What is Engine Torque?

Ready to explore the concept of engine torque and what it means for performance car tuning? Let’s dive in…

Definition of Engine Torque

In simple terms, engine torque is a measure of the twisting force produced by the engine. It is what gets your car moving from a standstill and allows it to accelerate. As the old saying goes:

“If horsepower is how fast you hit a wall, then torque is how far you take the wall with you!”

Torque is typically measured in pound-feet (lb-ft) or Newton meters (Nm). The higher the torque value, the greater the force exerted by the engine.

 The Relationship Between Torque and Power

Torque and power are closely related but are not the same thing. While torque represents the twisting force, power is the measure of how quickly that force can be applied. You can think of torque as your car’s strength and power as its speed.

Mathematically, torque (in lb-ft) and power (in horsepower) are related by the following equation:

Power (hp) = Torque (lb-ft) x Engine Speed (rpm) / 5252

This is why the crossover point between lb-ft and hp on any dyno graph will always be at 5252rpm. Go check your last dyno printout and you’ll see what we mean. It’s just simple maths – a dyno measures torque and then calculates horsepower from that measurement.

Why Torque Matters in Performance Car Tuning

Torque plays a crucial role when it comes to tuning cars. More torque means more power available to accelerate the car at any given engine speed – not just from a standstill like the common misconception might have you believe. This extra torque translates to quicker acceleration and improved overall performance.

How to Increase Engine Torque

Modified cars are often tuned to increase their torque output. Here are some of the most common ways to increase torque::

1. Engine Modifications

Modifying your engine internals can involve upgrading the camshafts, pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft to improve airflow, increase compression ratio, increase fuel delivery, to improve the engine’s ability to generate torque.

2. Turbocharging or Supercharging

A turbocharger compresses the incoming air into the engine, which then allows for more air/fuel to be burned and results in increased torque output. Similar to turbocharging, a supercharger increases torque by forcing more air into the engine but does so via a compressor driven by the engine’s crankshaft.

4. ECU Remapping

Electronic Control Unit (ECU) remapping involves reprogramming the car’s engine management system to optimise fuel and ignition timing for increased torque.

Benefits of Increased Torque

Increasing the torque output of an engine has many performance advantages, including:

• Better acceleration off the line
• Improved mid-range power
• Enhanced towing and off-road capabilities
• Reduced gear shifting in manual transmissions
• Increased acceleration out of corners
• Enhanced overall driving experience

So, if you want to take your modified car to the next level, focusing on increasing torque is a great place to start!

Want to learn more about horsepower?

Check out some of our other features relating to horsepower: