Date:         Sun, 24 Apr 2005 18:24:18 -0500
Reply-To:     Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Diesel Fuel vs Gasoline
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

> Can anyone tell me why one would w3ant to got to the trouble and
> expense
> of installing a diesel in their van vs staying with a goline
> engine????
> Gasoline here in my are can be bouth at $2.08.9/gal. , while diesel
> costs $2.25.9/gal.
> Sure doesn't look like much incentive for going diesel.

well ... it works out this way:

2.26 - 2.09 = 0.17 difference per gallon. which is like a tad over 8
percent higher (than the gas).
so if you got 16 percent better mpg from the diesel, it would seem
better.
so if you get 20 mpg with a gasoline, then you need only get 4 mpg to
get the percentage better of the deal.
and diesels usually can get 28 mpg, which is like 40 percent better!
anything above that, and your basic vanagon owner starts drooling. ;)

but all of that forgets the cost of buying the diesel engine and
putting it into the bus!! :( you're gonna have to drive a loooooooong
way to recoup the $3000 or so for those little items at $0.17/gallon.
assuming that the price difference stays the same.

but there is one tiny bright spot on the horizon ... a diesel CAN run
other-than-diesel-fuel fuels. like bio-diesel. or soy-diesel. sorta.
kinda. maybe. not sure about alcohol. but i have heard one story about
a certain vw magazine that tested a vanagon diesel down in mexico, and
couldn't find diesel fuel ... so they mixed gasoline with 30w motor
oil (seems to me it was like one quart  of oil per five liters of
gasoline??? is that too thick?) and made it home on it ok. :)

besides, it's not really about money ... it's like those folks who
drive Pinzgauers and Unimogs and other 'exotic' old vehicles; it's
about tinkering and plotting and planning and just enjoying yourself
cause YOU thought of it and actually did it!! ;)

unca joel