I'm so confused

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
09/09/2014 at 15:29 • Filed to: None

I can't find a consistent rating for the hp of my car. Edmunds & the like say 310hp, but the research I'm doing on the specific engine (which doesn't even exist in some places?) says either 305 or 330. And no, it's not gross vs net or hp vs bhp or any of that silliness. Can anyone help me? It's not actually "important", but it's driving me nuts! I can't even figure out for sure which cars had the 5 valves per cylinder on the V8. Some sights say post-2000, some say post-2002, and some say only the S8 ever had it. This, combine with the fact that I thought I bought a 2000 A8 and it turned out to be a 2001 means I am very confused.

DISCUSSION (19)

Jcarr > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:32

Are you able to get a build sheet from Audi?

Or have you tried a VIN decoder like this one ?

GhostZ > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:32

I wonder if this was from audi underrating their engines, or overrating them in an effort to keep up with the others in the start of the speed wars, causing them to report several HP numbers.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jcarr
09/09/2014 at 15:34

N decoder might work, once I get to my car and get the VIN.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > GhostZ
09/09/2014 at 15:35

I haven't the foggiest. But both the BMW and the Mercedes of the time were less powerful than any of the 3 numbers, so that second one doesn't make sense.

KnowsAboutCars > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:36

Carfolio says 310 PS / 306 bhp / 228 kW. It's usually reliable source of information.

AspenRS > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:38

Wikipedia says from 1999-2002 the 4.2L S8 produced 265kw . Some calculator online tells me that's 360hp. In late 1999, they converted from 4 valves per cylinder to 5. If your car is indeed a 2001, then you have 5 valves per cylinder.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AspenRS
09/09/2014 at 15:39

I don't have an S8. I have an A8. Sorry I should've been more clear.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:40

This is what I've found for the A8L

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 40-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, Bosch Motronic ME 7.0 engine-control system with port fuel injection

Displacement: 255 cu in, 4172cc

Power (SAE net): 310 bhp @ 6200 rpm

Torque (SAE net): 302 lb-ft @ 3000 rpm

Taken from a Car and Driver review. Same as what Edmunds says.

I'd go with these specs.

jkm7680 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:41

Berry strange, I'm not sure how to explain that exactly. My A4 consistently makes 172 HP, even though I wish it made double that.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/09/2014 at 15:41

That's what I originally thought. I just wish I could get more consistency.

AspenRS > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:42

Oh, well then you have 221kw, or 296 hp.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:43

The engine itself might make different amounts of power in different cars. That might be why the numbers you're getting just for the engine itself might be skewed.

GM's 3.6L V6 does the same thing.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:48

Trick question. It's determined by which electronic component failed this week.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > AspenRS
09/09/2014 at 15:48

That's what wikipedia says, but it's for the 32 valve model.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
09/09/2014 at 15:49

Good point. I'll just stick with 310 and not get greedy.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
09/09/2014 at 15:50

Hardy-har-har.

So far, I've only had to replace an $80 ignition coil

AspenRS > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:50

If it's a 2001, it had 5 valves for cylinder.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
09/09/2014 at 15:57

As a more serious response, could the alternate numbers be citing different markets? I don't know if this is still the case, but years ago different markets had different power outputs due to the differences between emissions requirements from country to country.

Boxer_4 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
09/09/2014 at 16:27

Also fuel quality and available fuel grades.