Question

If the engine is overcooled some of the heat which could be used to expand the gases will be lost.

(a) True

(b) False

The question was posed to me during an interview.

My doubt stems from Heat Rejection in section Heat Rejection and Cooling of IC Engine

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

(a) True

If the engine is overcooled, it means that the temperature of the engine is kept too low, and some of the heat that could have been used to expand the gases during the combustion process is instead lost to the cooling system. This results in reduced thermal efficiency because the engine is not operating at the optimal temperature needed for efficient combustion and energy conversion. Overcooling can prevent the engine from reaching its ideal operating temperature, reducing performance and power output.