Notices
Engine & Drivetrain VQ Power and Delivery

How Important is torque?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-11-2008, 05:21 AM
  #1  
Highway Riding
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
Highway Riding's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Out on the Highway!
Posts: 5,543
Received 95 Likes on 80 Posts
Default How Important is torque?

After doing some research on the Vq engine and all the engines that have come after in the VQ family i noticed that the first model VQ's have more torque than all previous models even the HR. They have the 2003-2004 model listed at 274lbs of T vs 260 for almost all later versions with the exception of the latest motor producing 268 lbs. A friend's version of the importance was to stay that torque launches u and gets you going and HP keeps you going. Is that an accurate assumption? What would be the reasoning for Nissan to lower Torque after the first model VQ? Thoughts

Last edited by Highway Riding; 07-11-2008 at 11:59 AM.
Old 07-11-2008, 05:30 AM
  #2  
My350P
Registered User
iTrader: (6)
 
My350P's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Easy analogy: HP = strength, TQ = leverage. Your friend is more or less correct.

I believe with the hr engine they were going for higher peak HP at the cost of lower peak TQ. People seem to universally agree that the hr engine performs better, so it clearly isn't hurting anything.
Old 07-11-2008, 05:41 AM
  #3  
Highway Riding
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
Highway Riding's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Out on the Highway!
Posts: 5,543
Received 95 Likes on 80 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by My350P
Easy analogy: HP = strength, TQ = leverage. Your friend is more or less correct.

I believe with the hr engine they were going for higher peak HP at the cost of lower peak TQ. People seem to universally agree that the hr engine performs better, so it clearly isn't hurting anything.
Next question would do you think this was done? Tuning from the factory? just curious. Thx in advance..
Old 07-11-2008, 05:46 AM
  #4  
teh215
Registered User
iTrader: (8)
 
teh215's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Posts: 5,753
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

“Horsepower sells cars; torque wins races” -Carroll Shelby
Old 07-11-2008, 05:50 AM
  #5  
Highway Riding
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
Highway Riding's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Out on the Highway!
Posts: 5,543
Received 95 Likes on 80 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by teh215
“Horsepower sells cars; torque wins races” -Carroll Shelby

Nice quote for sure.... I have to say my 04 pulls like a sob and my buddies girlfriend has a spanking new G and i'm not blown away by the performance. granted we havnt run yet but i'm not sure i'd get owned.. fingers crossed.. hahah.. Both are 6spd's
Old 07-11-2008, 05:51 AM
  #6  
JasonZ-YA
350Z-holic
iTrader: (60)
 
JasonZ-YA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Antonio/I miss DFW, TX
Posts: 11,204
Likes: 0
Received 28 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

exactly! people love to brag that there car has X amount of horsepower...yada, yada.....

i love the balance the Z has.... to me i dont care about 0-60 times, launches or any of that.....i love the added hp and tq for 60-100, when a car does that well......its nice..
-J
Old 07-11-2008, 06:38 AM
  #7  
firekrave
New Member
 
firekrave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 992
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by JasonZ-YA
exactly! people love to brag that there car has X amount of horsepower...yada, yada.....

i love the balance the Z has.... to me i dont care about 0-60 times, launches or any of that.....i love the added hp and tq for 60-100, when a car does that well......its nice..
-J
You sir, are correct!
Old 07-11-2008, 08:02 AM
  #8  
singh
_______________
iTrader: (2)
 
singh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 5,352
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

I like Nitrous.
Old 07-11-2008, 08:08 AM
  #9  
Done Deal DR
New Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Done Deal DR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 5,777
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by gsingh350Z
I love lamp.
huh?
Old 07-11-2008, 08:24 AM
  #10  
Sweetone
Registered User
 
Sweetone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

It may just be simple changes in emissions regs....
Old 07-11-2008, 09:33 AM
  #11  
R-TuneZ
Registered User
 
R-TuneZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NY/NJ/PA/FL
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by JasonZ-YA
exactly! people love to brag that there car has X amount of horsepower...yada, yada.....

i love the balance the Z has.... to me i dont care about 0-60 times, launches or any of that.....i love the added hp and tq for 60-100, when a car does that well......its nice..
-J
+1. people always come up to me asking to race me with the turbo civics or whatever... and regardless of what any of them can put down, the z will destroy most any fwd on the track. either way i am completely uninterested in racing my car on public roads, well... sort of.
Old 07-11-2008, 09:37 AM
  #12  
VO...
Administrator
iTrader: (25)
 
