13
Table 5. Energy Lost to Friction in Pistons, Rings, and
Connecting Rods
(Data for 1995)
Diesel Fuel,
Million bbl/year
Gasoline,
Million bbl/year
Total Fuel,
Million bbl/year
Total Fuel,
Quads
Heavy-Duty Trucks
23
6
29
0.17
Buses
1
0
2
0.01
Off-Highway
4
2
6
0.03
Rail
3
0
3
0.02
Total Heavy Duty (HD)
31
8
40
0.23
Light Trucks (LT)
1
60
61
0.35
Total HD + LT
33
68
101
0.58
Automobiles
1
93
93
0.54
Total Vehicles
33
161
194
1.13
Even without considering the costs of replacing worn parts, downtime on commercial vehicles,
and safety implications, the impact of friction on fuel efficiency offers an attractive target for
R&D related to new materials, better coatings and surface conditioning, improved lubricants, and
advanced design methods.
and safety implications, the impact of friction on fuel efficiency offers an attractive target for
R&D related to new materials, better coatings and surface conditioning, improved lubricants, and
advanced design methods.