Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 11:08:24 -0400
Reply-To: Erik O <koesel@UAKRON.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Erik O <koesel@UAKRON.EDU>
Subject: Re: DIESEL is.. Long....
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
KENWILFY wrote:
>
> Better get to like them. They are the engine of the future. I am NOT joking.
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> PS This subject has already been discussed at length on the List a few months
> ago. Check the archives.
I wouldn't say diesels are the engine of the future, maybe of the
present to the next 10 years or so. That Otmar guy building the stretch
TD Westfalia is working on the engines of the future, and past (and
thousands of others are doing it too!). Electric is here! Has been for
awhile, the first automobile was electric. There still is an important
place for the diesel, which is far superior to the gasoline engine.
I remember when I was a little kid, one of the few memories of my father
was once at a gas station, during late seventies (I'm 26 currently, for
reference). He must have come back from paying for the gas and he was
noticeably mad. I asked him what was wrong and he said he was mad at the
price of gas, which was like 65 cents a gallon if I remember correctly.
I sat quietly for a few minutes and then asked him if he thought gas
would ever cost one dollar a gallon. He smiled and chuckled a bit and
said yes, someday it will.
I filled up the tank on the Vanagon yesterday and paid a whopping $1.029
per gallon. I was paying over a dollar a gallon when I first got my
license back in 1987 (Y2K compliance). One indication that gas is so
cheap is Detroit selling vehicles getting 14/18 city/highway. Go test
drive one of those huge Lincoln Navigators. Excessiveness at the
extreme!
Back to diesel. Diesel fuel is cheaper than gas. Gas goes through many
refinement steps to get to the pump. When bought in bulk, like farmers
do, diesel costs less than $20 cents a gallon. Any farmers out there
with a correct, "current" figure?
Diesel engines are more efficient than gas. I believe diesels are up to
%40 efficient compared to gas at %25 at best (someone correct those
figures).
Diesels can be run on organic fuels with little or no modifications. Soy
and peanut oils are two of the options. Someone drove a van on oil
recycled from deep fryers across the country last year, check out
http://www.vegivan.com
I just wonder what will happen to the price of gas when APEC finally
realizes they are "sold out". I know they say they have reserves that'll
last them well into the next century, but look around the next time
you're stuck in traffic and wonder how long this can last. I'm aware
that North America has more reserves than the Middle East ever had, but
at what price. How would the market be if we were forced into using our
own reserves? How well would those Navagators and other SUV's be selling
if gas prices went to $2.00 or $4.00? Gas will reach those prices in my
lifetime, I'll bet on that.
My 2 cents and hypocrisy, driving my gas converted ex-diesel
Westfalia.... will be a diesel again someday....
_______________________
Erik O Akron, Oh
82 GTI Westfalia
http://ebyte.com/gl
http://ebyte.com/wow
