Ford Says It Makes 500 hp, Four Different Dynos Give Four Different Results

[Junkyard Dog]

All on 91 octane. Hopefully this is not a repost.

https://www.carscoops.com/2026/04/mustang-dark-horse-dyno-test/#Echobox=1785737149

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[robvas]

same 91-octane fuel

It was never going to make 500hp

 

[ZXMustang]

Dynos should never be used for anything but to measure gains. Total output is too variable.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/steeda-claims-it-is-it-real-world.178220/

 

[LouG]

Dyno numbers, often right up there with "I'm from the Government, I'm here to help", "You may feel a little discomfort", and " I promise I won't............... mouth.

 

[D/\rK•650]

The motor I'd bet makes 500hp. It has to be in Fords performance engine cradle. Then absolutely it is 500hp motor. . All motors can vary alot based on lots of variables. Right?

 

[Neggytive]

Dyno's measure torque, the HP number is extrapolated, and different machines have different smoothing corrections added on.

They are a great tool to do timing as in add timing until the torque gains stop then back it off a degree or two, or looking at A/F ratios which is why it is said time for torque, jet for HP.

But for comparing different engines against each other it is a crap shoot

There have been guys on TV ( Engine Power, Engine Masters) who have built identical engines and run them as close to same conditions as possible ( oil temp, water temp, density altitude, etc etc etc) and never gotten the 2 engines to give the same data

If you get the same data,for one engine within the range of variance / tolerance of the machine you are doing good. When you can replicate the data it is considered valid

Getting 2 or more engines to come out the same on any given dyno is unlikely IMHO

 

[Junkyard Dog]

These are not engine dynos. It should not come as a surprise that the numbers came out all over the place.

 

[robvas]

They must not have anything to write about over there. Three of the four dynos were within 10hp, nothing wrong with that. That Mustang dyno needs fixed.

Superflow	420.8
Dynapack	430.9
Dynojet	425.7
Mustang	465

 

[135Hoser]

Stupid click bait headline with the actual truth half way through the article after a dozen ads, that dynos are only useful to measure a gain after modifications are made assuming you have a baseline.

 

[D-horse mike]

big difference from engine dyno and chassis dyno chassis will always be lower

 

[IceGamer]

Isn't it also that US companies like to advertise big numbers and therefore take the best possible scenario and also measure at the crank?
I hate this as it feels like some cheap marketing trick...

If advertised as a 500hp car it should perform as such but in reality it's a 425ish HP car and gets beaten by cars that are comparable on paper.

Companies should advertise numbers that are reproduceable on an average day.

 

[robvas]

Isn't it also that US companies like to advertise big numbers and therefore take the best possible scenario and also measure at the crank?
I hate this as it feels like some cheap marketing trick...

If advertised as a 500hp car it should perform as such but in reality it's a 425ish HP car and gets beaten by cars that are comparable on paper.

Companies should advertise numbers that are reproduceable on an average day.

Look up SAE J1349 or whatever number it is. They do rate the engine properly. It's not the 60's with net HP ratings.

 

[ChitownStang]

Isn't it also that US companies like to advertise big numbers and therefore take the best possible scenario and also measure at the crank?
I hate this as it feels like some cheap marketing trick...

If advertised as a 500hp car it should perform as such but in reality it's a 425ish HP car and gets beaten by cars that are comparable on paper.

Companies should advertise numbers that are reproduceable on an average day.

Doesn't BMW advertise Rear Wheel HP ? This is why they always dyno way higher

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Doesn't BMW advertise Rear Wheel HP ? This is why they always dyno way higher

Not really, but most believe that they underrate their horsepower figures. Whether that is true, I do not know, but nobody is going to sue BMW for fraud if they discover the car has more horsepower than advertised.

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