Katerina Swanson
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest-accelerating racing cars in the world, reaching speeds of up to 341.68 mph. The engines in these cars are incredibly powerful, producing up to 11,000 horsepower, or 1,375 horsepower per cylinder! To put that into perspective, one cylinder of a Top Fuel dragster produces over 750 hp, which is the same as the entire horsepower output of XS Engineering's Time Attack GT-R. So how much pressure is in a Top Fuel dragster cylinder? Sources suggest that these cylinders can withstand cylinder pressures of up to 6,000 psi, an incredible amount that allows these cars to perform at such a high level.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cylinder Pressure | 6,000 psi |
| Horsepower | 11,000 hp |
| Horsepower per cylinder | 1,375 hp |
| Fuel consumed per run | 12-22.75 gallons |
| Fuel pressure | 400-500 psi |
| Fuel flow rate | 90 gpm |
| Compression ratio | 6.5:1 |
What You'll Learn
Top Fuel dragster engines produce over 7,000 hp
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest-accelerating racing cars in the world, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 341.68 miles per hour (549.9 km/h) and finishing 1,000-foot runs in 3.61 seconds. The engines of these dragsters are based on a second-generation Chrysler RB Hemi but are built exclusively from specialised parts.
The nitromethane-fuelled engines of a Top Fuel dragster produce over 7,000 hp, or about the equivalent of seven of Titan Motorsports' Supras. Each of the eight cylinders of a Top Fuel dragster produces over 750 hp, equalling the entire horsepower output of XS Engineering's Time Attack GT-R. A Top Fuel dragster leaves the starting line with a force nearly seven times that of gravity and can sometimes exceed 280 mph in just 660 feet.
The exact horsepower of a Top Fuel dragster is hard to measure because there isn't a dyno that can contain its power. However, it is estimated that these engines produce somewhere between 8,500 and 10,000 hp, with a torque output of approximately 7,400 pound-force-feet and a brake mean effective pressure of 1,160–1,450 psi. In late 2015, tests using sensors developed by AVL Racing showed peak power outputs of over 11,000 hp.
Top Fuel dragsters consume as much as 20 gallons of fuel during a quarter-mile run. The fuel pump for a Top Fuel dragster delivers around 65 gallons of fuel per minute, equivalent to about 10 big Walbro fuel pumps running simultaneously. The maximum fuel pressure for a Top Fuel dragster is between 400 and 500 psi, about 10 times greater than the pressure of a modified turbo car.
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Top Fuel dragsters can go from 0-100 mph in under 0.8 seconds
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest-accelerating racing cars in the world. They can accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in less than 0.8 seconds, which is less than a third of the time required by a Porsche 911 Turbo to reach 60 mph. This incredible acceleration is due to the use of nitromethane, a highly explosive fuel that gives these cars 8,000 horsepower, or 1,000 hp per cylinder.
The engine of a Top Fuel dragster generates around 150 dB of sound at full throttle, which is enough to cause physical pain or even permanent damage. Before a race, spectators are usually advised to cover or plug their ears, and ear protection is often provided.
The speed of these cars is also remarkable. They can reach speeds of over 300 mph in less than 4 seconds and have recorded top speeds of 341.68 mph. To put this into perspective, a Top Fuel dragster with a mile-long head start would still beat a super car with a top speed of 200 mph in a quarter-mile drag race.
The performance of Top Fuel dragsters is made possible by the use of nitromethane fuel, which has a high latent heat of vaporization. This means that it absorbs a significant amount of engine heat as it vaporizes, providing an essential cooling mechanism. Additionally, nitromethane already has oxygen in its molecular composition, allowing for a higher fuel-to-air ratio and resulting in up to 2.4 times more power than an engine burning gasoline.
The extreme power and speed of Top Fuel dragsters come at a cost. The engine must be disassembled and examined after each race, and worn or damaged components are replaced. The cost of each run is estimated to be $1,000 per second. Despite the expense, Top Fuel drag racing continues to thrill spectators with its speed, power, and engineering marvels.
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Top Fuel dragsters use nitromethane fuel
Nitromethane is mixed with methanol to make it more stable. The mixture is 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol, according to NHRA rules. The methanol helps to suppress detonation. The fuel mixture is tricky to blend because it's mixed by weight, which depends on its temperature. The fuels themselves can also vary in purity by a few percentage points.
Top Fuel engines are custom-built 500-cubic-inch engines that produce 8,000-11,000 horsepower. They are so powerful that a dynamometer, the machine used to evaluate a car's horsepower and torque, can't handle the extreme torque of a Top Fuel car.
Top Fuel dragsters are some of the fastest vehicles in the world. They can go from 0 to 100 miles per hour in less than a second and reach speeds of over 300 miles per hour. The acceleration of a Top Fuel car is so intense that drivers experience G-forces similar to astronauts during a space shuttle launch.
The use of nitromethane fuel in Top Fuel dragsters is a key factor in their extreme speed and performance.
