Diesel Won't Solve Our Gasoline Woes

The Washington Post ^ | Monday, August 8, 2005; Page A15 | Michael D. Tusiani

[Stashiu]

I am using 100% soy biodiesel. Around here it is costing $3.67/gallon, although I get a 50% rebate from the Maryland Soybean Board. I buy it at a gas station. My mileage is the same (22city/27hwy).

In another part of the state, it runs about the same as regular diesel....go figure (about $2.50/gal).

Biodiesel does not require any engine mods, however, you need to keep an eye on your fuel lines. The older pure rubber ones will start to weep over time. You then replace them with Viton type lines.

In the winter, I can mix pure biodiesel with 20% kerosene to keep the pour point low enough for the cold weather. The gas station does winterize it (add kerosene).

Check out this website for Texas biodiesel sales:

http://www.nbb.org/buyingbiodiesel/retailfuelingsites/showstate.asp?st=TX

[brianl703]

You could just do a BAS system on that. "belt alternator starter". The starter is replaced with a belt-driven alternator that can also act as a motor to start the car. The engine shuts down when you're stopped in traffic, just like a full hybrid. Supposed to get a 2 to 5% city fuel economy improvement, and not that expensive to implement.

[SevenDaysInMay]

The energy to create the alcohol is just a bit more or perhaps about the same as the available energy output from engines burning "green gas" blends.

I have buried somewhere several published reports by THE scientist who created the original research data which EPA misused after a sloppy math error FUBARed the whole issue.

I cannot recal which undesirable "X-OX", but this entire matter IS POLITICAL. Remember Sen. Bob Dole, Kansas on ADM's payroll?

Remember that ALL alcohols spilled seek irretrievably into ground water. Ethanol is denatured because of booze tax purposes and therefore a true poison.

I have lost a friend to a Honda fuel fire following a crash; witnesses saw him cook alive, hardly othewise hurt, but pinned - sitting over pooling gasoline.

I prefer minimally explosive #2 fuel except in bitter cold. I like running errands in little, parkable cars (Toyota) where a diesel would be great economy over at least 300,000 miles and fire resistant. They are available everywhere but here.

I'd buy a Honda Element IFF it came with a 140HP/280#' #2 turbo-diesel set up to tow 5,000#.