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Originally Posted by dr249
One idea I had is a properly tuned engine could actually be tuned slightly richer than stoiciometric and the excess fuel provides cooling as it evaporates. .
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This is a good observation dr249, it is quite true that the excess fuel will result in better cooling. This does however reach a point of diminishing returns, keeping in mind that it is heat that produces horse power. Like everthing else in physics, there is a balance between forces and an ideal compromise is always seemingly just one adjustment away. Because high compression engines produce more heat, they will also make more horsepower. However, if this heat reaches beyond a critical level, preignition along with greater frictional loses will start leaching away any extra power that was gained in the first place. A slightly lean mixture will always make more power because total combustion is achieved, the question is however, for how long will the engine tolerate the abuse. I drag race with a small block Mopar, and I personally like to keep the fuel mixture slightly rich just to be on the safe side. I learned this the hard way by burning the top ring land off of a piston on more than one occasion.
