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Old 12-07-2009, 09:31 AM   #4 (permalink)
MechEngVT
Mechanical Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 189

The Truck - '02 Ram 1500 SLT Sport
90 day: 17.8 mpg (US)

The Van 2 - '06 Odyssey EX
90 day: 18.48 mpg (US)
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Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Your brake thermal efficiency increases with increased engine operating temperature. The theoretical Otto cycle efficiency is always higher than actual thermal efficiency due to the adiabatic assumption in the theory not applying in the real world. The hotter your engine runs, the less heat of combustion is lost to the block walls, and the closer you approximate the adiabatic (zero heat transfer) ideal.
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