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Old 06-23-2008, 06:39 PM   #12 (permalink)
MechEngVT
Mechanical Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 190

The Truck - '02 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Sport
90 day: 13.32 mpg (US)

The Van 2 - '06 Honda Odyssey EX
90 day: 20.56 mpg (US)

GoKart - '14 Hyundai Elantra GT base 6MT
90 day: 30.46 mpg (US)

Godzilla - '21 Ford F350 XL
90 day: 8.69 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Could you tell if your engine was running any hotter? Typically A/C condensers are mounted in front of the engine radiator and therefore your radiator is drawing pre-warmed air to cool the engine coolant. Combine that with the already high outside temperatures your engine may have been running hotter.

Engines that run hotter are theoretically more efficient because they come closer to approximating the Otto cycle ideal adiabatic process where no heat is lost during compression of the intake charge. Hotter cylinder wall/head temperatures mean less compression and combustion heat is lost to the coolant and more is converted to work. Modern vehicles are tuned around 205 degree thermostats because this temperature has been found to be more efficient than the 160-180 'stats commonplace 20 years ago. You only run into problems with higher heat if detonation occurs (especially if your ECU pulls back timing advance due to knock sensors avoiding knock conditions) then mileage decreases and damage can occur.

Humidity (relative humidity) can have a large effect on engine performance, possibly as much or more than temperature alone. My truck seems to like cooler temps and higher humidity so it's probably pulling in some timing to avoid knock on 87 in hotter/dryer conditions.
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