[orange4boy]

Where is the chart plotting the difference between mpg for varying degrees of acceleration? I have not found anything yet that shows this. I bet they cancel each other out to some extent.

Thinking out loud here and expanding on what MetroMPG said...

At the extremes of BSFC you have WOT and steady state cruise(SSC). The difference between these is where the meat of the gains (or tofu if you are vegetarian) is to be had in terms of FE. Hence the theory of P+G, where the pumping losses and engine friction losses from cruising are removed and replaced by short bursts of a more efficiently produced energy followed by coasting where aero and RR/bearing friction eat up the most of your energy.

When you accelerate from a stop, you are already producing energy much more efficiently than at SSC, like the pulse of a P+G. How much more efficiently seems to be not terribly important. Giver! Then coast all the way home.

The point is to preserve the momentum you have invested your acceleration into (by removing losses) and not create extra momentum to begin with. Slamming on the brakes can represent one of the biggest single losses of any one action. This is the subtle message left out of the "no jackrabbit starts" message. It should really read: Jack rabbit all you want, just don't waste the kinetic energy you've just created with your brakes.

1) Reduce parasitic losses
2) Don't waste momentum
3) highest gear, lowest speed.

As I write this I'm thinking about it and sorting these things out in my mind. It's not the easiest thing to express in a few words.