Performance Trends, Inc.
Producing Quality Computer Tools for Racers and Engine Builders since 1986
The table below shows a comparison of the major features between our 3 Engine Analyzer Engine Simulation programs.
| Feature | Engine Analyzer v3.4 (std) | Engine Analyzer Plus v3.4 | Engine Analyzer Pro v3.9 (std and Enterprise Edition) |
| Range of engines covered | 4 stroke (cycle) engines from 1 to 16 cylinders, bores from 1 to 10 inches, strokes from 1 to 10 inches. | 4 stroke (cycle) engines from 1 to 16 cylinders, bores from 1 to 10 inches, strokes from 1 to 10 inches. | 4 stroke (cycle) engines from 1 to 16 cylinders, bores from 1 to 10 inches, strokes from 1 to 10 inches. |
| RPM Range | RPM range from 500 to 30,000 RPM, at up to 10 user defined RPMs | RPM range from 500 to 30,000 RPM, at up to 20 user defined RPMs | RPM range from 500 to 30,000 RPM, at up to 20 user defined RPMs |
| Upgrade discounts | No, this is the starter program. | Yes, $100 discount if you own the Standard Engine Analyzer | Yes, $75 discount if you own the Standard Engine Analyzer, $140 discount if you own the Engine Analyzer Plus |
| How is Volumetric Efficiency calculated. (Predicting Volumetric Efficiency at each RPM from from engine specs is the most critical part of any engine simulation program.) | Using very fast, efficient Performance Trends algorithms, using an iterative process. 'Wave' tuning in the intake and exhaust tracts are one of the more critical algorithms. Answers are typically obtained in less than 1 second. We use results from the Pro version to create faster, but less detailed algorithms for this version. | Using very fast, efficient Performance Trends algorithms, using an iterative process. 'Wave' tuning in the intake and exhaust tracts are one of the more critical algorithms. Answers are typically obtained in less than 1 second. We use results from the Pro version to create faster, but less detailed algorithms for this version. | Using very precise (but more time consuming) Performance Trends algorithms, using an iterative process. The valve openings and flow, heat transfer, cylinder position, cylinder pressure, instantaneous torque, piston thrust, etc are calculated in predetermined time steps (approx 0.1 degree of rotation) and added up for the total 720 degrees of the cycle. Successive cycles are run until a consistent result is obtained. 'Wave' tuning in the intake and exhaust tracts is done by a 'Finite Difference' method, where the runners are broken up into several sections. Pressures, velocities, momentum, Friction Losses, heat transfer, etc are also calculated at every time step. Results can take from 5 to 60 seconds depending on the calculation complexity you have requested. |
| Fuel Types | Gas and alcohol at standard and Very Rich settings (to reduce spark knock). | Gas and alcohol at standard and Very Rich settings (to reduce spark knock). Also included several Diesel options, Propane (gas), Propane (LPG), CNG (methane), E85. | Gas and alcohol at standard, Rich and Very Rich settings (to reduce spark knock). Also included several Diesel options, Propane (gas), Propane (LPG), CNG (methane), and several Ethanol/Gas blends, like E85. |
| Spark Advance Settings and Knock (Detonation) Simulation | Program sets spark to produce best power. Program also predicts when knock occurs and will reduce spark advance (which reduces power) to keep the engine from knocking. Very easy to use. | Program sets spark to produce best power. Program also predicts when knock occurs and will reduce spark advance (which reduces power) to keep the engine from knocking. Very easy to use. | You have 3 options:
1) To let program set spark advance which produces best power. 2) To let program predict Burn Rate (required spark advance) and modify it by a user defined spark curve with 4 break points. 3) To let you specify the spark curve with 6 break points, and tell the program this curve produces best power. This effectively lets you specify the engine's burn rate. Program calculates Knock Index, which gives the likelihood that detonation will occur. You can run with very low or high detonation. The programs time consuming calculations and method of calculation does not lend itself to letting the program automatically limit spark to a predetermined max allowable Knock Index. |
