Quote:
Originally Posted by zkv476
Ethanol has less specific energy, but its resistance to knock allows as mentioned the ability to run more ignition advance and boost. It's much easier to compensate for less specific energy by injecting more fuel than to advance timing or increase boost beyond what will cause gasoline to detonate.
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You're thinking of specific heat. It literally combusts cooler than gasoline does, another reason it prevents knock. but yes, pound for pound it has less energy than gasoline. The reason why it produces more is it's ability to withstand much higher cylinder pressures than gasoline. This is also why E85 is worse on MPG than gasoline as well, you need more of it to make a lot of power.
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