Oil & Fuel Diesel HP vs Gasoline HP

[DK45C_Dave]

With all the numbers that float around about HP these days, can someone explain if there is and, if so, what is the difference between the HP created by, lets say, a 25HP Briggs gasoline powered Craftsman lawn tractor and a 25HP diesel Kubota lawn tractor. A first glance these two should not be mentioned in the same sentence, yet they wear the same badges without either of them ever being questioned. If the torque is the number that matters, why it that number not stenciled on the hood instead of the HP. This discussion could go on to larger tractors and other vehicles as well, but this comparison might be a good start. Meanwhile, I'll go chain my 290HP Chevy pickup to my 90HP Case tractor and see who can pull who!

 

[JerryG]

<font color="blue"> If the torque is the number that matters, why it that number not stenciled on the hood instead of the HP. </font>
Marketing

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Ditto what Jerry said.

HP is NOT the final answer. Somehow I think if it was, those little 25 hp Yardman lawn tractors would be replacing a bunch of old Ford 8N tractors . . . but obviously one cannot replace the other

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'll go chain my 290HP Chevy pickup to my 90HP Case tractor and see who can pull who!
)</font>

Okay, I'll take some of that. I'll bet $10 on the tractor. Anybody want the pickup? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Egon]

Can I modify the P/U ??

Egon

 

[Bird]

This is too complicated a matter for an old man. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif One horsepower is one horsepower; regardless of the type of engine. But then you gotta factor in torque, gearing, traction, and too many other things to even worry about. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[PineRidge]

KISS Keep it simple stupid /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Henro]

My guess would be that it probably relates back to people being familiar with horses in their everyday lives, back when the transition was occurring from horse-drawn vehicles to mechanically-powered ones.

The term "Iron horse" as the synonym for locomotive engine may have appeared for the same reason.

Horse power as a measure of automobiles might have made more sense to buyers back then, than lb-ft of torque.

In my mind whether HP or Torque numbers are on the hood really makes no difference. It is how the engine performs over its entire operating RPM range that tells the story...let's have them put a graphic on the hood showing both torque and hp over the operating range of engine rpm... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[frank_f15]

nope! i 'll take the tractor also /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[frank_f15]

WELL SAID BIRD! there are so many different factors to consider. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif