Miata Mailing List: June 1996, Message #30
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   From: Nathan Hornig 
Subject: Re: Gas mileage in 96 models
   Date: Sun, 2 Jun 1996 09:18:45 -0400

Matthew T. Russotto wrote:
> } Skip Cannon
> 
> But isn't an engine more efficient (up to a point) with the throttle
> open wider?

There are many ways to measure an engine's efficiency.  At full throttle, an 
engine is most efficient at producing torque per mass unit of fuel.  This is 
not the same efficiency as fuel efficiency, which is distance per unit of fuel. 
Then there's thermal efficiency, and many more I've forgotten since my senior 
year of engineering, with that God-forsaken Heat Power Machines class!

Nathan Hornig