. Similarity is not only defined by engine size. Typically, a company will have three variants of say, it's 1.9l engine ranging from 74kw to 115 kw. It is not just about engine size but also about fuel delivery, engine management and inlet/outlet port differences.
midlife
Legendary Member
In crude terms the higher the BHP the better the performance. By altering the compression ratio, adding a turbo / supercharger plus a few other things you can get more BHP out of the same size engine.
Usually the higher spec you go the more BHP the manufacturers squeeze out if the same engine.
What are you looking at?
Shaun
Usually the higher spec you go the more BHP the manufacturers squeeze out if the same engine.
What are you looking at?
Shaun
OP
OP
Sara_H
Guru
Berlingo for the purpose of having a camper unit fitted. I'm quite excited though I understand that a Berlingo isn't everyone's idea of ideal car!
NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
BMW used to (and may still do) sell the 'same' engine (same cc) with different power outputs as a 1.6 and a 1.8, if I remember correctly. Their response was that the power output was "typical of the engine size alluded to".
DaveReading
Don't suffer fools gladly (must try harder!)
- Location
- Reading, obvs
I drive a 1.6 litre Focus.
It's never occurred to me that it should perform as well as the average F1 racing car, which has the same engine capacity.
It's never occurred to me that it should perform as well as the average F1 racing car, which has the same engine capacity.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
BHP determines the engines potential top speed, the levels and spread of torque it's potential acceleration. Those are the engines influences of speed and acceleration - mass, aerodynamics, gearing, rolling resistance etc all influence on the vehicles final performance. A horsepower is the energy required to lift a one pound weight 50 feet from rest in the space of 1 second, and brake horse power is one of several standards for measuring it. A horsepower is actually slightly more than the typical horse can sustain.
Small engines are easier to make more economical and clean. Therefore, by tuning a small bore engine - such as improving volumetric efficiency by adding a turbo - they are gaining the output of a large engine, but with the potential economy and emissions of a smaller one.
Small engines are easier to make more economical and clean. Therefore, by tuning a small bore engine - such as improving volumetric efficiency by adding a turbo - they are gaining the output of a large engine, but with the potential economy and emissions of a smaller one.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I quite like the Berlingo, but I like cars for their practical attributes, not as a means of neighbourly hire purchase one upmanship.
OP
OP
Sara_H
Guru
Yes I think so.
OP
OP
Sara_H
Guru
Me too. I don't know why we didn't thin of it before - essentially a van with some extra seats is ideal for our purposes!
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
My dad had an old 52 plate Berlingo for quite a few years. It was the non HDI (no turbo) edition. It did it's job but it was noisy. Reliable though.
Like others have said, trickery and turbos etc increase power. With turbos you need to make sure oil is changed regular. You can get say anything from 120 bhp to 200 bhp out of a 1.6 petrol !!
Things have moved on massively. Diesel turbos pull like stink from low revs, but some of the newer petrol turbo engines produce a huge amount of power.
I would recommend driving some though. As peak power doesn't come in when you need it. We have two cars, an old 1.8 with VVT and a new 1.6 VVT, both from the same company and the same power. The old 1.8 pulls better and accelerates much quicker in gear, despite the same BHP. The torque is better on the old car. The new car is more fuel efficient !
Like others have said, trickery and turbos etc increase power. With turbos you need to make sure oil is changed regular. You can get say anything from 120 bhp to 200 bhp out of a 1.6 petrol !!
Things have moved on massively. Diesel turbos pull like stink from low revs, but some of the newer petrol turbo engines produce a huge amount of power.
I would recommend driving some though. As peak power doesn't come in when you need it. We have two cars, an old 1.8 with VVT and a new 1.6 VVT, both from the same company and the same power. The old 1.8 pulls better and accelerates much quicker in gear, despite the same BHP. The torque is better on the old car. The new car is more fuel efficient !
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
That's what my dad used his for. Van with extra seats. Nice cars.
