Why do engines have torque and horsepower curves?

Question

I don’t understand how there could be a difference in power and torque if you are burning the max amount of fuel possible 100 percent of the time.

In: 0

Answer 1

A internal combustion engine, can not go from stand still to max RPM. So during the time it takes for the engine to spin faster and faster it creates more and more power(typically). The engine has to overcome its own momentum not to mention the momentum of the vehicle it’s attached to.