Check Car BHP
Have you ever wondered how much horsepower your car is producing? BHP, or brake horsepower, is a term used to describe the power output of an engine. Knowing your car’s brake horsepower is important if you’re interested in upgrading its performance and understanding your car’s capabilities.
What does BHP stand for?
BHP stands for brake horsepower, which is a measure of the power output of an engine. It is the amount of power generated by an engine when measured at the output shaft without any external factors such as air resistance. BHP is the most commonly used unit for measuring an engine’s power output.
Other measurements that can be used are:
Horse Power (HP) is also a measure of an engine’s power output. It is defined as the amount of work that can be done by a horse in a certain amount of time. In the context of an engine, it is the amount of power that is required to lift 550 pounds one foot in one second.
Pferdestärke (PS) is a metric unit of power that is used primarily in Europe. It is equivalent to 0.9863 HP, or approximately the power output of a single horse.
Kilowatts (kW) A kW, or kilowatt, is a unit of power that is used to express the engine’s output in modern vehicles, especially electric vehicles. It is a metric unit that quantifies the rate of energy transfer equivalent to one thousand watts. It gives a clear indication of the vehicle’s engine power in terms of speed and acceleration. When comparing a car’s power, 1 kW is equal to approximately 1.34 horsepower.
Why is it important to check your car BHP?
Knowing your car’s BHP can help you understand its performance capabilities. If you’re planning on upgrading your car’s performance, it’s important to know its current BHP. This will help you determine what kind of upgrades you need to make to achieve your desired level of performance. Additionally, checking your car’s BHP can help you identify any potential issues with the engine that may be affecting its overall performance too.
Understanding your vehicle’s horsepower can help you anticipate its fuel economy, aiding in better fuel cost estimates. It also helps you to understand the car’s limits, thereby allowing you to drive within a safe parameter, reducing the risk of accidents due to over-speeding or pushing the car beyond its capabilities.
How do you check car BHP?
There are a few ways to check your car’s BHP they include:
Taking your vehicle to a garage
Taking your car to a garage for a BHP (Brake Horsepower) check offers several advantages, ensuring that you get an accurate and comprehensive understanding of your vehicle’s performance.
At Viezu we are equipped with specialised tools which are specifically designed to measure the BHP of a vehicle accurately. Our machines provide detailed information, giving you a clear picture of your car’s power output and performance figures.
Not only that but the technicians at Viezu are trained professionals who understand the intricacies of vehicle performance. They can interpret the results accurately, provide insights into any discrepancies, and offer advice on potential improvements.
Using a Dynamometer
Checking your cars BHP can be done by using a dynamometer. A dynamometer is a device that measures the torque and rotational speed of an engine. By measuring these two variables, a dynamometer can calculate the engine’s BHP. However, dynamometers can be expensive, and not all mechanics have access to them. If you’re interested in using a dynamometer to measure your cars BHP, Viezu has experienced mechanics with experience using this equipment.
Using an online car BHP checker
The least accurate method of checking BHP is to use an online BHP checker. There are several BHP calculators available online, but they are not always accurate. These BHP checkers use your car’s registration number to estimate your BHP based on factors such as its weight, speed, and acceleration. However, these estimates can be significantly off, and they do not take into account the condition of your engine.
Manufacturer’s Specifications
The most straightforward method is to check the manufacturer’s specifications in the vehicle’s manual or on the manufacturer’s website where they list the technical details of various models.
Can I improve my vehicle’s BHP?
Yes, there are several methods to increase your vehicle’s Brake Horsepower (BHP) to boost its performance. Here are some common ways to achieve this:
Engine Remapping
The Engine Control Unit (ECU) is the brain of your vehicle, controlling how the engine works. Remapping or ‘chipping’ the ECU can optimise its settings, leading to improved power output and efficiency. There are 3 different stages of remapping to choose from depending on the level of upgrade you want.
Stage 1 – The ‘entry level’ remapping, this is purely software-based and generally doesn’t require any hardware upgrades. This is a great place to start with remapping and our experts are on hand to help you every step of the way.
Stage 2 – This is a step up and will give you better car performance but this level does require some hardware upgrades such as a new exhaust system. Our technicians can help you choose the correct hardware you need and advise you with everything so you can rest assured you’re getting the best out of the remap.
Stage 3 – This is the most advanced level of remapping and will seriously boost your vehicle’s capabilities, as with stage 2 this requires more hardware upgrades to enable your car to safely harness the new power output.
At Viezu, we’re experts in ECU and Chip Tuning, providing a variety of tuning software to craft the optimal bespoke remap for both you and your vehicle.
Other Upgrades Include:
Performance Air Filters
Stock air filters can be restrictive. Upgrading to a performance air filter allows more air into the engine, aiding in better combustion and, consequently, increased power.
Turbochargers and Superchargers
These components force more air into the combustion chamber, allowing the engine to burn more fuel and produce more power. If your vehicle doesn’t already have one, adding a turbocharger or supercharger can significantly boost BHP.
Check car BHP Conclusion
In conclusion, checking your car’s BHP is an important step if you want to improve its performance or have a better understanding of its capabilities. There are a number of ways to carry out a car bhp check, but we highly recommend bringing your vehicle to Viezu due to the expertise and equipment we have to ensure it will be an accurate read. Not only that but we are also on hand to provide you with expert advice on how to improve your car’s performance. Using other methods may give you some insights but they may not be accurate as they will be unable to take into account the condition of your engine.
If you have any questions on how to check your car’s bhp, we are an experienced performance tuning company with locations worldwide helping you to get the most from your car’s performance.
