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Old 01-27-2011, 08:55 PM   #16 (permalink)
ShadeTreeMech
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Arkansas
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The Van - '97 Mercury Villager gs
90 day: 19.8 mpg (US)

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Quote:
Originally Posted by pasaunde View Post
In theory, higher coolant temps means less heat transfer (energy loss) to the coolant system and more energy available to do work on the piston.
One of the best of the hypermilers here, palemalasian, gets good economy in part due to living in a warm climate, and if I remember correctly he uses a block heater too.

There may be some small change in fuel atomization with warmer coolant, but it is nothingcompared to the gains possible when less energy is used to warm coolant. With cooler coolant, more energy is used to warm the engine that would have otherwise been used to push the piston down with more force.

So I would say it is less theory and more like a proven fact that a warm engine is more efficient thana cool engine, and less efficient than a hot engine. I've read an article here describing a crazy high efficiency engine that was severely insulated and heated the gas to a vapor. Will find the link when I get to the comp, using my phone right now.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
I think you missed the point I was trying to make, which is that it's not rational to do either speed or fuel economy mods for economic reasons. You do it as a form of recreation, for the fun and for the challenge.
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