ISO 1585-2020 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 1585-2020 — Road vehicles — Engine test code — Net power. Specifies a standardized engine test code and procedures for measuring and reporting net power and related performance (power curves and specific fuel consumption) of internal combustion engines used in passenger cars, trucks and other road vehicles (excluding motorcycles, mopeds and road tractors).

Abstract

This standard defines the method for testing engines to evaluate net power output and to present power and specific fuel consumption as functions of engine speed. It applies to reciprocating (spark‑ignition and compression‑ignition) and rotary piston engines (excluding free‑piston engines), including naturally aspirated and pressure‑charged units, and focuses solely on net power assessment under specified test conditions.

General information

• Status: Published (current edition).
• Publication date: 2020 (Edition 4, published July 2020).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 43.060.01 (Internal combustion engines for road vehicles in general); ISO/TC 22/SC 34 responsible committee.
• Edition / version: Edition 4 (2020).
• Number of pages: 32 pages.

(General information based on the ISO bibliographic entry for ISO 1585:2020.)

Scope

Provides the test code and measurement procedure for assessing net power and recording power/specific fuel consumption curves at full load as a function of engine speed. The scope covers reciprocating and rotary piston internal combustion engines used to propel passenger cars, trucks and other motor vehicles normally travelling on roads, but excludes motorcycles, mopeds and agricultural tractors. The document addresses both naturally aspirated and pressure‑charged engines and limits itself to net (crankshaft/output) power measurements rather than gross or indicated power.

Key topics and requirements

• Standardized test procedures for measuring net power and recording power vs. speed curves.
• Requirements for measurement instrumentation and accuracy (torque, speed, fuel flow, temperatures, pressures and related sensors).
• Test setup rules: which auxiliaries and accessories are fitted or removed during net power tests and prescribed operating conditions for cooling, intake and exhaust systems.
• Correction factors and normalization of measured power to reference atmospheric conditions (barometric pressure, temperature, humidity), including provisions for turbocharged/pressure‑charged systems.
• Procedures for determining specific fuel consumption (bsfc) and presenting consumption curves alongside power curves.
• Reporting requirements and test report content (declared net power, tolerances, measurement conditions and test instrumentation details).
• Special provisions and annexes covering compression‑ignition specifics and examples of test recording/reporting formats (informative/mandatory as specified in the standard).

Key technical items and recent clarifications (2020 edition) summarized from the standard and bibliographic summaries.

Typical use and users

Used by automotive engine test laboratories, vehicle and powertrain OEM test teams, component suppliers, type‑approval and regulatory bodies, research institutions and consultants to: certify or declare engine net power; compare engine performance; generate power and fuel consumption maps for vehicle integration and calibration; and support regulatory and conformity-of-production testing.

Related standards

ISO 1585:2020 replaces and revises earlier editions of ISO 1585 (notably ISO 1585:1992 and ISO 1585:1982). Related standards and documents commonly referenced alongside ISO 1585 in engine and vehicle testing workflows include standards on emissions and test cycles, instrumentation and measurement accuracy (for example, standards addressing engine emissions testing and instrumentation calibration). Specific earlier edition references: ISO 1585:1992 (withdrawn) — see the ISO lifecycle information.

Keywords

engine test code; net power; brake power; specific fuel consumption; power curve; engine test; internal combustion engine; reciprocating engine; rotary piston engine; turbocharger; pressure‑charged; ISO 1585:2020.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 1585:2020 is the international standard titled "Road vehicles — Engine test code — Net power" that specifies a test code for measuring and reporting engine net power and associated performance curves.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers procedures to measure net (output) power and present power and specific fuel consumption at full load as functions of engine speed for reciprocating and rotary piston internal combustion engines used in road vehicles (excluding motorcycles, mopeds and agricultural tractors). It includes requirements for instrumentation, test conditions, correction factors and report content.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Engine test laboratories, vehicle and engine OEMs, regulatory/type‑approval authorities, suppliers, and research organizations use the standard for power declaration, performance comparison, and integration/calibration tasks.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 1585:2020 is the current (published) edition and supersedes earlier editions such as ISO 1585:1992 (withdrawn). Users should confirm the edition and any national adoptions or amendments before applying the standard.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 1585 is part of the body of ISO and vehicle/engine test codes produced by ISO/TC 22 (and subcommittees). There are companion standards and separate ISO documents that address engine emissions, motorcycle engine testing (separate ISO numbers), instrumentation and specific test protocols used in vehicle and engine testing. Check committee publications for related ISO test codes and application‑specific standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Net power, engine test code, brake specific fuel consumption (bsfc), power curve, torque measurement, correction factors, engine performance, ISO 1585.