Mileage Manifesto

[Hohn]

There are many factors that affect fuel mileage. We often talk about a few of them, but mileage is more than just a few big items (tire pressure, tread pattern, etc). Overall mileage is a function of the inputs of many, many details.



This post will examine the factors that affect mileage (steady-state hwy mileage, in particular) in detail, and how we can consider this when seeking mileage improvement. We’ll start with the road and worm back to the engine.



TIRES



Below 50mph, the rolling resistance of your tires is the biggest source of resistance the engine must overcome. This resistance means engine power (and therefore, fuel) that is consumed before it has a chance to be applied to the load. So we want a tire with low rolling resistance.



What creates rolling resistance? Primarily—tire flexibility. The round tire must conform partially to a flat road, and it must be flexible enough to distort to do so. The more flexible the tire’s tread area is, the larger the contact patch with the road will be. This means more traction. This leads us to an important point: the bigger the contact patch, the more rolling resistance and thus, lower MPG.



Consider a steel railroad wheel. Designed for traction? Nope. Low rolling resistance? Absolutely!



This is why tire pressure plays such a big role in fuel economy. But the carcass design of the tire ALSO plays a big role in economy, because the carcass determines how the tire pressure will affect the rigidity of the tire and where.



Related to carcass design is tread pattern. Most people know the more aggressive tread has more rolling resistance, but can’t tell you why. Ever wonder why commercial tires (designed primarily for durability and fuel economy (at a given load), not traction or performance) are usually a simple parallel-ribbed design? Keep these questions in mind.



But for now, consider a simple wire-spoked wheel—only this wheel has only 4 spokes! How much load does each spoke carry? How does this compare to a wheel with 50 spokes? Much less, right? You can see where we are going—LOAD DISTRIBUTION!



Now let’s go back to our aggressive tire tread. The fewer and farther apart the tread lugs are, the more load each individual lug must carry. This means that the load is concentrated at a point on the tire’s carcass. This concentration causes the carcass to deflect more than it otherwise would have to. It takes energy to do this!



An interesting point about tire noise is that it relates to inefficiency. Consider the difference between a runner that glides quietly over the ground compared to one that stamps his feet loudly. Which is making better use of the energy they are expending? Remember, sound waves are energy. This energy must come from somewhere! If you stamp your foot into the ground, how much does it push up on you compared to if you squatted down and pushed into the ground with the same amount of force?



There are many others examples, but the point is clear. An efficient tire is a rigid, harsh-riding, low-performing nightmare—but at least it’s quiet.



Tire size (both height AND width) affect the size of the contact patch, the amount of tire deflection necessary, and thus rolling resistance. All other being equal, a large tire has more rolling resistance. This is related to our next point-gearing.

 

[Hohn]

GEARING



The main effect of gearing is upon engine rpm, so I will cover that when we get to the engine. But there are other elements to consider.

First, is differential lube. A higher viscosity lube increases the work necessary to turn the differential gears.

Second is the effect that ratio has upon gear design. Namely, the more torque multiplication a gearset must do, the less efficient it is at transferring energy. A 3. 54 axle ratio has less of a difference in tooth count between ring and pinion than does a 4. 10 ratio gearset. As you go higher numerically, the efficiency gets less as the teeth must be machined in numbers and at angles that make them less efficient conduits of energy.

 

[Hohn]

DRIVELINE



I use this to refer to driveshafts, U-joint and the power conduit between transmission/transfer case and axles. The driveline adds little resistance overall in the MPG picture, but it can become a factor if not set up right. As long as the angles are proper and the U-joints are functioning properly, then you will have a smooth power delivery. Lift kits and other things that change the angles can cause decreases in efficiency if they exceed the design range of the components.



Obviously, a 4x4 has more resistance in this area, especially if there’s no way to disconnect the axles or hubs.

 

[Hohn]

TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE



Ignoring the effect of ratios upon RPM, there are all of the factors at work in a differential (lube viscosity, etc), and then some.



Here, the 4wd will be less efficient as is simply has more components turning, and thus more resistance. So transfer cases add more resistance, just like having front axles turning, etc.



But the gearing INSIDE the transmission is important as well, from a design standpoint. The helical gearing inside the CTD manual transmission is typically less efficient than the planetary gearing of a typical automatic transmission. Moreover, a constant-mesh manual trans is turning more components than the planetary setup in the auto trans.



There are MANY design variables that go into a torque converter, so we control for these variables by assuming an engaged lockup clutch.

 

[Hohn]

ENGINE



Here we are—the big enchilada. Since there are so many variables, I’ll try to hit the key ones.



- Operating temperature: the less heat energy is lost to the coolant, the more is available to turn the crankshaft

- Cam timing: the breathing of the engine is optimized for only a certain rpm—everything else is compromise. You can have a very peaky powerband of high efficiency, or you can broaden it but reduce efficiency. This is usually done with lobe separation angle manipulation

- compression ratio: the higher, the better for efficiency. Not necessarily better for keeping the head from popping a gasket.

- pumping losses: the more the engine has to work to move air in and out, the less efficient it will be

- Burn quality: this determines how many of the fuel’s potential BTUs are actually converted to heat energy. This accounts for fuel quality and injector efficiency.



RPM is a huge component of engine efficiency. Higher rpm multiplies things like piston ring friction and pumping losses. But rpm also affect BSFC.



Brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) is simply how well an engine converts fuel to HP in terms of lbs of fuel per hp per hour. So an engine with a BSFC of . 300 would burn . 300 pounds of fuel per hp for every hour it operates. Thus, if it’s a 100hp engine, it burns 30 pounds in an hour. Given the weight of diesel (7-7. 3 lb/gal?), that’s about 4. 2 gallons.



The relationship between RPM and BSFC is critical in a diesel. If one diesel can produce 100hp at 1300rpm, and the other needs 2500rpm to produce that same 100hp, which is more efficient? YOU CAN’T TELL!



**MORE TO COME**



jlh

 

[klenger]

Hohn: With your permission, I'd like to post this in it's entirety on my website, giving credit to you of course.

 

[Hohn]

Well, I probably should have FINISHED it before I posted, but if you like it in present form, have at it.



Maybe I'll just leave it alone-- you get into the engine stuff too deep, and it gets LOOONG. It's already too long!



The credit lies with all the people who have written stuff for me to read, and with the mileage presentation from Cummins.com



Justin

 

[klenger]

I have posted Justin's Milage Manifesto on my webite at: http://www.klenger.net/dodge/general-reference/Mileage-Manifesto.html