In a message dated 11/15/06 8:58:50 AM, chkangmd@earthlink.net writes:
> Finally, does anyone have a guesstimate for MPG for a race engine? My
> stock engine
> used half a tank per race. It's a lotus TC.
>
Engines generally have a specific fuel consumption of about .5 lbs of
gasoline for each hp for each hour. So the max fuel flow for a 200 hp. engine
will be
about 100 lbs./hour which is about 17 gals./hour. (This is what your fuel
pump must supply at a minimum). However you will not be at full power all of
the
time on a road course. My 450 hp. engine uses about .5 gallons for each 1m 40
sec (.028 hr.)lap. which calculates out to .24 or nearly half of of the
consumption at full power. That means that I am averaging 216 hp.
So how do you estimate fuel consumption? Lower powered cars probably run
closer to max power than higher powered cars. (If you had 10 hp. you would
probably run full power all the way around). Courses vary and drivers vary
etc. And
you want to be conservative enough to not run out of fuel. So, for a 200 hp.
car, I would estimate that it would run at an average of 2/3 max power, thus
133hp which is 66.5 lbs./hr. or 11 gals./hr. Another way to say it is: figure
5.5
gallons/hour for each 100 hp. of maximum power.
Bill Watkins
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