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Old 01-12-2010, 05:17 PM   #14 (permalink)
aerohead
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radiator

Quote:
Originally Posted by fourfa View Post
just want to clarify this:

generally, normally-aspirated spark-ignited gasoline engines take the chemical energy in the gasoline and can only turn about 1/3 to actual power. 1/3 is wasted in the radiator to prevent overheating. 1/3 is wasted out the tailpipe as unrecovered heat. So if the engine puts out 200bhp, the radiator also has to dissipate heat equivalent to 200hp. Not that this helps us visualize what size hole is needed for that much heat dissipation...
Yep,that's pretty much the story.
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