You know torque is good for trucks, and it has something to do with twisting... but what is it really?
Horsepower vs. Torque: What’s the Difference? https://t.co/rO47BdGEJl pic.twitter.com/kfYZ6Q8gIC
— Car and Driver (@CARandDRIVER) April 15, 2016
Car and Driver just released a brilliantly simple and easy to understand explanation of the difference, and relationship, between horsepower and torque.
Horsepower and torque can be calculated through this equation:
H = T x rpm/5252
- H = horsepower
- T = torque
- Rpm = rotations per minute
If you're math-savvy, you can see right away that a higher torque and higher rpm yield a higher horsepower. However, an engine could have high horsepower if torque is low by spinning at a higher rpm, and at a low rpm, power output could be maintained with a higher torque.
That's why people in the sports car world reference torque as good for low-end responsiveness -- if you want power while at a low rpm, then you need torque. It can help you accelerate faster.
High torque with relatively low horsepower is most common, however, in pickup trucks. When have a heavy load to haul, you need there to be power the moment you put your foot down on the accelerator.
Torque also represents the total amount of force the engine can put out. A vehicle with low torque may not be capable of hauling a heavy load even at a higher rpm. Torque is like the muscle power behind your truck, and horsepower is how fast your truck can flex those muscles.
Now that you know why it's so important, come down to Philpott Pre-Owned Super Center and test drive a high-torque used truck in Nederland, TX.