| Nitrous Oxide | Yes, with 1 or 2 stages. | Yes, with 1 or 2 stages. | Yes, with 1, 2 or 3 stages, or a progressive system which "ramps in" nitrous injection. |
| Turbocharging Simulation | Yes, with and without intercooling, based on simple inputs. | Yes, with and without intercooling, based on simple inputs. | Yes, with and without intercooling, based on more detailed inputs about compressor map, intercooling restriction and effectiveness, etc. Engine Analyzer Pro Enterprise Edition allows for full compressor maps to be used, or specifying most any absolute intake manifold pressure and temperature, and exhaust backpressure. |
| Centrifugal Supercharging Simulation | Yes, with and without intercooling, based on simple inputs. | Yes, with and without Intercooling, based on simple inputs. | Yes, with and without intercooling, based on more detailed inputs about Compressor Map, intercooling restriction and effectiveness, etc. Enterprise Edition allows for full compressor maps to be used. |
| Roots Supercharging Simulation | Yes, based on simple inputs (without intercooling). | Yes, with or without intercooling, based on simple inputs. | Yes, with and without intercooling, based on more detailed inputs about compressor size, sealing and friction, intercooling restriction and effectiveness, etc. |
| Outputs at each RPM | 23 outputs available at each RPM | 23 outputs available at each RPM (you can select to hide some for customer printouts) | 50 outputs available at each RPM (some only applicable for turbo/supercharged applications or with valve train dynamics) |
| Outputs for the engine (Special Calculations) | 18 special calculations like Dynamic C.R., Engine Displacement, Int and Exh Valve and Flow Areas, etc. | 18 special calculations like Dynamic C.R., Engine Displacement, Int and Exh Valve and Flow Areas, etc. | 42 special calculations like Dynamic C.R., Engine Displacement, Int and Exh Valve and Flow Areas, etc. Pro's extra calculations include: cam specs at .200 tappet lift and lifts at TDC. |
| Engine Input Specifications (to describe the engine and therefore which allow you to investigate how modifying that specification would affect performance, spark advance, etc. | Over 70 | Over 90, most additional inputs coming from the ability check piston-to-valve clearance and enter full head flow curves. | Well over 150. Enterprise Edition increases that significantly be allowing detailed turbo and supercharger maps, valve spring dynamics, and other details. |
| Head Flow | The program will approximate a full flow curve (behind the scenes) based on a simple "Flow Efficiency, %" rating you can pick from a table. You can also calculate a Flow Efficiency from real flow bench data from up to 3 flow data points. | You can enter or calculate a Flow Efficiency as in the Std version, or enter a full flow curve at up to 8 valve lifts. | You can enter or calculate a Flow Efficiency as in the Std version (called "Flow Coefficient" in the Pro version, which is Flow Efficiency / 100), or enter a full flow curve at up to 12 valve lifts. |
| Metric Inputs | No | Yes, you can specify mm dimensions. | Yes, you can specify mm dimensions. |
| Metric Outputs | No | No | Yes, for most any calculated RPM data and Cycle data |
| Part Throttle Performance Calculations | Idle Vacuum | Idle Vacuum | Idle Vacuum. Enterprise Edition allows for detailed calibration maps at various levels of MAP (manifold absolute pressure). |
| Utility Calculation Screens Calculation screens let you calculate inputs (like Compression Ratio) based on other inputs (like chamber CCs, Piston Dome, etc.) | 19 | 19 | 50 |
| RPM Graphs | Torque and HP vs RPM only. You can overplot up to 7 runs on one graph. | Any of the 23 outputs calculated for each RPM can be graphed vs RPM. You can overplot up to 7 runs on one graph. | Any of the 50 outputs calculated for each RPM can be graphed vs RPM. You can overplot up to 7 runs on one graph. |
