Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 09:43:34 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: alternative carburetion of FI 2.0 Liter vanagon engine???
In-Reply-To: <011701c5b430$e08b69b0$0201a8c0@9100d>
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We in this country - the 48 contiguous states plus Alaska - have
incredible natural gas reserves. Way more than oil. It's interesting
that we are so hung up on oil. The natural gas is a far better fuel so
far as environment is concerned. Produces essentially CO2 and water when
burned. So far as the environment and air quality is concerned, fuel
types is not the problem, but the volume that is being consumed and the
resulting volumes of green house gases being released into tthe
atmosphere. Our ever increasing population numbers world wide,
increasing the demand for fuels which add more greenhouse gases, is
going to have to have a cap sooner or later, or we are in bigger trouble
than anyone realizes.
I've told this story before - I'll tell it again.
When studying bacteriology a long time ago, I watched a bacterial colony
growing on a growth(blood) media in the center of a petri dish. As the
colony continued to consume the media, it grew outward in a circle,
since there was plenty of food in that direction. As it grew, the media
in the center of the dish was used up and toxins of metabolism began to
accumulate. Death and corruption began to occur to bacteria in the
middle of the colony and it turned black, but the colony was still
growing almost exponentially. As the colony continued to grow in the
direction of the limits of it environment - the sides of the petri dish,
the center continued to die off in a bigger and bigger circle. The dying
was slower than the growth. Then one day the colony reach the walls of
the petri dish - the limits of it's world, the limits of it's
environment. However, the dying center continued to expand, moving
further and further towards the sides of the dish. Soon, after all the
blood had been consumed, the toxins of metabolism continued to build and
the circle of death finally reached the walls to the petri dish. The
whole colony died.
There are some serious lessons folks, to be learned from that bacterial
colony in that petri dish. We had better wise up.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Gary Lee, Vanagon Racks wrote:
> How about an alternative FUEL for your vehicle. Most people think diesel
> and WVO, but in Canada and parts of Europe propane can make sense.
>
> I converted a Vanagon to propane a number of years ago. Depending on the
> where you live and the price of LPG, it can be more economical than
> gasoline
> and cheaper than a diesel conversion. Propane Vanagons are somewhat
> common
> in the UK, where gas is very expensive. Belgium and the Netherlands
> also are
> favorable to LPG.
> Just today I finished converting my old Volvo 850 turbo 5 speed wagon to
> dual fuel. At the moment gasoline is $1.10 a liter and propane is
> $0.50 a
> liter so the spread is unusually wide. Most propane is a byproduct of
> natural gas production, the rest comes from oil refineries. Natural
> Gas is
> traded independently from oil, but it is also high at the moment.
> Apparently
> Canada only uses about 1/4 of the propane it produces, the rest is
> shipped
> south to America. We have a huge surplus which could be used for motor
> fuel.
> Another point, propane burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel and is
> considered a "clean fuel" by some states. Lower CO, NO, CO2 and
> particulates than gas or diesel.
>
> http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/propane/propane.htm
>
> Gary Lee
>
>
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