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Top Fuel dragster engines have eight cylinders
Each of the eight cylinders in a Top Fuel dragster produces over 750 hp, equaling the entire horsepower output of XS Engineering's Time Attack GT-R. The engine used to power a Top Fuel drag racing car is based on a second-generation Chrysler RB Hemi but is built exclusively of specialized parts. The block is machined from a piece of forged aluminum, and there are no water passages in the block, which adds considerable strength and stiffness. The engine is cooled by the incoming air/fuel mixture and the lubricating oil.
The cylinder heads are machined from aluminum billets and, like the block, lack water jackets. They rely entirely on the incoming air/fuel mixture and lubricating oil for cooling. The original Chrysler design of two large valves per cylinder is used, with the intake valve made from solid titanium and the exhaust from solid Nimonic 80A or a similar material. The cylinder liners are press-fitted, ductile iron, and the pistons are made of forged aluminum.
The supercharger is a Roots-style 14-71 type Roots blower, driven by a toothed belt and delivering up to 74 pounds per square inch of manifold pressure. The maximum fuel pressure for a Top Fuel dragster is between 400 and 500 psi, about ten times greater than the pressure on a modified turbo car. The fuel pump for a Top Fuel dragster delivers around 65 gallons of fuel per minute, equivalent to around ten big Walbro fuel pumps running simultaneously.
The oil system has a wet sump containing 16 US quarts of SAE 70 mineral or synthetic racing oil. Oil pump pressure is around 160-170 psi during a run and 200 psi at startup. The air/fuel mixture is ignited by two spark plugs per cylinder, fired by two 44-ampere magnetos. Normal ignition timing is between 58 and 65 degrees BTDC, and the ignition system limits the engine speed to 8400 rpm.
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Top Fuel dragster engines are based on the Chrysler Hemi engine
Top Fuel dragsters are the quickest-accelerating racing cars in the world, with the fastest competitors reaching speeds of 341.68 mph and finishing 1,000-foot runs in 3.61 seconds. The engine of a Top Fuel dragster is based on a second-generation Chrysler RB Hemi, built exclusively from specialised parts. The engine retains the basic configuration of the Chrysler Hemi, with two valves per cylinder activated by pushrods from a centrally placed camshaft.
The block is machined from a piece of forged aluminium, with press-fitted ductile iron cylinder liners. There are no water passages in the block, which adds strength and stiffness. The engine is cooled by the incoming air/fuel mixture and the lubricating oil. The engine has a deep skirt for strength, with five main bearing caps. There are three approved suppliers of these custom blocks: Keith Black, Brad Anderson, and Alan Johnson.
The cylinder heads are also machined from aluminium billets and lack water jackets, relying on the incoming air/fuel mixture and lubricating oil for cooling. The original Chrysler design of two large valves per cylinder is used, with the intake valve made from solid titanium and the exhaust from solid Nimonic 80A or similar. Seats are made from ductile iron. Valve sizes are around 2.45 inches for the intake and 1.925 inches for the exhaust. The heads are secured to the block with aircraft-rated steel studs and stud nuts.
The camshaft is billet steel, running in five oil pressure-lubricated bearing shells. Mechanical roller lifters ride atop the cam lobes and drive the steel pushrods up into the steel rocker arms that actuate the valves. The rockers are of the roller tip type, with the steel tip roller rotating on a steel roller bearing. The dual valve springs are made of coaxial titanium, with titanium valve retainers and rocker covers.
The crankshafts are billet steel, with a cross-plane or 90-degree configuration, and run in five conventional bearing shells. A 180-degree crankshaft has been tried, but while it can offer increased power, it also creates a lot of vibration. The pistons are made of forged aluminium, with three rings and aluminium buttons retaining the steel wrist pin. The piston is anodised and Teflon-coated to prevent galling during high thrust load operation.
The connecting rods are forged aluminium, providing some shock damping. Each connecting rod has two bolts, with shell bearings for the big end, while the pin runs directly into the rod. The supercharger is a 14-71 type Roots blower with twisted lobes, driven by a toothed belt. It is slightly offset to the rear to ensure an even distribution of air.
The engine used in Top Fuel drag racing cars is based on the second-generation Chrysler Hemi 426 "Elephant Engine", made from 1964-1971. While the Top Fuel engine is built from specialised parts, it retains the basic configuration of the Chrysler Hemi, with two valves per cylinder and a centrally placed camshaft. The configuration is identical to the overhead valve, single camshaft-in-block "Hemi" V-8 engine available in selected Chrysler Corporation products from 1951.
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Frequently asked questions
A top fuel dragster cylinder can contain up to 6,000 psi of pressure.
This high pressure is a result of the high-performance fuel, nitromethane, and the engine's ability to burn a large volume of it. The compression ratio is about 6.5:1, and the engine can produce up to 11,000 horsepower.
The cylinder pressure in a top fuel dragster is significantly higher than in a typical street car. The horsepower output of one cylinder in a top fuel dragster is equivalent to the entire output of a high-performance street car.
The high cylinder pressure places immense stress on the engine components. Many parts are only good for one to five runs before they need to be replaced or reconditioned. The engine must be meticulously maintained and inspected after each run to ensure optimal performance and prevent failures.
