G-Tech Pro Competition User Manual - 160

160

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.