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Date:         Tue, 26 Mar 2002 21:44:34 -0600
Reply-To:     Chris Mills <scmills@TNTECH.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris Mills <scmills@TNTECH.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon alternative fuel  (long but lots of good links)
Comments: To: WVVW <wvveedub@NETSCAPE.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <3ADAEA9D.09F8CFFA.00B0D2D4@netscape.net>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

Cool - I thought you guys were talking about running bio-diesel through a gasoline engine.... There was a comment in one of the postings about a catalytic converter getting stopped up and I got all confused.

Yeah I am a lurker on the Bio-diesel list. Lot's of excellent info.

I'll be looking into that if I move away from a gasoline vehicle towards a diesel burner.

At 09:20 PM 3/26/02 -0500, you wrote: >Chris, > >Actually, there are several of us on the list who have been 'researching' >alternative fuels. I have been reading about them quite a bit over the >past year. > >To answer your question, any diesel engine can run on vegetable oils. One >would wonder why, if that is the case, why it isn't more widely >used. Actually, there are several: > >1. Cost. Vegetable oil is more costly to produce at this time than plain >old diesel fuel. However, you can run a diesel on 'pre-used' vegetable >oils, like the stuff out of the drums behind McDonald's. Usually, it is >free, but you must carefully filter it. > >2. Vegetable oils are only combustable once the engine reaches operating >temperature. There are systems available (www.greasecar.com, >www.greasal.com) that allow you to install a second tank and special >valves that allow the vehicle to start on diesel, then run on straight >vegetable oil. > >3. The polyunsaturated fats in vegetable oils begin to crystalize at >temperatures below 0 degrees, clogging fuel lines and injectors. It is >possible to filter the polyunsaturated fats by bringing the oils to -15 >degrees and remove the crystals. But, the polyunsaturated fats are what >mostly gives the oil it's combustability. > >However, there are other alternatives. Bio-diesel is becoming more >popular as an alternative fuel. Bio-diesel is made from 'pre-used' >vegetable oils and then processing it with lye and methanol (both over the >counter products). The result is a fuel that can be used without having >to be concerned with the crystalization problems or cooler >temperatures. There are companies that manufacture a form of bio-diesel >under the moniker 'b-20' or 'b-40'. > >Here is a company, based in Ohio, that make bio-based lubricants, >including a high performance motor oil used by some NASCAR drivers: >http://www.renewablelube.com/ > >To get recipies to 'brew your own' bio-diesel, visit: >http://www.journeytoforever.org > >Both Penn State and The University of Saskatchewan (Canada) have done >extensive research on the subject: >http://www.ems.psu.edu/info/explore/VegeFuels.html >http://www.arts.usask.ca/policynut/emixes.htm > >There are also some interesting articles on the Science News site: >http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/12_5_98/Bob2.htm > >While there are several drawbacks to using vegetable oil or bio-diesel as >a fuel, the main dispute appears to be lack of convienence. Since you >can't drive up to you local gas station and pump it into you car (or >Vanagon), people don't want to use it. > >Personally, I'd like to see the old diesel vanagons back on the road using >bio-fuel as opposed to scrapping them for conversion parts. > >(Thanks to John for a lot of the links) >-- >Brian >'85 Vanagon 7-passenger GL > __________________________________ __ > /____ ______ ____== ___________\ ___ > // | | | | \== \ \\ _____ > // | | | | \== \ \\ > //______| |______| |______\== \__________\|______ > | - | > | | | @ |______ > _[ ____ __ _ [|][WVVW][|]_ > |__] // \\ / \ |___|____________| > `---/| () |\--------|| () |---/=)________)=o{}=={ }=={ } > _________\__//_\__//____ \__//__\__//________________________________ > > > >__________________________________________________________________ >Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. >Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! >http://shopnow.netscape.com/ > >Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at >http://webmail.netscape.com/

Chris M. <Busbodger - "TEAM SLOWPOKE"> Cookeville, Tennessee

ICQ# 5944649 scm9985@tntech.edu

'78 VW Westfalia (67 HP -> that is...67 Hamster Power) '65 Beetle - Type IV powered '99 CR-V AWD station wagon '81 CB900 Custom moto-chickle 2.5 Corvair engines for my Trans-vair Conversion


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