What is a torque?

What is "torque" found in motorcar specifications? Eg: max torque (Nm) 166 at 4,000rpm?

• Which reading is better? high torque low rpm or low torque high rpm?

• Answer:

  Torque is the amount of twisting force the engine applies to the drive train. As the engine rpms build, torque reaches a point (a specific rpm) where friction and pumping losses just begin to reduce the engine's ability to produce more torque. This is the point of maximum torque, which is stated at the specific rpm it occurs. As Mullet said, torque is engineered depending on the job the engine is supposed to do. Diesel engines are specifically designed to have maximum torque at low rpm. This is one reason why diesel engines are used for commercial purposes more often than gasoline engines.