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G-TECH / Pro Competition User Guide, Release 3.1
What does my vehicle weigh?
It is extremely important that the G-tech have an accurate
value of your vehicle weight in order to calculate useful
horsepower measurements.
In this manual, the term “vehicle weight” refers to all the weight
that is supported by the vehicle’s tires (including the tires them-
selves)
. So this includes the driver’s body weight, fuel weight,
tools, fast food wrappers, etc.
If you are fortunate enough to have access to an accurate
vehicle scale, go ahead and weigh the vehicle as it would be
equipped at the track (i.e., with you in it, the correct amount
and type of fuel in the tank, etc.)
Some tracks even have scales available for weighing your
vehicle. Also, some towns have dumps or refuse collection
areas with large scales that you may be able to use. Moving
companies may have vehicle scales as well.
If you cannot weigh your vehicle directly, you can estimate it.
Use the manufacturer’s data to obtain vehicle weight (check
the Owner’s Manual or perhaps the Internet). Then adjust
the weight based on the difference between your car as it
was stock, and as it is now (Have you added a heavier stereo?
Have you removed the spare tire?). Don’t forget to include
your own body weight and the fuel as well.
You do NOT want to use the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
value that is provided in the vehicle door jamb as
the actual vehicle weight.
GVWR
is the fully-loaded vehicle weight with passengers.
GVWR
is always higher than the actual (empty) vehicle
weight.
If you enter
GVWR
instead of actual vehicle weight, your
horsepower numbers will be artificially inflated.
There is a very rough rule of thumb that you can use to esti-
mate your vehicle weight from the
GVWR
, but you should
not rely on this being too accurate.
Again, this is a very ROUGH rule of thumb... each manufac-
turer calculates
GVWR
in its own way...
The rule of thumb is to take the passenger capacity of the
vehicle (e.g., 5 for a mid-sized sedan) and subtract from the
GVWR
180lbs for each missing person.
Summary of Contents for Pro Competition
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