Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 20:46:24 -0700
Reply-To: Ryan Mark Shankland <mark.shank@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ryan Mark Shankland <mark.shank@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Bio-diesel in VW's
In-Reply-To: <CHEMIOFEMIHINDCEBODPMEAKDHAA.steven@epochdesign.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
The pure veg oil is frightening to me as if you forget to turn it off
and clean out your system with your diesel tank it congeals when the
engine cools-- the soy biodiesel I'm buying is rated to 0 degrees F at
20% and 20 degrees F for 100%, and the upcoming mustard seed is rated
lower. Also it cleans the fuel system and produces fewer carcinogins.
Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Steven Dodson
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 4:54 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Bio-diesel in VW's
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