Author Topic: Gas Wars (Read 1061 times)

keith_h · « **Reply #60 on:** September 18, 2006, 02:00:19 PM »

Roger,
You can buy kits that allow you to use food oil. You start the vehicle with regular diesel and then switch over to the used oil once the engine is warmed up. I have read the exhaust smells like french fries. We have a few folks around here that do this. I understand they get the used oil for free since the restaraunt doesn't have to pay to haul it off.

Back to the subject. Gas is down to $2.28.

Keith

2400wattman · « **Reply #61 on:** September 18, 2006, 03:16:20 PM »

I'm going to have mexican food for dinner so gas will be back up for the evening. With that said let it be known I produce my own bio-diesel but much like the natural gas that is found pumping for oil in Alaska there is no known safe way to contain it for public use. Sorry guys..........yeeeeehaaaaw!!!!!

811952 · « **Reply #62 on:** September 18, 2006, 06:04:52 PM »

I know I'm going to need a fan at the gig when our keyboard player (John) has had chile for lunch. He likes to wander back behind the plexiglas drum screen to produce methane. Wilson, the drummer, does not love this. Gas war of a different, uh, stripe???

John

(Message edited by 811952 on September 18, 2006)

kmh364 · « **Reply #63 on:** September 19, 2006, 05:20:30 AM »

FWIW, I haven't seen biodiesel at any station here in Joisey. So far, Cummins isn't endorsing it, and I'm worried about the warrantee on a $16k engine. Meanwhile, diesel is down...paid $2.63 last night...but it's still $0.20 to $0.30 higher than regular unleaded, grrrrrrrrr!

trekster · « **Reply #64 on:** September 19, 2006, 06:27:40 AM »

Depends..I work on the outskirts of DC, then drive 50 miles West to Winchester VA for home..the diff? 2.55 in outskirts, 2.23 in Winchester.. and probably lower if I go to Costco, but havent felt like it lately.

--T

phylo · « **Reply #65 on:** September 19, 2006, 07:55:39 AM »

You get about the same mileage with biodiesel, unfortunatley that is about 18mpg in my old boat. In addition to adding an addtional tank to run straight vegetable oil (SVO), you can manufacture biodiesel with same stuff (free oil collected from restaurants) and not hafta modify your ride. I have not yet done that, but know group of guys that is doing it with much success.

the only real risk that I am aware of is that your fuel is going to come in contact with some low-grade rubbers/plastics and degrade them. Biodiesel will do this in a hurry! most engines are fine, unless fuel lines etc have been replaced with inferior parts. on the wagon there is a grommet around the fuel spout that has melted from just the drop or two that hits it when filling. Fortunately this just a cosmetic issue.

kmh364 · « **Reply #66 on:** September 19, 2006, 09:38:58 AM »

Maybe so, but the major OEM's are unconvinced. Not being rich, I'm not gonna void my warrantee on a rediculously expensive engine to try and save a few bucks and/or spare a few more dead dino's.

keith_h · « **Reply #67 on:** September 19, 2006, 10:14:21 AM »

Or could it be their relationship to the oil companies that effects their statements on bio-diesel. If everyone used corn oil for fuel we wouldn't have to wait for elections to see a drop in petroleum products.

mikedm · « **Reply #68 on:** September 19, 2006, 10:15:50 AM »

$2.20 yesterday. First time in months I could fill up for under $30.
Noticing the emergence of newer sub-compacts on the road. Tempting, but would need to take the bass case for a test fit before test driving, lol.

Bradley Young · « **Reply #69 on:** September 19, 2006, 09:34:29 PM »

Keith,

Better would be sugar ethanol. Corn isn't really that efficient (i.e. it takes, at a minimum, a goodly portion of a gallon of oil to produce a gallon of corn ethanol, and some estimates put it above one gallon of oil).

There are some really deep-seated political issues there (corn subsidies vs. sugar taxes).

Bradley

keith_h · « **Reply #70 on:** September 20, 2006, 05:56:32 AM »

Bradley,
I was talking about using the corn oil directly not converting it to ethanol. Vegetable oil can be burned directly in a diesel engine or mixed with petroleum diesel. The catch is straight vegetable oil cannot be used to start the engine so the vehicle must be dual fuel. There are folks around here filtering the used oil from restuarants and using it in their diesel cars/trucks. They get the oil for free. I don't know what the coversion costs are.

I've also read of a poultry processor converting their waste to bio-diesel. I believe this is in Missouri. I don't know how well they are doing though. I've also read of a company in Mass. that is taking used restuarant oil and selling it at pumps for cars they have converted to dual fuel.

Keith

811952 · « **Reply #71 on:** September 20, 2006, 06:51:23 AM »

Is the issue with straight veggie oil that it has to be heated to be viscous enough to make the trip through the fuel pump and injectors? I like the idea of less processing versus more processing (just like I like my bass signal). Maybe my perfect vehicle would run off a pellet stove.

I've been riding the KLR (45-55 mpg) as much as possible, since my truck gets something like 13 mpg no matter how gently I drive it. I can't see how folks around here can afford to drive their 4x4 trucks with mudders and still afford food. I can't imagine having to drive for work, especially someplace like NJ or NYC where you spend a lot of time in traffic. Kevin, you have my sympathies! Maybe your next rig will be a hybrid or fuel-cell jobby, since the indicators are that hybrid technology really shines with larger, heavier vehicles.

I wonder how long it will be before we start seeing steam make a comeback in the small industrial sector, since all you need to generate it is water and a fire (which seems to work well for my local power company). Lots of the neighbors have new outdoor pellet stoves for heating, and I can see using them for generating electricity on the near-horizon.

I paid $2.239 per gallon yesterday for 87 octane at the local Jiffy Mini-Mart.

John

811952 · « **Reply #72 on:** September 22, 2006, 08:24:12 AM »

$2.159 at the local Jiffy...

alembic76407 · « **Reply #73 on:** September 22, 2006, 02:01:07 PM »

$1.94 a Gallon now in Okla City !!!!!!