Date:         Thu, 13 May 2004 08:13:03 -0700
Reply-To:     Steven Dodson <steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steven Dodson <steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM>
Subject:      Diesels on NPR
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Don had the answer; we need a good, nation-wide mass transit system.
Even if each one were state run and connected together, like the European
system, we'd get more than half the cars off the road. It would save all the
wear and tear of daily driving on our Vanagons and keep them in better shape
for camping and adventures.

A statement was made about using animal fat. Fact is animal fat makes a pour
and dirty fuel.
I'm not saying it doesn't burn well; the problem is it's very sooty, just
like petrol-diesel. Maybe because it comes from an animal (dino) base like
crude. It also makes a pour fuel because it solidifies at room temperature.
Bio-diesel suppliers in CA have at times laced theirs with small percentages
of rendered grease (because it's free), making the fuel unusable at temps
below 50F without custom fuel heaters.

There will always be those who love gas and those who love diesel. The
problem here in the USA is we love our cars too much. We need to get past
that and learn to love the earth (and mass transit).

-Steven Dodson
Kneeland, CA
"Inga" the 87 Syncro