Flipping through the new (March 2005) issue of C/D came upon an article about mpg/engine efficiency. In the article it states that if heat is retained with an "interheater" (opposite of intercooler) in the engine is actually more efficient, even though it's detrimental to the cylinder head. (that's an understatement)
I always thought that the cooler an engine stays, the more efficient it is and thus produces more power. WTF?
Is anyone well educated in this field?
Please put in your $0.02

 

well c/d are a bunch of idiots anyway....

i have always herd, that a cooler engine runs better too....

 

Cooler engine yes, cold engine no- from 180-230 is the most effecient -

 

If not for detonation and material issues, an engine that could run at 1800 degrees would be more efficient than an engine that runs at 250 degrees.

The easiest way to look at it is that the hotter engine will cool the burning air and fuel less, resulting in that heat expanding the gas instead and creating more power.

Some turbine engines use preheaters to heat the compressed air before igniting it so that the fuel energy is put to additional work by adding energy to the new mix.

 

I imagine that it would be better for a car running rich as well, as it would help burn the fuel that would otherwise be wasted.

 

air burns fuel, not hot engines.

 

From what i've read (something about aluminum heads vs cast heads a looooong time ago...), a hotter combustion chamber will burn fuel more efficiently...

That is what i read.

 

[QUOTE=0HP930]If not for detonation and material issues, an engine that could run at 1800 degrees would be more efficient than an engine that runs at 250 degrees.

[QUOTE]

I think that's the point they were trying to get across- that in theory the hotter it runs the more efficientit will become.