BSFC (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption
Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) measures an internal combustion engine's fuel efficiency—specifically, how much fuel the engine consumes per unit of power produced per hour.
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📐 Formula
💡 Practical Example
400 HP gasoline engine consuming 200 lbs/hr of fuel: BSFC = 200 / 400 = 0.500 lb/hp·hr. Fuel Flow = 200 / 6.0 = 33.3 GPH. Thermal Efficiency = 14.12 / 0.50 = 28.24%.
📖 About BSFC (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption
Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) measures an internal combustion engine's fuel efficiency—specifically, how much fuel the engine consumes per unit of power produced per hour. Lower BSFC values indicate higher engine efficiency.
To use the BSFC (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption) Calculator, enter your Engine Power Output, Fuel Flow Rate, Fuel Type & Density. The calculator instantly computes BSFC, BSFC Metric and more. Results update in real time as you change any input — no submit button needed.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your Engine Power Output (e.g. 400 in HP), Fuel Flow Rate (e.g. 200 in lbs/hr), and Fuel Type & Density — choose from Gasoline (6.0 lbs/gal), Diesel (7.1 lbs/gal), E85 Ethanol (6.5 lbs/gal). Results update instantly as you type — adjust any value to compare scenarios.
The Formula
BSFC (lb/hp·hr) = Fuel Flow Rate (lbs/hr) ÷ Engine Horsepower (HP)
BSFC (g/kW·h) = BSFC (lb/hp·hr) × 608.277
Thermal Efficiency % ≈ 14.12 ÷ BSFC (lb/hp·hr)
Worked Example
400 HP gasoline engine consuming 200 lbs/hr of fuel:
BSFC = 200 / 400 = 0.500 lb/hp·hr.
Fuel Flow = 200 / 6.0 = 33.3 GPH. Thermal Efficiency = 14.12 / 0.50 = 28.24%.
Understanding Your Result
Evaluate your result in the context of your specific use case and relevant industry standards or reference values. A single calculated result is a starting point — test two to three scenarios to understand how sensitive the outcome is to your key input assumptions. For high-stakes decisions, verify your result against a secondary source or subject-matter expert before acting.
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