Engine Size and

Measurements
Chapter 17

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Objectives
• Describe various ways of measuring engine size
• Understand the effects of engine compression
ratio
• Explain the principles of engine power and
efficiency
• Relate torque to horsepower
• Understand the variations in operation of the
different types of dynamometers

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Introduction
• This chapter provides an understanding of:
– Various engine size and performance
measurements
– Methods of understanding and measuring engine
power output

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Engine Size Measurements
• Engine’s size
– Determined by volume of air pistons displace in
cylinders
• Cylinder bore size
– Diameter of the cylinder
• Usually three and a half to four inches
– Average engine has a three and a half to four
inch stroke

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Engine Size Measurements
(cont’d.)
• Displacement
– Piston or cylinder displacement
• Volume displaced by the piston
• Bore2 x Stroke x 0.7854
– Engine displacement
• Bore2 x Stroke x 0.7854 x number of cylinders

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Compression Ratio
• Determines how much air and fuel are
compressed
– Compression ratio is 8:1
• Higher compression ratio increases power and fuel
economy
• Increases exhaust emissions
• Each point of change is said to be worth about four
to six percent change in horsepower
• Compression pressure
– Pressure made by piston moving up in cylinder
• Gasoline engines typically produce 125-175 psi
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Compression Ratio (cont’d.)
• Effective compression
ratio
– Determined by point at
which intake valve closes

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Physical Principles of Work
• Force: any action that tends to change the
position of something
– Measured in pounds or Newtons
– Push, pull, or lift
• Work: when an object is moved against a
resistant or opposing force
– Lifting or sliding
– English measurements: foot-pounds or watts
– Metric measurements: Newton-meters or joules
– Force x Distance = Work
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Physical Principles of Work
(cont’d.)
• One foot-pound: one pound is moved for a
distance of one foot
• Energy: ability to produce motion against
resistance
• Inertia: tendency of a body to keep its state of
rest or motion
– Larger masses are affected more by inertia
• Momentum: product of the body’s mass and
speed
• Power: how fast work is done
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Torque
• Torque
– Tendency of a force to rotate a body on which it
acts
• Amount of turning force exerted by crankshaft
– Engine torque varies with rpm
• High at lower speeds
• Heat
– Measured in Btu
– One Btu is the amount of heat required to heat
one pound of water by one degree

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Horsepower
• Measurement of an engine’s ability to perform
work in a specified time
– One horsepower equals 33,000 foot-pounds of
work per minute
• Amount of work required to life 550 pounds one
foot in one second
– One horsepower equals 0.746 kilowatts
• Gross horsepower
– Power produced at crankshaft
• Several measurements
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Horsepower (cont'd.)
• Accessories that rob power (absorb about 25%)
– Alternator
– Air conditioning
– Water pump
– Cooling fan
– Power steering
– Smog pump
• Net power is what remains
• Power is also lost through friction

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Dynamometer
• Measures engine output
– Engine dynamometer
• Horsepower coming out of the engine
– Chassis dynamometer
• Horsepower available at vehicle’s drive wheels
• Maximizing horsepower and torque
– Valve overlap
• Period when intake and exhaust valves are open
– Scavenging
• Vacuum draws in fresh air and fuel through open intake
valve
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Dynamometer (cont’d.)
• Types of dynamometer power absorption units
– Automotive dynamometer power absorption units
• Electromagnetic and water brake
• Measuring torque and horsepower
– Horsepower: (Torque x rpm) / 5250
– Torque readings: made at every 500 rpm
• Horsepower correction factors and comparisons
– Correction factors: compensate for high-altitude
air or hot air
– Comparisons: done with same dynamometer
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
Dynamometer Safety Concerns
• Engine dynamometer
– Concerns: fire, part failure, and noise
• Chassis dynamometer
– Concerns: carbon monoxide, keeping the vehicle
secured and connected to rollers, part failure,
and noise
• Other dynamometer types
– Towing dynos
– Cycle dyne

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Engine Efficiency
• Engine efficiency measurements:
– Mechanical efficiency
• Describes all ways friction is lost in the engine
• Engine output divided by engine input
– Volumetric efficiency
– Thermal efficiency
• Amount of loss
– Difference between efficiency measurement and
100%

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Volumetric Efficiency
• Compares volume of airflow entering the engine
with theoretical maximum
– Determines maximum torque output
• Changes with:
– Temperature
– Engine speed
– Load
– Throttle opening
• Increased speed and closing the throttle
– Lowered efficiency
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Thermal Efficiency
• Ratio of how effectively an engine converts a
fuel’s heat energy into usable work
– Gasoline’s thermal energy: 19,000 Btu per pound
• Brake thermal efficiency: more useful
– (Brake HP / fuel’s heat input) x 100
• Spark ignition: only one-fourth of the energy
from burning fuel is converted to work
• Diesel fuel: higher heat energy and engines
have a higher compression ratio
– Better fuel economy
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Mean Effective Pressure
• Pressure within the cylinder
– Increases during compression stroke
• Highest after ignition
• Peak cylinder pressure
– Should occur between ten and 20 degrees past
TDC
• Combustion pressure moves the piston down
– Pressure drops as cycle continues

© 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning