Parasitic drag is energy lost due to accessory components driven by the crankshaft.

Parasitic drag is energy lost due to accessory components driven by the crankshaft.

• A. Parasitic drag
• B. Engine drag
• C. Mechanical drag
• D. Aerodynamic drag

Answer: (A)

Parasitic drag is energy wasted by components that are powered by the crankshaft, such as the alternator, oil pump, water pump, power steering, and air conditioning compressor. These accessories are driven by the engine and consume horsepower regardless of whether they contribute to forward motion, so they siphon energy that could be used to accelerate the vehicle. This is different from aerodynamic drag, which is resistance from air the car pushes through as it moves, and from vague terms like engine or mechanical drag that aren’t the standard way to describe these crankshaft-driven losses. So the statement correctly identifies parasitic drag as the energy lost due to those connected accessories.

Parasitic drag is energy wasted by components that are powered by the crankshaft, such as the alternator, oil pump, water pump, power steering, and air conditioning compressor. These accessories are driven by the engine and consume horsepower regardless of whether they contribute to forward motion, so they siphon energy that could be used to accelerate the vehicle. This is different from aerodynamic drag, which is resistance from air the car pushes through as it moves, and from vague terms like engine or mechanical drag that aren’t the standard way to describe these crankshaft-driven losses. So the statement correctly identifies parasitic drag as the energy lost due to those connected accessories.