Following the August unveiling of a new engine ratings procedure instituted by Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. Engine and Power Products Division, the company announced at GIE+EXPO in Louisville that the “Critical Power” ratings approach has been awarded SAE International certification.
“SAE International’s formal acknowledgment means that Kawasaki has met the required standards to use the SAE International reference in its advertising and promotional materials for specified engines. The certification entailed a battery of engine tests operated and witnessed by independent, experienced engineers familiar with the requirements of SAE J1995,” said Gary Pollak, program manager, Ground Vehicle Standards, SAE International.
SAE J1995 Gross Power testing is part of the procedure for Kawasaki’s engines to be rated in accordance with the stringent SAE J2723. This tighter, more exacting standard is an automotive industry reference and is being applied in this industry for the first time. It assures purchasers of Kawasaki-powered lawn care and other maintenance equipment that most production engines will be no less than 98% of their rated values, not the 15% potential variable permitted under SAE J1940, the generally applied industry standard.
Kawasaki executives are in agreement that the very strict SAE J2723 standard is better suited to accommodate the company’s advanced engine and manufacturing technologies.
The company’s leadership position in this area underscores the belief that end users of original equipment products fitted with engines from various manufacturers have suffered from uncertainty and confusion when comparing and making purchase decisions based on claimed horsepower ratings.
None of the newly rated Kawasaki engines will exhibit performance differences when compared to comparable engines that have been sold in the past.
