Does a car engine lose horsepower over time, and why?

Question

..more specifically what parts of the engine wear, and how does this actually impact on BHP output?

Answer 1

Internal parts in an engine are constantly moving and wearing against each other, no matter how good of oil you are using, as they wear they are losing material at a microscopic level and over time you lose compression and thus horsepower. Some vehicles just have tighter tolerances when they're manufactured and that's why they're known to last longer

Answer 2

The pistons travel many miles up and down this action causes the cylinder walls wear from heat and pressure. Old fashioned engines had carburetor choke flaps to close off air for rich start up mixture That flooding of fuel started the car but also washed the oil film off of the Cly walls. Fuel Injection is much better about fuel mixture control so engines last much longer. Intake exhaust valve faces and seats wear over time valve guides wear. Any of the above compression loss will lessen the horsepower. Now a big cause of power loss is camshaft wear and wear in the rocker arms most the time not detectable unless you take the engine apart Hydraulic Valve Play Adjusters (sometimes called lifters, cam followers and tappets) keep the valve lash low so you cannot hear any problem happening. Hope this helps explain why old motors loose power

Answer 3

Yes they do. Why because as the piston travels up and down the cylinder thousands of times in one second the heat from the combustion will cause the aluminum to warp witch is known as out of round and as the cylinder continues to become more out of round the the combustion gases leak past the piston rings and not enough pressure is applied to the top of the piston. Also as time goes on the parts start wear out and parts become lose on there mounts. Plus crank shafts and connecting rods don't always stay the way they were built as well. they get the same way they become out of round as well and before you know it the whole engine will die with out the proper maintaince that the engine does really need that the public really doesn't now about.

Answer 4

Every moving part of a car engine begins to wear from the first time it is driven. There are so many moving parts that are metal to metal ,which causes the wear and tear. Big end bearings, piston bores, piston rings, camshafts, valves etc. the list is endless. The way to delay this wear is to always use a good quality engine oil of the right grade and change the oil and filter at the recommended mileage.When you drive a car, the engine oil can reach boiling point almost, and at this temperature, the oil begins to thin ( lose its viscosity), so you ned a good oil which can lubricate effficiently at this temperature which can retain a good viscosity.

Answer 5

BHP is simply like a marathon runner,it reaches its best and slowly comes to rest. One day 4 minute, mile, next 5 minute mile. Its just a number usually left for top gear to drool over?You know, the kind of thing we can,t afford to insure let alone buy Be lucky

Answer 6

generaly speaking from moment of assembely to catastrophic failure at end of life [at rated load] the peak horsepower will change very little. the differences between manufacturing and running clearances account for this [when broken in] and at the end of life with a loss cylinder sealing capabilities of rings and valves and of carbon build up.
all this can be plotted on a bell curve and you will see expected wear at specific points along the curve [note; rarely will you ever encounter an engine whose rated load was never exceeded or never over revved or overheated let alone properly serviced or stored] with time and zero use an engine will still detiorate[albeit at a much slower rate] due to acidic build up from condensation and corrosion of interior surfaces [unless properly stored]
then you have the whole fuel management thing , coupled with a wide variation in start up and running temps resulting in a constant battle between too rich and too lean. things have improved dramaticly over the years with electronic fuel injection. however, injectors leak or clog vacume leaks devolop and various sensors detiorate with time , use, fuel quality. the next big improvement will be in tempature control [several manufactures have gone to electricaly heated thermostats] and on demand electric "coolant" pumps are coming soon . hope these random thoughts help

Answer 7

YES IT LOSES BHP WHEN EVER YOU USE IT,DUE TO FRICTION,IT WARES AWAY THE METAL PISTON RINGS AND THE CYLINDER BORES AND ALSO AROUND THE VALVE SEATS AND THE VALVES THEM SELF'S, NEXT TIME YOU DO AN OIL CHANGE TAKE A LOOK AT THE SUMP PLUG BEFORE WIPING IT YOU WILL SEE METAL FILINGS FROM THE ENGINE ON THE MAGNETIC SUMP PLUG!!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK

Answer 8

Just like people, parts wear out. Remember the transmission gets old at the same time, enhancing the loss of get-up-and-go.

Answer 9

in the short yes,100000 miles up wards is usually about the average,most cars take about 20000/30000 miles to bed in that is why a run in car is that is gently and not revved the balls of gives better fuel and smoothness over the the life time of the engine.

Answer 10

3.8L V6 motor? i could seem into the gas pump thats on the main suitable facet of the motor. you will see if gas is leaking accessible's a weep hollow on the mechanical gas pump if so it needs changing asap. ought to truly have a carb project. I had to change the carb on my 80 3 GT 302 V8 stang. what sort of project are the spark plugs. The scent like gas or lined with black oil? i could get the timing adjusted additionally compression try performed on the motor. reliable success.