RE: Difference between horsepower and torque

griffsmom · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

We re buying a new TV and I m trying to figure out the difference between torque and horsepower for purposes of towing considerations.

The Chevy Tahoe has a 5.3L, V8, 285 HP @ 5200 RPM. Its torque is 325 lb.-ft. @ 4000. Towing capacity is listed at 6700 lbs.

The Ford Expedition has a 5.4L, V8, 260HP @ 4500 RPM. Its torque is 350 lb.-ft @ 2500 RPM. Towing capacity is listed at 8950 lbs.

Both are 4x2 wheel drive and have a 3.73:1 axle ratio.

Does the Expedition have better towing power than the Tahoe even though it has less HP?

SactoCampers · Jun 23, 2003, 12:56 PM

griffsmomTorque is twisting force.

Horsepower is the rate at which torque is applied. It s torque with a time component added.

Both have way more pulling power than you need with your Sun Valley. Both are fully capable should you decide to move to a hybrid or something.

However, for towing, torque is better at lower RPM. You ll see the Chevy develops it s power higher in the RPM range, the Ford lower. My hunch is that with identical loads, the Ford would be better off the line, and the Chevy Tahoe better on the highway (reserve power) where you might downshift to pass another car. But you also have to factor in vehicle weight. The Chevy may develop less power, but if it weighs 500 lbs less than the Expedition, than the difference is moot. I don t know the comparative weights of the two.

The Chevy does have better fuel economy than the Expedition.

You have quite a bit more towing capacity with the Ford, but the difference between it and the Chevy likely has little to do with engine output. I see a hybrid in your future....especially once you see Cottonwooder s hardside. The smell of new cabinetry is tempting.

You can t go wrong with either one. Flip a coin. Or cry and get the one you want [

][

]. After all, if mom ain t happy, ain t nobody happy.

We missed you this weekend Lori!

wahoonc · Jun 23, 2003, 01:33 PM

griffsmomLori,
We have both Chevy and Ford trucks at work, the Fords have a lot more power off the line with a full load, the Chevys make me uneasy when fully loaded. Once up to highway speeds there doesn t seem much difference. My personal preference is the Fords, but that is all I have driven for the last 20+ years

Aaron[

]

DC · Jun 26, 2003, 12:55 PM

griffsmomThe Ford Expedition has a 5.4L, V8, 260HP @ 4500 RPM. Its torque is 350 lb.-ft @ 2500 RPM. Towing capacity is listed at 8950 lbs.

The neat thing about the torque is that when in drive (not overdrive) the Ford will be going about 72-74 mph at 2500 rpm. I keep mine in drive while towing the camper and cruise at 2800 RPM at about 77mph. When you encounter hills, your Ford won t even downshift....just pull right up the hill pretty as you please. Just think about the Chevy for a sec.....you gotta be rappin that engine up to 4000 RPM just to get near the torque of a Ford. Nobody I know runs an engine that fast. The Ford s are set up to have the best torque at an actual reasonable traveling speed.

By-the-way.....with a Diablo Sport Performance Computer chip and a K&N Air Filter (both ran by thousands or more), like I do, you will have over 400lbs of torque at the same RPM and over 300 HP. I researched the " Big Three" and Ford won out on the Torque issue for me.

Also, that chip gives you better mileage while towing and if you keep your foot off the throttle when not towing, great mileage when not towing. Take about 45 minutes to put in at about $200.

Gotta tell ya.....I do love my Ford. I am definetly not one of those vehicles holding up cars on a long uphill grade!! I m goin passed them.

TG1956 · Jun 26, 2003, 07:57 PM

griffsmomBuy the one with the dvd player in the back seat.

bikolee · Jun 26, 2003, 08:45 PM

griffsmomI ll take my Chevy over a Ford any day of the week. Much more comfortable, better mileage, etc.

Oh, and DC, bring it on. My stock Silverado against your modified Ford..........

bikolee · Jun 28, 2003, 10:24 AM

griffsmomOK, simple answer. Torque gets you moving and horsepower keeps you moving.

The Chevy has a much wider power band. The ford developes its peak at 2500rpm, good for pulling stumps. Think about what DC said for a minute,
" I keep mine in drive while towing the camper and cruise at 2800 RPM at about 77mph" .
Both torque nd HP are on a curve. After the peak is reached they both start to decrease. So, as you can see, he is on the downside of that curve. My chevy on the otherhand, runs at 2000rpm at 70mph. Right in the middle of its power band. As Sacto said, plenty of reserve power.

I also think you d be happy with either. I personally like the Tahoe better.

copcarguy · Jun 28, 2003, 03:43 PM

griffsmomOh man... let s not get started on a Ford vs. Chevy. Let the sales figures speak for themselves. Ford has the best selling full size truck, compact truck, SUV, van, and the F-150 has been the best selling VEHICLE (car, truck, motor-scooter, etc, etc) for over 20 years. Gimme a FORD any day over a GM product. GM vehicles are good for LEASING but I would never buy one. Every GM product I have had experience with was a s**tbox after 50,000 miles. I have gotten over 250,000 miles on each & every FORD I have ever owned, my record being a 1991 Ranger I bought new and just sold with 396,471 miles on the ORIGINAL UNOPENED ENGINE. I have yet to own (or see) a GM car that lived past 150,000. And yes, I have had numerous vehicles of all makes and models. Ford is the only domestic manfacturer I would buy.

bikolee · Jun 29, 2003, 10:36 AM

copcarguyRick,
I wasn t trying to do a Ford vs Chevy thing. I was merely commenting on th HP and torque numbers. Also, sales figures don t tell the whole story. McDonald s sells more burgers, but that doesn t mean they are the best burgers[: (]

raven339 · Jun 30, 2003, 01:37 AM

griffsmomBikolee...

