General Car Conversation
#76
Lexus Champion
Your goal should be to hit TQ peak on any engine in 1st gear since that will give it the most mechanical advantage vs the vehicle weight and it's the RPM that the engine hits peak thermal efficiency. Again, issue is that some engine are not well suited to this since they can be overpowered.....think a hellcat going to TQ peak to accelerate normally lol! Smaller engines have an edge here since you can just floor it to TQ peak, hit desired speeds, and cruise and it doesn't come off as being aggressive to others since the car is slow regardless.
#77
Lexus Champion
Yep, that's also exactly how I drive my V8s so I can consistently get near my highway mileage at all times. I started with V8s so I have always driven this way and don't think anything of it....I may own a 4cyl someday but it will be a diesel so it doesn't feel horrible. I'm actually looing at EA188/189 engine equipped cars now since they fascinate me, 55 mpg with a tune and 200hp and 400tq sounds like a pleasant to drive car to me!
#79
Lexus Fanatic
I mostly agree except you should not accelerate slowly, you should accelerate at the engines peak BSFC rpm so you convert the absolute most gas to motion possible. A slow acceleration that takes forever will use more fuel than a quick burst and coasting at desired speed.
My experience, on the fuel-economy indicators, in vehicles both with and without a turbo, is that, turbo or not, the more gently you press the gas pedal, the less fuel you use. Of course, it can vary somewhat from vehicle to vehicle, but the computer doesn't lie. Its sensors constantly measure the amount of fuel going through the injectors, and, several times each second, calculate both instant-IMG and the accumulated MPG since the trip odometer was last reset.
#80
Lexus Fanatic
On a related note, with this expensive fuel, AAA and Roadside Assistance programs (many of which simply contract with the AAA) have been overwhelmed recently by the number of drivers taking chances on low fuel-gauges and running out of gas. The Washington Post did an article on it today.....their figures are based on April, and gas prices have climbed even more since then.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...river-wallets/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...river-wallets/
#81
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (3)
My experience, on the fuel-economy indicators, in vehicles both with and without a turbo, is that, turbo or not, the more gently you press the gas pedal, the less fuel you use. Of course, it can vary somewhat from vehicle to vehicle, but the computer doesn't lie. Its sensors constantly measure the amount of fuel going through the injectors, and, several times each second, calculate both instant-IMG and the accumulated MPG since the trip odometer was last reset.
#82
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (3)
It's for any engine really, turbo engines actually stuffer for having the turbo vs an engine that doesn't have one but has the same peak HP output. You obviously have to slam the NA engine past 3500 rpm vs the turbo making the same TQ at 2000 but the NA will use less gas than the turbo engine, issue is most people do not drive to optimize energy release or have engines that are overpowered for "normal" acceleration. My 460 does best when I burst it up to 3800-4200 but it's too power and looks like I am being aggressive vs just gliding a bit faster than normal traffic at 1800-2200.
For diesels, turbo diesels are far more efficient than NA, they can build a very high air to fuel ratio and it runs very efficient leaving no unburned diesel. That's why turbo diesels only produce a lot of smoke when turbo has not yet fully built up pressure, and once at high boost you barely see any smoke.
#83
Lexus Fanatic
My experience, on the fuel-economy indicators, in vehicles both with and without a turbo, is that, turbo or not, the more gently you press the gas pedal, the less fuel you use. Of course, it can vary somewhat from vehicle to vehicle, but the computer doesn't lie. Its sensors constantly measure the amount of fuel going through the injectors, and, several times each second, calculate both instant-IMG and the accumulated MPG since the trip odometer was last reset.
#84
Lexus Champion
My experience, on the fuel-economy indicators, in vehicles both with and without a turbo, is that, turbo or not, the more gently you press the gas pedal, the less fuel you use. Of course, it can vary somewhat from vehicle to vehicle, but the computer doesn't lie. Its sensors constantly measure the amount of fuel going through the injectors, and, several times each second, calculate both instant-IMG and the accumulated MPG since the trip odometer was last reset.
#85
Lexus Champion
I dont know if I agree with that, traditional turbo engines with older injection system suffered from poorer fuel efficiency compared to NA, but modern one can be more efficient, at least when they are new and working at peak efficiency.
For diesels, turbo diesels are far more efficient than NA, they can build a very high air to fuel ratio and it runs very efficient leaving no unburned diesel. That's why turbo diesels only produce a lot of smoke when turbo has not yet fully built up pressure, and once at high boost you barely see any smoke.
For diesels, turbo diesels are far more efficient than NA, they can build a very high air to fuel ratio and it runs very efficient leaving no unburned diesel. That's why turbo diesels only produce a lot of smoke when turbo has not yet fully built up pressure, and once at high boost you barely see any smoke.
Diesel doesn't follow the same rules as gas so that would be an entirely different conversation
#86
On a related note, with this expensive fuel, AAA and Roadside Assistance programs (many of which simply contract with the AAA) have been overwhelmed recently by the number of drivers taking chances on low fuel-gauges and running out of gas. The Washington Post did an article on it today.....their figures are based on April, and gas prices have climbed even more since then.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...river-wallets/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...river-wallets/
#87
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Yeah they just bring you enough fuel to get the car started and get you to the next gas station. I have never run out of gas, but my parents did when I was along for the ride a couple times when I was a kid.