| Cycle Graphs (cycle data are calculations which change every Crank Degree, like Piston Position, valve lift, etc.) | Valve Lift vs crank degrees only. | Valve Lift vs crank degrees only. | You can graph any of the 25 types of cycle data (valve lift, piston thrust, port pressure, valve flow, etc) vs crank degrees, Cylinder Volume (like PV diagrams) or time. You can overlay data from up to 7 different runs, and you can pick the RPMs. You can also overlay the data from 12 or more different RPMs for the same run. |
| ASCII File Output | Yes, tabular RPM data can be written to a file with user defined options for importing into spreadsheets like Excel (tm). | Yes, tabular RPM data can be written to a file with user defined options for importing into spreadsheets like Excel (tm). | Yes, tabular RPM data OR cycle data (like piston position, piston thrust, Cylinder Pressure, etc) can be written to a file with user defined options for importing into spreadsheets like Excel (tm). Enterprise Edition also allows output of part throttle "calibration maps" for use in calibrating electronic engine controllers in std .txt and .csv (Excel) formats. |
| Automatic Optimizing (letting the program try lots of combinations to find the best engine specs) | Has the Optimize feature which automatically finds best port or runner sizes and lengths, or cam specs for best peak Tq, peak HP, Avg Tq or Avg HP. It also lets you specify a minimum allowable Idle Vacuum. This feature is very easy to use. | Has the Optimize feature which automatically finds best
port or runner sizes and lengths, or cam specs for best peak Tq, peak HP,
Avg Tq or Avg HP. It also lets you specify a minimum allowable Idle Vacuum. This feature is very easy to use.
In addition, the Graph Optimize feature lets you very quickly try numerous engine mods right on the graph screen and instantly watch the power curves change. Very powerful feature. |
Has 'Chain Calculation' feature which lets you increment
from 1 to 6 engine mods through 2 to 6 user defined settings. This
can result in thousands of results and may require several hours to
complete. All results are saved and you can select to view the
results which produced the best peak Tq, peak HP, Avg Tq or Avg
HP. It also lets you specify a minimum allowable Idle Vacuum
for acceptable. This is a VERY powerful feature for finding
optimum engine specs.
The Pro can not effectively do the the Optimize features of the Std or Plus versions because its calculations are much more detailed and time consuming. Doing the standard Optimize feature would requires days of calculations in the Pro. You can also Optimize for the Engine Masters Challenge rating (EMC). |
| Cam Specs | Based on user inputs of duration (at .050" or 1mm lift, or seat or advertised specs), tappet lift, rocker ratio, lash, centerlines, a ramp aggressiveness rating, a general "cheater"/"non-cheater" description (dwell over nose of cam), etc. | Based on user inputs of Duration (at .050" or 1mm
lift, or seat or advertised specs), tappet lift, Rocker Ratio, Valve Lash,
centerlines, a ramp aggressiveness rating etc. The Cam Specs screen
also shows the .200 inch duration to help you at choosing settings. The Ramp Rating
in the Plus version is a number from 0 to 100, which lets you exactly dial
in a ramp to give a desired, say, .200 inch duration for a given
.050" duration.
Variable Valve Timing (VVT) is another option. |
Based on user inputs of duration (at .050" or 1mm
lift, or seat or advertised specs), tappet lift, rocker ratio, lash,
centerlines, a ramp rating, dwell over the nose, asymmetry, etc. The Cam Specs screen also shows the
.200 inch duration to help you at choosing settings. The Ramp Rating
in the Pro version is a number from 0 to 100, which lets you exactly dial
in a ramp to give a desired, say, .200 inch duration for a given
.050" duration.
In addition, you can import Cam Files in 6 different formats (Cam Pro Plus, Cam Dr, Comp Cams, Andrews, Dr Doctor, S96) to more exactly describe the Cam Profile. Valve train dynamics is another option. Variable Valve Timing (VVT) is another option. |
| Valve Train Dynamics simulation | No | No | Yes, program includes a separate screen of valve train
mass weights, stiffnesses and spring specs for simulating valve train
bending and tossing (lofting).
