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Old 10-19-2010, 03:56 PM   #280 (permalink)
slogfilet
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Join Date: Apr 2008
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VX du Slog - '94 Honda Civic VX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nerys View Post
You sort of got it but the wrong way :-)

while the engine is not 100% efficient it is "x" % efficient.

lets say its 20%

20% of X energy (gasoline) is still larger than 20% of Y energy (ethanol)

there is no logical reason for the mechanical efficiency of the actual engine itself to change unless it is not compatible with the fuel (less efficient) or TUNED for the ethanol (more efficient)

but if the engine remains unchanged then its efficiency remains unchanged except for that compatibility issue if present.
I don't think we can make the assumption that a given engine has the same X% efficiency for different fuels. Efficiency is not an inherent property of an engine, but also of its fuel and other environmental variables.
 
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