A vehicle engine

What does Horsepower and Torque in an Engine Mean?

When shopping for a vehicle, there are several factors you need to consider. You need to consider price, interior space, design, and performance. While most factors come down to personal preferences, performance is more technical. You most likely look at fuel economy, horsepower, and torque. However, if you’re not a huge car person, you probably don’t know what horsepower and torque mean. In this post, we will be answering the question: “What is horsepower and torque?” Read on to learn the answer.


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What is Horsepower?

close up engine black and white photo

Horsepower is a unit of power. It is used to measure the forcefulness of an engine. Horsepower also determines how many miles your vehicle can travel during its entire lifespan. One unit of horsepower is equal to 33,000 pounds. How else does horsepower make a difference? It can also determine the top speed of your vehicle. The higher the horsepower of an engine, the higher the top speed will be. Horsepower can also help with towing, an important aspect for heavy duty trucks. The horsepower of an engine is determined by seeing how much power it takes to move 550 pounds one foot in one second, or 30,000 pounds one foot in one minute.

What is Torque?

Torque is the rotating force created by the engine’s crankshaft. The more torque that is produced by an engine, the greater the engine’s ability is. Torque is measured by the unit pound-feet and newton-meters. Just like horsepower, torque is an important factor for how well an engine can perform. Torque represents how much of a load an engine can handle to generate power. It also helps with acceleration, driving up inclines, and towing.


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Shop for Used Vehicles at Stop23 Auto Sales

Now that you know what horsepower and torque are, come visit Stop23 Auto Sales to shop for a used vehicle. We offer a large selection of cars, trucks, and SUVS as well as a plethora of variations.