In Reply to: OK, see if I understand this.... Posted by Nav (Cruiser) on February 28, 1999 at 10:57:27
What a torque curve really shows is theoretical AVAILABLE torque to the wheels. From the torque graph peak up to highest rpms, some of that torque is being used to overcome the drag,friction, etc. and is therefore, in effect, subtracted from the available torque so the torque curve drops off. Have I got it?
The way I look at it is
Initially any motor can make a bunch of torque. This is a function of the number of cylinders, amount/quality of fuel/air mixture... etc..
As acceleration begins, torque starts to go up But as RPMs continue to rise Torque peaks and then begins to drop off. It's not that torque stops, it just can't push as hard anymore (like the merry-go-round, the faster it goes by the harder it becomes to make go faster)
At some point in the RPM cycle (0 to redline) the explosion in the combustion chamber can't push the piston down any faster.
Now, before that point, the amount of force (torque) peaks and then begins to taper off.
Because HP is a measurement of torque X RPMs X 1/5252, as the RPM's continue to climb (much slower now because torque is decreasing near the end of the curve) HP continues to go up for a little while anyway.
As torque continues to decrease, eventually so will HP.
The last part of that article goes into the fact that torque drops as the trottle is closed and throttle position is used to create just enough torque to keep a vehicle moving forward at a given speed based on friction/drag
Clear as mud.... ?