Does anyone use the Torque app for Android?

[USSEnterprise]

I recently picked up a bluetooth OBD2 scanner, which transmits all data to my smartphone, to be interpreted by an called Torque. The program lets me see fault codes, readiness and drive cycle indicators, as well as lots of info on how the car is running. Once thing it can also do is give you the horsepower and torque ratings of the car when you are driving. It uses the displacement of the engine, the weight of the vehicle, the speed and the g force.

Has anyone used this before? Is there any way that the data its giving me for horsepower and such is accurate? All in all, it seems to be a nice tool for a grand total of $13

 

[hrt4me]

I bought a cheap OBD II reader/dongle and someone gave me their old Samsung Galaxy for the sole purpose of using the Torque app via Android

I also use the DashCommand and OBDlink apps as well...

 

[KidVermicious]

I use it for checking codes and such. I have Torque Lite, so I don't think I get to play with the horsepower readout like you are.

 

[NateMob]

there is a huge multipage thread here somewhere, just have to search...

 

[Jailguard]

I have the app for working on my other cars. The HP read out seems like it is an at the engine not at the wheel reading. It has helped with trouble codes on the family cars. Nice thing about it is on my tablet I can look up the codes right from the app.

 

[gshadow325]

use it all the time BUT warning for you. i killed two of these elm327 bluetooth dongles by leaving them plugged in. they just die after a while

 

[T4R2014]

I've been using it for more than a year. Great app. If you can, get the BAFX dongle from Amazon.

 

[NateMob]

I have the app for working on my other cars. The HP read out seems like it is an at the engine not at the wheel reading. It has helped with trouble codes on the family cars. Nice thing about it is on my tablet I can look up the codes right from the app.

No doubt it's at the engine, no possible way it could calculate parasitic loss from the drivetrain.

 

[nevada]

No doubt it's at the engine, no possible way it could calculate parasitic loss from the drivetrain.

doesn't it us an accelerometer to get that data? wouldn't that be whats actually hitting the ground, and propelling the vehicle?

 

[BillBoost37]

It's calculated and expect a certain amount of error etc. Fun to play with..but I wouldn't bet any money on it's accuracy.

 

[NateMob]

doesn't it us an accelerometer to get that data? wouldn't that be whats actually hitting the ground, and propelling the vehicle?

But a true reading through a dynometer measures WHP (wheel horsepower) by the force exhibited on the rollers after the power made by the engine has traveled through the drivetrain onto the rollers. And that energy is met by drag/load through the rollers to get a reading. No $10 diagnostic device can replicate that. Dyno Days wouldn't be so wildly popular when 3 runs go for around $100.

It's a fun tool, but not one i use to measure performance. Engine oil, coolant, Trans temps, TPS, it is using factory Toyota sensors to report, not an algorithm throwing out a ballpark figure.