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There is some complexity when engine efficiency is being considered. Gasoline engines suffer from volumetric inefficiency, that is to say that for spark ignition to happen the air and fuel has to be in the correct stoichiometric ratio for the full volume of the cylinder. If a carburetor modification moves the ratio outside of the flammability range the engine won’t run. Diesel engines are the most thermodynamically efficient internal combustion engines in widespread use because they draw in air alone and inject only the fuel required to produce the requested power, no volumetric inefficiency. The Prius uses an Atkinson cycle gasoline engine that increases efficiency by elongating the piston stroke to fully utilize combustion pressure at the cost of power to weight ratio, still an equivalent displacement turbo diesel would be much more efficient.
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That's a good rundown, thank you.
The Honda Civic VX from 92-95 introduced a type of valve lifting that created a vortex with the air and fuel as it entered the combustion chamber. They explained that it was a clever way to achieve more efficient fuel atomization. I remember a mention of the droplet particle size; the smaller, the more complete fuel burnoff.
Quick question: what kind of diesel van would you say is the most efficient and reliable?
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