More Efficient Gasoline Engines

More Efficient Gasoline Engines – Achieving Incredible Fuel Economy

The last 15 years have been a sort of renaissance for automobiles: in the early 90’s we saw the introduction of several high performance sports cars, such as the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo or the Toyota Supra Twin Turbo, that pushed the limits on what a sports car should be; we witnessed the evolution of the mini-van, the creation and evolution of the sports utility vehicle, and the introduction of mega-efficient hybrid cars.

Many new technologies have been introduced that have made it possible for traditional gasoline engines to become incredibly fuel efficient without having to sacrifice drivability or utility. The Honda Civic, for example, was one of the first vehicles to receive a variable valve timing system, known as the Honda VTEC.

VTEC (which stood for variable valve timing and electronic lift control) varies the power band on the engine. At lower RPM’s the engine timing and mapping is set conservatively in order to create the best possible fuel efficiency; at higher RPM’s VTEC kicks in, raising the cam profile so that the engine burns more fuel and creates more power. The result is that vehicles can drive all day as an economical and efficient mode of transportation, yet can show a performance oriented character when thrown into the higher regions of its RPM range.

Nearly every manufacturer has some kind of variable valve timing system and each has employed it in good use. In fact, it is now common to see this type of system combined with other engine additions, such as a turbocharger or supercharger. Recent innovations in forced induction have allowed for the horsepower benefits of forced induction while minimizing the fuel cost.

Most new turbocharger or supercharger applications feature direct injection, which injects gasoline straight into the cylinder as opposed to the intake port. The result is an increase in horsepower and an increase in fuel economy. Turbochargers and superchargers, which were once reserved only for high performance or sport-oriented vehicles, are becoming increasingly popular as engineers continue to find ways to increase their fuel economy.

At the end of the day, however, the most efficient forms of the gasoline engine still come as small, dedicated power plants with a focus on fuel economy and nothing else. Vehicles like the Toyota Yaris (formerly the Echo), Honda Fit, Chevrolet Aveo, and Nissan Versa continue the tradition of a small bodied, low weight automobile with high efficiency engine. Ultimately, this means that vehicles that are capable of achieving 30, 50 or more miles per gallon are populating our roadways.