Dynamometers are those automotive machines that are used to measure torque, rotational speed and power produced by the car engine. A dynamometer is also known as dyno. A dyno is also used for tuning up the car!

Dynamometers can be classified into two basic categories- engine dynamomoters and chassis dynamometers.

Engine dynamometer: This type of dynamometer is attached directly to car engines. An engine dyno is used when the car engine is removed from the car in order to get an accurate reading. Car manufacturers use this type of dyno to test longevity and reliability of car engines. Such a dynamometer is the solution to eliminate problems like insufficient torque, low horsepower, leaks, low engine performances and faulty engine. However, engine dynamometers are quite expensive!

Chassis dynamometer: A chassis dynamometer measures horsepower while the engine is still in the car chassis. The dyno is used to run the wheel on rollers in order to get the horsepower reading. Many car consumers use such a dyno, however it is found that a chassis dyno does not give accurate reading! Since it measures horsepower through the wheel, the reading is somehow affected by the transmission, as well as the tires and driveline. A chassis dynamometer can be used to identify various problems, like engine overheating, low horsepower and speedometer accuracy.

Other common dynamometers that are commonly used include towing dynamometer and water re-circulating system. The former is primarily used to transfer power from light cars to heavy vehicles with the help of a drive shaft. While, water re-circulating system is basically used in combination with either engine dyno or chassis dyno to get the accurate reading.

Today, dynamometers are a very popular machine in the automotive industry. They are instrumental in developing and refining modern and innovative engines, as well as advanced technology used in the engines. Dynamometers play a significant role in improving the performance of the engine and the overall car.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 at 10:51 am and is filed under Maintenance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.