I'm looking at these dyno graphs of stock 01 CL-S and they only make from 196-201 at the wheels, this is a drivetrain lose of almost 25% is it really this bad? I thought it was only 15% lose which would make like 220 at the wheels. Why is the drivetrain so inefficent?

 

The CL-S auto isn't anymore inefficent than other auto tranny. Autos don't lose 15% manuals do. The CL-S 6sp dynos at 220. The CL-S auto is right where it should be in terms of drivetrain loss.

 

Autos typically lose around 20-25%, so the auto CL-S is right on. The manual is loosing around 12-15%, which is also right on....

 

the added Auto losses over the manual are mostly due to the torque converter....
If there is an ideal converter it should not add more losses

 

Wrong.

 

such an informative answer...

 

20-25% is normal for an auto. The better the auro, the lower the loss. My GS is right around 19-20%.

From what I've read, FWD is usually a little more efficient than RWD due to the added mechanical heft of the driveshaft, distance, and U-joints in the RWD. Again, this is secondhand knowledge though.