VO...'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Down Under & Dirty
Posts: 58,609
Received 2,747 Likes on 1,836 Posts
Default

I remember what someone once said. I believe it went something like, "HP is how fast you can get before you hit a wall. Torque is how hard the force is when you actually hit it."
Old 07-11-2008, 11:57 AM
  #13  
Highway Riding
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
Highway Riding's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Out on the Highway!
Posts: 5,543
Received 95 Likes on 80 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by vo7848
I remember what someone once said. I believe it went something like, "HP is how fast you can get before you hit a wall. Torque is how hard the force is when you actually hit it."
I love these torgue saying's. classic..
Old 07-11-2008, 11:59 AM
  #14  
Highway Riding
New Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (6)
 
Highway Riding's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Out on the Highway!
Posts: 5,543
Received 95 Likes on 80 Posts
Default

These are the numbers as i know most of you know these digits some new users prolly don't realize what they have..

2003-2005
3.5 L (210 cu in) VQ35DE V6 287 bhp (214 kW) 274 ft·lbf (371 N·m)
2005 (35th Anv & Track)

3.5 L (210 cu in) VQ35DE RevUp V6 300 bhp (220 kW) 260 ft·lbf (350 N·m)
2006

3.5 L (210 cu in) VQ35DE RevUp V6 300 bhp (220 kW) 260 ft·lbf (350 N·m)
2007-present

3.5 L (210 cu in) VQ35HR V6 306 bhp (228 kW) 268 ft·lbf (363 N·m)
Old 07-11-2008, 12:18 PM
  #15  
coachk
Banned
iTrader: (21)
 
coachk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 4,472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

"Horsepower is for dyno queens, Torque is for drag racers"...Coachk
Old 07-11-2008, 12:28 PM
  #16  
ZU L8R
Viper Sellout
iTrader: (84)
 
ZU L8R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Orlando, Fl
Posts: 6,871
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by teh215
“Horsepower sells cars; torque wins races” -Carroll Shelby
Old 07-11-2008, 12:55 PM
  #17  
411Z
Registered User
 
411Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: North Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

tq is the force behind any moving object. it is the measured ability of a rotating element to overcome turning resistance.

in other words, like your friend said, tq is what makes your car move, and the amount of tq gauges exactly how quickly it does so.

here is a good equation. hp=fast tq=quick
Old 07-11-2008, 12:57 PM
  #18  
L. Baggins
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
L. Baggins's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Springfield, VA
Posts: 604
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I am a huge torque fanatic. I am all for more torque. This is why every BRABUS/AMG makes me all golly. Sure sometimes there is a bit too much torque (100mph burnouts... but come on...you know that's fun as hell). This is another reason I refuse to drive a Honda (No hate, I love the RSX/NSX lol) but the whole V-TEC thing is not cutting it for me. I want that torque. I want to be thrown back into my seat, I wan't people to hold on for their dear lives, I want that.

I know Z or G aren't really torquey beasts, but the VQ engine balances it very nicely and I believe it's a alright balance. Although I feel they really should have added about 150 ft/lbs of torque to every engine.

and like the quote above, “Horsepower sells cars; torque wins races” -Carroll Shelby

Does not get more true than that.

Last edited by L. Baggins; 07-11-2008 at 01:01 PM.
Old 07-11-2008, 01:16 PM
  #19  
davidv
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
davidv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 42,754
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 11 Posts
Default

Torque numbers are maximum numbers, and of limited value. More important is where does the torque come on? 2,500 or 4,500 RPM. I would rather have 250 pounds of torque at 2,500 RPM than 260 pounds of torque at 4,500.
Old 07-11-2008, 02:25 PM
  #20  
Q45tech
Registered User
 
Q45tech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Marietta, Georgia
Posts: 984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

You cannot have any HP without torque since you must know torque and rpm to calculate HP.
Thus HP is just an imaginary number derived from torque.

HP was a term developed in England to sell steam powered water pumps. My pump can replace 4 horses and doesn't leave as much horse poop.

As to what rpm the NA torque peaks - unfortunately the lower the torque rpm, the lower the peak HP occurs. As with most engines the HP peak occurs at 2,000-2500 rpm above the torque rpm. Due to downward slope of VE after torque peak rpm.

Last edited by Q45tech; 07-11-2008 at 02:32 PM.


Quick Reply: How Important is torque?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:21 AM.