How to you calculate bhp?

masto1983 · 04-01-2005 4:14pm #1

Im sure this has been asked before....but ive tried searching the threads, and found nothing.

So how do you work it out?

For example:
I drive a: 1997 Ford Escort 1.4L, 1392cc.
I know my car wont have much, but id like to know the approx value.

Cheers.

fletch · 04-01-2005 4:36pm

You need to hook the car up 2 some fancy machine to find out....

fletch · 04-01-2005 4:41pm

You're car has 74 bhp

masto1983 · 04-01-2005 4:48pm

Looked at that site, but where did you get the 74bhp figure from?

egan007 · 04-01-2005 4:57pm

Put simply - BHP is the amount of break pressure that needs to be applied to stop the engine turning. I don't think it's possible to calculate it from cc.

fletch · 04-01-2005 4:59pm

Sorry posted the wrong link, it should be this one

egan007 · 04-01-2005 5:05pm

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/horsepower2.htm

aodh_rua · 04-01-2005 5:07pm

Horse power is a unit of energy calculated many years ago to measure the output of steam engines. I think it was the equivalent to the amount of energy used by a horse when drawing a given quantity of coal (probably a ton) up a given incline. The quoted BHP figures for cars is a measure of the energy output (gauged by the braking force applied to counteract it) at a given rpm.

1 horsepower is 33,000 foot pounds/minute of energy or for metric 746 watts (0.746kW which are now replacing the BHP figures). Incidentally, the cc of your engine is not a means of calculating the power output, torque values are a better guide as they are a measure of turning force, although the fancy equipment fletch mentions is the best way to find out.

Seth Brundle · 04-01-2005 5:12pm

Martin in Westward (in Enfield) will be more than happy to dyno your car for a fee (€50?)

How to you calculate bhp?

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