How Much Power Does a Car Engine Lose at Altitude?
Introduction
As you climb in altitude, the air becomes thinner and less dense. This means that there is less oxygen available for the engine to burn, which can lead to a loss of power.
The amount of power that an engine loses at altitude depends on a number of factors, including:
- The type of engine (gasoline, diesel, etc.)
- The size of the engine
- The altitude
How Much Power Does a Gasoline Engine Lose at Altitude?
Gasoline engines lose power at altitude because they rely on oxygen to burn fuel. As the air becomes thinner, there is less oxygen available for the engine to burn, which can lead to a loss of power.
The amount of power that a gasoline engine loses at altitude depends on the altitude. At sea level, a gasoline engine will produce its maximum power. However, as the altitude increases, the engine will lose power.
The following table shows the percentage of power that a gasoline engine will lose at different altitudes:
| Altitude | Power Loss |
|—|—|
| 5,000 feet | 5% |
| 10,000 feet | 10% |
| 15,000 feet | 15% |
How Much Power Does a Diesel Engine Lose at Altitude?
Diesel engines lose less power at altitude than gasoline engines. This is because diesel engines do not rely on oxygen to burn fuel. Instead, diesel engines rely on compression to ignite the fuel.
As the air becomes thinner, the compression ratio in a diesel engine increases. This increase in compression ratio helps to offset the loss of oxygen, which means that diesel engines lose less power at altitude than gasoline engines.
The following table shows the percentage of power that a diesel engine will lose at different altitudes:
| Altitude | Power Loss |
|—|—|
| 5,000 feet | 2% |
| 10,000 feet | 4% |
| 15,000 feet | 6% |
How Can You Reduce the Power Loss at Altitude?
There are a few things that you can do to reduce the power loss at altitude:
- Use a turbocharger or supercharger. A turbocharger or supercharger can help to increase the air pressure in the engine, which can help to offset the loss of oxygen at altitude.
- Increase the compression ratio. Increasing the compression ratio can help to offset the loss of oxygen at altitude.
- Use a fuel with a higher octane rating. A fuel with a higher octane rating will burn more slowly, which can help to reduce the power loss at altitude.
Conclusion
The amount of power that an engine loses at altitude depends on a number of factors, including the type of engine, the size of the engine, and the altitude. Gasoline engines lose more power at altitude than diesel engines. There are a few things that you can do to reduce the power loss at altitude, such as using a turbocharger or supercharger, increasing the compression ratio, and using a fuel with a higher octane rating.
