Elevation drop, power gain
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 439
From: Albuquerque NM
Elevation drop, power gain
Hey all,
I am visiting my folks in Texas for Christmas, and I swear my 1989 is making a fair bit more power than it does up at 5000ft in Albuquerque NM.
My car made 225 rwhp on a dyno in Albuquerque before I straight piped it with long tube headers, so I am estimating it is currently making around 250 rwhp at elevation.
I read that each 1000 feet of elevation corresponds to around 3% power lost/gained, so perhaps I am now somewhere around 270rwhp here at sea level?
the car is pulling harder, and I can break traction in ways that I could not up in Albuquerque
What do yall think
I am visiting my folks in Texas for Christmas, and I swear my 1989 is making a fair bit more power than it does up at 5000ft in Albuquerque NM.
My car made 225 rwhp on a dyno in Albuquerque before I straight piped it with long tube headers, so I am estimating it is currently making around 250 rwhp at elevation.
I read that each 1000 feet of elevation corresponds to around 3% power lost/gained, so perhaps I am now somewhere around 270rwhp here at sea level?
the car is pulling harder, and I can break traction in ways that I could not up in Albuquerque
What do yall think
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 385
From: Lakeville MI
Check the barometric pressure for each location on your phone. I see 30.18 inHg now in Albuquerque. Looks to be pretty high for the elevation.
30.23 inHg right now in my location at 900 ft elevation.
30.23 inHg right now in my location at 900 ft elevation.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,479
Likes: 861
From: Saratoga Springs NY
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Hey all,
I am visiting my folks in Texas for Christmas, and I swear my 1989 is making a fair bit more power than it does up at 5000ft in Albuquerque NM.
My car made 225 rwhp on a dyno in Albuquerque before I straight piped it with long tube headers, so I am estimating it is currently making around 250 rwhp at elevation.
I read that each 1000 feet of elevation corresponds to around 3% power lost/gained, so perhaps I am now somewhere around 270rwhp here at sea level?
the car is pulling harder, and I can break traction in ways that I could not up in Albuquerque
What do yall think
I am visiting my folks in Texas for Christmas, and I swear my 1989 is making a fair bit more power than it does up at 5000ft in Albuquerque NM.
My car made 225 rwhp on a dyno in Albuquerque before I straight piped it with long tube headers, so I am estimating it is currently making around 250 rwhp at elevation.
I read that each 1000 feet of elevation corresponds to around 3% power lost/gained, so perhaps I am now somewhere around 270rwhp here at sea level?
the car is pulling harder, and I can break traction in ways that I could not up in Albuquerque
What do yall think
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 400
From: DFW TX
We had some -2500 to -3000 DA conditions here in DFW over the past week. There is no doubt that you are making more power in these conditions vs being at 5000 ft in NM.
Current DA conditions in ABQ = 5105.10 ft
Current DA conditions in DFW = -1396.45 ft
Current DA conditions in ABQ = 5105.10 ft
Current DA conditions in DFW = -1396.45 ft
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 385
From: Lakeville MI
https://airdensityonline.com/track-f...erque_Dragway/
Sorry, looks like the phone baro values are corrected and useless for this purpose. Should be around 25 inHg.
Sorry, looks like the phone baro values are corrected and useless for this purpose. Should be around 25 inHg.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 383
Likes: 144
From: Langton, Ontario, Canada
2025 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
It's easier to think of if you consider this: A one square in column of air (atmosphere air pressure) normally weights 14.7 pounds at sea level. When you are 5000 feet above sea level, that column of air weighs about half as much. It's the added air pressure that gives you the little boost of power you are feeling, almost like a NOx system does.. If you can tune your engine to react to this, you'll find some favorable results!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,374
Likes: 385
From: Lakeville MI
Ugh! Atmospheric pressure at 5,000 feet is nominally about 12.2 psi. This is a far cry from about half as much.
For reference: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/a...ure-d_462.html
For reference: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/a...ure-d_462.html
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,214
From: Park City Utah
Hey all,
I am visiting my folks in Texas for Christmas, and I swear my 1989 is making a fair bit more power than it does up at 5000ft in Albuquerque NM.
My car made 225 rwhp on a dyno in Albuquerque before I straight piped it with long tube headers, so I am estimating it is currently making around 250 rwhp at elevation.
I read that each 1000 feet of elevation corresponds to around 3% power lost/gained, so perhaps I am now somewhere around 270rwhp here at sea level?
the car is pulling harder, and I can break traction in ways that I could not up in Albuquerque
What do yall think
I am visiting my folks in Texas for Christmas, and I swear my 1989 is making a fair bit more power than it does up at 5000ft in Albuquerque NM.
My car made 225 rwhp on a dyno in Albuquerque before I straight piped it with long tube headers, so I am estimating it is currently making around 250 rwhp at elevation.
I read that each 1000 feet of elevation corresponds to around 3% power lost/gained, so perhaps I am now somewhere around 270rwhp here at sea level?
the car is pulling harder, and I can break traction in ways that I could not up in Albuquerque
What do yall think
Your car IS pulling harder down in Texass, because now, it's making much closer to the 225 RWHP that your pull reported, when corrected up in NM. Which in comparison, probably feels pretty awesome!
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,921
Likes: 439
From: Albuquerque NM
Right on, so sounds like I ought indeed perceive somewhere around 10-20% more power?
I honestly don't appreciate that. I know a lot of professional physicists with dissertations and publications in various subfields, myself included, that through no fault of their own are ignorant of many things automotive related or outside their area of expertise.
I honestly don't appreciate that. I know a lot of professional physicists with dissertations and publications in various subfields, myself included, that through no fault of their own are ignorant of many things automotive related or outside their area of expertise.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,214
From: Park City Utah
Well? You threw it out there like the slam-dunk trump card. I guess I didn't appreciate it. I'd think any physicist could figure this out very easily.
If course, when you take away percentages, the % value is smaller than when you add it back, since the same number is coming from a larger value. Starting with a 245hp engine that lives at 5000' elevation: 3% * 5k' = 15% (loss). 245hp*.85= 208net chp, in NM.
Going back, (or going DOWN to Texass) it's going to take 17% to get back since your adding the same number to a smaller value; 208hp * 1.17 = 243.36 Net chp.
You should perceive ~17% more power and tq. which is awesome and fun!
I live at 7k feet and when I take my cars to low elevation....HOT diggity DOG!!
If course, when you take away percentages, the % value is smaller than when you add it back, since the same number is coming from a larger value. Starting with a 245hp engine that lives at 5000' elevation: 3% * 5k' = 15% (loss). 245hp*.85= 208net chp, in NM.
Going back, (or going DOWN to Texass) it's going to take 17% to get back since your adding the same number to a smaller value; 208hp * 1.17 = 243.36 Net chp.
You should perceive ~17% more power and tq. which is awesome and fun!
I live at 7k feet and when I take my cars to low elevation....HOT diggity DOG!!