The fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine (ICE) is significantly determined by its thermal efficiency and the fuel density¹ — independent of the type of fuel the thermal density dominates. There’s other fuel efficiency factors such as the following some which either have a minor effect or are already practically nearly fully optimized:
- friction of moving parts
- inefficient combustion
- heat loss from the combustion chamber
- departure of the working fluid from the thermodynamic properties of an ideal gas
- aerodynamic drag of air moving through the engine
- energy used by auxiliary equipment like oil and water pumps.
- inefficient compressors and turbines
- imperfect valve timing