Enterprise Edition lets you simulate Valve Spring dynamics. |
| Variable Valve Timing | No | Yes. Program lets you specify either just a new cam advance, or completely new intake and exhaust profile to be used at 1 particular RPM. | Yes. Program lets you specify either just a new cam advance, or completely new intake and exhaust profile to be used at 1 particular RPM. |
| Engine Friction Simulation | Easy choices of typical engine builds and accessory loads. | Easy choices of typical engine builds and Accessory Loads. | Allows for detailed mods to various short block specs (pistons, rings, water pump size, bearing sizes, etc). Also allows for Piston Sealing and Blow By simulation and accessory loads. |
| Dyno "Type" Simulations | Steady State (step test) dyno runs. | Steady State (step test) dyno runs. | Steady State (step test) or accelerating dyno runs (coupled with user defined engine and dyno inertia settings). Also allows for chassis dyno power losses. |
| Reads other file types | Reads std Engine Analyzer v3.0 or v3.2 files
It can also read some Desktop Dyno (tm), Dyno Sym (tm), Stan Weiss cam and head files. |
Reads std or Plus Engine Analyzer v3.0, 3.2 and v3.4 files.
Reads Port Flow Analyzer head flow files.
It can also read some Desktop Dyno (tm), Dyno Sym (tm), Stan Weiss cam and head files. |
Reads std or Plus Engine Analyzer v3.0 and v3.2
files. Reads Engine Analyzer Pro v3.3 or v2.1 files. Reads
about 6 formats of Cam Profile files (these can be from our Cam
Analyzer or Cam Test Stand), and Port Flow Analyzer head flow files.
It can also read some Desktop Dyno (tm), Dyno Sym (tm), Stan Weiss cam and head files. |
| Preloaded Example Engines | Yes, over 90 complete example engine files | Yes, over 90 complete example engine files | Yes, about 70 complete example engine files. Note, that these file contain more engine details, which is why there are fewer examples than in the std and Plus versions. |
| Preloaded Example Component Specs | Yes, thousands of parts, including most all Comp, Crower, Isky, Lunati, Edelbrock, various production and aftermarket cams. | Yes, thousands of parts, including most all Comp, Crower, Isky, Lunati, Edelbrock, various production and aftermarket cams. Many head examples include full flow curves. | Yes, hundreds of more detailed Engine Analyzer Pro component files. In addition, the Pro will also include the less detailed standard Engine Analyzer examples for Carbs/Throttle Bodies, Heads and Cams.. |
| Program Estimates Piston-To-Valve clearance | No | Yes | Yes, and shows the piston and valve motion graphically. You can also printout tables of calculations of piston position, valve lift, piston to valve clearance, etc at every 4 or 1 degrees of rotation. |
| Program Estimates Hemi or 4 Valve Valve "Clash" | No | No | Yes |
| Program Auto-Links to other Performance Trends Programs. Auto-linking means the Engine Analyzer program will automatically start up and run a vehicle program (Drag Racing Analyzer, Circle Track Analyzer, Fuel Economy Calculator) with the latest power curve and specs from the Engine Analyzer and show vehicle performance results (ET, MPH, lap times, MPG, etc) in the Engine Analyzer program "behind the scenes". | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Program sends power curves to other Performance Trends programs. This is similar to Auto-Linking above but you can take control of the vehicle program and make mods in the vehicle program with the Engine Analyzer power curve. | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Program imports data from other Programs | No | Yes, can import flow files directly from Port Flow Analyzer. | Yes, can import flow files directly from Port Flow Analyzer and cam lobe files from Cam Analyzer. Enterprise Edition allows data to be passed back and forth between Engine Analyzer Pro and Compression Ratio Calculator. |
| Simple One Click Backup of files | No | No | Yes |
| Emailing Options | No | No | Yes, program can email graphic files of graphs, Engine Analyzer Pro engine files, and PDF or simple text files of reports. You may need Adobe Acrobat (tm) and Outlook or Outlook Express (tm) to do this. |
| Graphics Files | You can include a graphics .jpg file of your engine, car or whatever with your engine specs. This displays on the main screen and can be included in printouts. | You can include a graphics .jpg file of your engine, car
or whatever with your engine specs. This displays on the main screen
and can be included in printouts.
You can specify a graphics file as a "company logo" file to be included on printouts. |
You can specify a graphics file as a "company logo" file to be included on printouts. |