I like that one...That s funny!!!...[8D][8D][8D]

But true...

Skol...

wahoonc · Jun 30, 2003, 06:21 AM

bikolee

QuoteThe Chevy has a much wider power band. The ford developes its peak at 2500rpm, good for pulling stumps.

bikolee,

I will have to disagree with this statement! The Chevy s power band is only occurs over a 1200 rpm range, which means a lot of shifting to keep the power up in the band. The Ford provides the power over a 2500 rpm range which IMO is a lot more flexible and usable. Plus the fact that the Ford produces its torque at lower RPM. The biggest issue when towing is getting the load moving, once moving it takes less power to keep it moving. Listen to the big rigs when they come off the line, they generate a lot of torque to get the load moving but they have a very narrow power band, that is why all the shifting, to keep the motor in the power range. Remember the less than successful V-8/6/4 cylinder Cadilacs of the late 70 s? When you were idling you used 4 cylinders when you were accelerating you used 8 then at cruise you would use 6, at least that was the way they were supposed to work[8D]

Aaron

whitestar505 · Jun 30, 2003, 08:55 AM

griffsmomgriffsmom

Dollar for dollar, Chevy has it over Ford. There is a lot of things that are hidden that you don t see, that make the difference. This is all I am going to say on this subject. [

]

DC · Jun 30, 2003, 11:46 AM

griffsmomI ve already raced a Chev Z71 by mistake actually. Guy in a new Z71 was behind me in an Interstate construction zone. I was going the speed limit thru the zone and he was all over my rear cuz he wanted to race thru the zone...all red in the face swervin back and forth, he was ticked. When he came around to pass me, I was first out of the zone, I let him get door to door and he gave me a dirty look so I floored it and so did he...no problem. I pulled away from him and kept on going...no braggin...just fact. I m not a hot rodder...used to be. I watch that on NASCAR and NHRA.

In Overdrive at 2000 rpm I m at 80mph. I don t tow in Overdrive. I put it in drive to utilize my torque curve as was said earlier. 2000rpm in a Chev is not in the middle of the power band. I run at 2800rpm in Drive to keep me at 77 to 80 mph. When I encounter a hill my rpm s may go down to 2500 which is my peak torque rpm which has been calculated at just over 415 ft-lbs. Way more than the comparable sized 5.3 litre Chev. Also, I will get better mileage while towing than any other full size pickup, except a diesel. I ve proven that amongst my friends.

jawilson · Jun 30, 2003, 02:22 PM

griffsmomFor the most part HP and torque numbers are relative, and more for marketing purposes, because a number of things need to be considered.

How " flat" is the HP/torque curve? If it peaks and then drops like a stone you ll notice that instantly when you drive the vehicle.

How good is the transmission it s hooked up to? A motor can be the " baddest" in the land, but if it s hooked up to a clunker of a tranny all that power isn t going to help you one bit.

What s the weight of the vehicle? A couple of hundred pounds either way can make a lot of HP/torque disappear really fast.

How s the fuel mileage? Lots of power doesn t always have to translate into abysmal MPG s.

FWIW... just slightly over 1 year ago I went looking for a new truck. I haven t owned an American vehicle in over 20 years, primarily because the last few I had were absolute garbage. But (unfortunately?) the only manufacturers who made what I need -- a fullsize crewcab pickup of at least 3/4 ton -- was " the big three" . Well, actually 2 because Dodge doesn t make a real crewcab, they only have a glorified extended cab so they were out and I can t really comment on them. That left Ford and GM (Chevy and GMC). There s no decent GMC dealer in my area, so it was Ford vs. Chevy.

The Chevy won, hands down, for a number of reasons but not the least of which was a far better engine. The 6.0 in my 2500HD has much more power then the 5.4 in the F250 SuperDuty. It s smoother and quieter to boot.

There s really no comparison of the interiors either. While the Ford s is indeed bigger the Chevy is generations ahead in quality and refinement (the Ford just screamed " farm appliance" to me). The fact that the engine was better too was merely icing on the cake.

Your best bet is to take them both out for a nice long test drive. I think you ll be able to make an informed decision then.

griffsmom · Jul 08, 2003, 07:11 PM

griffsmomThanks everyone for your input. I have certainly learned quite a bit!

My DH went for the Ford Expy. He was always a Chevy man before this purchase, but given that both vehicles would be sufficient for our towing needs, we were able to get way more bang for our buck with the Ford. (Sorry Sacto, but we can t ever imagine being in a hardside trailer and just love our little pop up! And we missed you at Gold Rush too--our Rhode Island trip was absolutlely hellish![: (] Thank goodness family reunions only come around every 2 years--and even that s a bit too often!!![

])

What finally sold DH was the interior embellsihments of the Ford. We were able to get leather, the rear DVD player, and some other very cool doo-dads, not to mention some safety features that I wanted for far less $ than we could have if we had bought the Tahoe. I m hoping that with the greater towing abilities and the DVD player, we ll be able to attend more of the NNC rallies!!! [8D][

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