Sure it does.... the converter is a "fluid coupling"..... increase the torque transmitted, and you increase the "pumping losses". Those losses are not "linear".... i.e. in a direct 1:1 relationship with the power being tranmitted. Somewhere in the caclulation there's an X^2 or an X^3 (can't remember which, but Eric Bryant was kind enough to clarify this for an ol' dog like me who never owned an automatic before). IF you were running with a lock-up convertor, you wouldn't see this seemingly contradictory result.

I've posted this info a few times before, so it should show up on a "search", including Eric's contributions...... I think that thread was on Advanced Tech.

 

Thanks for clarifying. I wondered if it had something to do with "fluid power losses" or something like that, so that's why I didn't wave the flag around. I'm just a skeptic until I get solid information.