The heat (that isn't converted to motion) is still lost energy - its a lack
of efficiency - its energy released from the fuel that moves out into the
environment - I forget but isn't a gas engine only about 40 or 60 percent
efficient in its transfer of energy from fuel to motion - wouldn't we better
off measuring the speed of the piston upon explosion - and if theres an
upper limit for how fast a particular piston can move then won't a hotter
spark (that goes beyond that limit) just result in more heat being lost to
the system

>From: CHRIS STANN <cstann@home.com>
>
>Mark Dorm said:
>
> > We're not interested in creating heat - we're interested in moving the
> > pistons - the heat is really a loss of energy
>
>Well, don't they call it the internal COMBUSTION engine?  The engine is
>nothing but a heat pump, so your comment is absurd.  *** Heat is energy!
>***
>Heat is released during combustion.  The stored energy in gasoline is
>released as heat.  Combustion is nothing but accelerated oxidation.  You're
>burning fuel.  So you are interested in making heat, it's what moves the
>pistons.  I've never heard of a cold explosion.
>
>What you're not interested in is making more heat than your engine can
>safely disperse and move away from precious mechanical parts.
>
>All I was saying is that the hotter heads may be explained by a more
>complete combustion.  This does not leave enough unburned fuel to cool
>things inside the combustion chamber.  So the plug that gives you hotter
>heads may actually be better, in strict technical terms, but not better for
>your engine.

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