Drivetrain Loss Calculator

This calculator estimates the power lost in your vehicle's drivetrain system by comparing engine output to wheel output.

Input Parameters

Calculation Results

Drivetrain Loss Calculation

Enter the input parameters and click "Calculate" to see results.

Calculation Formula

Drivetrain Loss (%) = 100 × (Engine Power - Wheel Power) / Engine Power

Where:
Engine Power = Engine output power in horsepower
Wheel Power = Calculated wheel power in horsepower
Wheel Power = Wheel Torque (Nm) × (2 × π × Wheel Speed (rpm) / 60) / 745.7

Drivetrain Loss Calculator Usage Guide

Learn how to use the Drivetrain Loss Calculator and understand the power loss in your vehicle's drivetrain system.

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter your vehicle's engine power in horsepower (HP)
  2. Enter the measured wheel torque in Newton-meters (Nm)
  3. Enter the wheel radius in meters
  4. Click the "Calculate" button to see the drivetrain loss percentage

Understanding Drivetrain Loss

Drivetrain loss refers to the power lost between the engine and the wheels due to various factors such as:

  • Drivetrain components (gearboxes, differentials, driveshafts)
  • Friction in the transmission system
  • Heat losses
  • Chassis flex and movement

A typical drivetrain loss in modern vehicles ranges from 5% to 15%. Higher performance vehicles with advanced transmission systems may have lower losses (3-7%), while older or more robust vehicles might have higher losses (10-20%).

Example Calculation

For example, if a vehicle has an engine producing 300 horsepower, and the wheel power measured is 270 horsepower, the drivetrain loss would be:

Drivetrain Loss = 100 × (300 - 270) / 300 = 10%

This means that 10% of the engine's power is lost in the drivetrain system, with only 90% reaching the wheels.