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Old 02-26-2009, 06:55 AM   #20 (permalink)
markweatherill
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It's possible for an engine to be 96% efficient at using up its fuel, but only about 30% efficient at turning that fuel into useful work. The two figures are not the same thing, which is a huge mental hurdle to some! And the latter figure is never going to approach the former. That is, some of the work done in producing the engine's output will always go towards cooling, overcoming friction, that kind of thing.
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