Power Loss at Altitude

Estimate how much power a naturally aspirated engine loses in thin or hot air.

How it works

1

Enter rated power

The engine power at sea level and standard conditions.

2

Add conditions

Altitude in metres and air temperature in Celsius.

3

See the loss

Naturally aspirated power tracks air density, which falls with altitude and heat.

Frequently asked questions

How much power do you lose at altitude?

A naturally aspirated engine loses roughly 3% of power per 300 m of altitude, because the air is thinner. Heat adds to the loss. The calculator works it out from the actual air density change versus sea level.

Do turbo engines lose power at altitude?

Far less. A turbo can raise boost to compensate for thinner air up to its limit, so forced-induction engines hold power much better at altitude than naturally aspirated ones.

Does a remap recover altitude loss?

On a naturally aspirated engine it cannot create air that is not there, but it can optimise fuelling and timing for the conditions. On a turbo engine, tuning can restore or increase boost within safe limits.

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