Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 15:54:29 -0800
Reply-To: Steven Dodson <steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steven Dodson <steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM>
Subject: Bio-diesel in VW's
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I think a majority of diesel in Europe has at least 25% bio in it. (Euro
listies, please correct me if I'm wrong) From what I understand, VW TDi's
are certified to run on bio-diesel with the exception of US bio-diesel. The
reason seems to be that some distributors of bio-diesel in the US think it's
more profitable to water theirs down with rendered grease (animal fat),
which they can get paid to take away from slaughter houses. This fat
solidifies at a higher temp and thus renders the fuel useless in low temp
areas. Can you say molasses? Humboldt State U's CCAT did tests on locally
supplied bio-diesel and found rendered grease in it. Getting the bad stuff
by accident can be a real turn off to those trying it out for the first
time. Vehicle won't start if outside temp in under 45F. Diesel stabilizer
helps but not enough to keep this junk flowing.
Though it depends somewhat on the type of plant the oil comes from, clean,
refined bio-diesel with diesel stabilizer in it, should perform well in most
climates form 20F-100F.
The problem with unrefined plant oil is that it doesn't burn as clean and
produces nearly as much NOX as petrol-diesel. Yes it's a plant based fuel
but dirty. The refining process does a lot for the emissions. There are no
toxic byproducts of the refining process unless the batch is bad.
I don't know the story on how Rudy died but it wasn't long after his death
that the oil companies had a market for a refinery byproduct that they
previously were burning off.
Just think about the direction the world fuel economy might have taken if
Diesel's plant fuel, had been successfully marketed. I wonder how many less
wars might have been waged in the last century?
Admittedly, bio-diesel is not a perfect fuel but it is certainly a step in
the right direction.
I'm burning bio-diesel in my generator and hope to be burning it my Vanagon
by summer.
-Steven Dodson
Kneeland, CA
"Inga" the 87 Syncro
>but yes--VW does frown on running bio-diesel or pure vegetable oil--they =
>dont ever really have to know do they? as much as i like bio-diesel--I'm =
>leaning more towards pour vege oil--all you do is dump it in and your =
>ready to roll