[Stoner]

Metalic Brown

[alex_holker]

Originally Posted by Wet Chicken

Of course we'll all have to just ignore those 500 cars that they are now using hydrogen with, because our resident Einstein Alex has assured us that the "technology has not yet become efficient enough" to build even one car

Have you even been reading what I've been writing? I said that until the 'alternative energy sources' are implemented, a hydrogen car still produces just as much pollution, because to make the hydrogen you need to have electricity. To produce electricity you need to:
1. develop and implement those alternative energy sources;
2. burn fossil fuels; or
3. run a fission reactor.

I never said that a hydrogen car was currently incapable of running.

Alex

[ComputerFix]

Originally Posted by Stoner

Be interesting to see the sales resistance after the first idiot puts an H powered Mercedes into a concrete abutment at an Interstate overpass or an oncoming semi rig.



Boom!

Which is also why the far more efficient nuclear reactor is not found in the US, fear of "bad things". It's going to be tough to show me enough evidence that I am safer in a car with a hydrogen tank as opposed to good ol gasoline. A full tank of gas cannot explode, a tank full of hydrogen will put me in low orbit. (now, before anyone says bull, gasoline is not flammable in liquid form, just in vapor form. While I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT, one could put a spark plug in a cup of gas, set it off, and nothing will happen. Bring it just up to the surface, however, and its a different story)




Recently read an article in which cars with diesel engines (preferably the old Mercedes) can be run on used cooking oil, which restaurants pay to have taken away. Apparently when made into a special cocktail (or strait with a modification to the car) they run just fine. One guy interviewed is haulin around in a custom 280Z and is in the process of fitting a diesel into a vette in order to show that all enviro friendly options don't have you looking like a nerd at the light.

[Wet Chicken]

Originally Posted by ComputerFix

and is in the process of fitting a diesel into a vette

That is the most offensive thing that I have ever read in this forum

[Wet Chicken]

Originally Posted by Stoner

Metalic Brown

I can just imagine stoner waxing his Pinto all up, and then cruising for babes

[MSM Hobbes]

One thing real fast. If really worried about the cost of fuel, keep in mind that to help in whatever small part it may be, the demand of it can be minimized if the vehicle is kept in tip-top shape, and get a real tune-up, keep tires properly inflated, taking public transport when possible, walking, combine/reduce trips, and so forth.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/atv.shtml

Only about 15% of the energy in the fuel you put in your gas tank gets used to move your car down the road or run useful accessories like air conditioning or power steering. The rest of the energy is lost. Because of this the potential to improve fuel economy with advanced technologies is enormous. ...more...

http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/...4/article.html

Top 10 Tips for Improving Your Fuel Economy
By Tara Baukus Mello
Date Posted 10-05-2004
Filling up is a fact of every driver's life, but for some drivers it is a necessary evil. If you are one of those people who gulps every time you have to fill up your vehicle, there's good news: there are some simple things you can do to improve your fuel economy no matter what type of vehicle you drive.

Monitoring your average fuel economy regularly is a good idea, too. (Some vehicles have a handy computer that computes this for you.) If you notice a significant change, then something has changed with your vehicle.

Here are 10 things you can do today to get better gas mileage right away.

Follow the Recommended Maintenance
A vehicle that is well maintained means it will operate with greater efficiency. This not only improves your overall vehicle performance, but it will improve your fuel economy as well. Fouled spark plugs, a dirty air filter or clogged fuel filter will all affect your fuel economy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), replacing a clogged air filter can increase your mileage by 10 percent, while replacing an oxygen sensor could result in an improvement as high as 40 percent. Proper maintenance also means using the right octane gas and the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the recommended types for your vehicle will give you optimum fuel economy — and can save you money as well. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's recommendations and have maintenance performed regularly by a dealer or reputable mechanic.

Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which translates into more frequent fill-ups. You can improve your fuel economy by about 3.3 percent if you keep your tires inflated properly, according to the DOE. The psi number noted on the sidewall of your tires is the maximum pressure of the tire and is not the proper inflation level for your car. Your vehicle manufacturer will list the recommended tire pressure in your owner's manual or a sticker on the doorjamb of the driver-side door. Buy a tire-pressure gauge and check your tires monthly, adding air as necessary.

Take a Load Off
Heavier vehicles require more energy to move, so carrying around excess weight will also affect your mileage. Empty out your trunk (or even your backseat) of unnecessary items. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk will reduce your fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent in the typical vehicle. If you have a roof rack or roof carrier, install it on your vehicle only when absolutely necessary. Not only does the carrier add extra weight, but it also increases the aerodynamic drag on the vehicle, which further contributes to a loss of fuel economy.

Don't Drive Aggressively
We're not talking road rage here, but the type of driving many people do when they are in a rush. Mashing the accelerator pedal from a stoplight, braking hard and speeding all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and think "steady and smooth" as you drive. On surface streets, driving at the speed limit will give you mostly green lights, which improves your gas mileage as well as reduces the wear on your brakes. On the highway, the DOE says that every 5 mph you drive over 65 mph represents a 7-percent decrease in fuel economy.

Use the Highest Gear Possible
Cars are designed to start in the lowest gear possible because that's where they have the most power, but that power translates to an increase in fuel consumption. To improve your fuel economy, drive in the highest gear possible when you are cruising at a steady speed, such as on the highway. If your vehicle has an automatic transmission with a "sport" mode, it's most likely that this is a computer program designed to shift later (and therefore keep you in a lower gear longer). While this gives you greater performance, driving in "sport" mode will also decrease your fuel economy.

Use Cruise Control — Selectively
Using cruise control can improve your gas mileage by helping you maintain a steady speed, but only if you are driving on mostly flat roads. If you are driving in hilly terrain, using cruise control typically causes your vehicle to speed up faster (to maintain the preset speed) than it would if you were operating the accelerator yourself. Before you push that cruise control button, think about the terrain ahead.

Think Clean
Keeping your car washed and waxed improves aerodynamics and therefore affects fuel economy. Engineer Tom Wagner, Jr. reported to Stretcher.com (as in stretching your dollars) a 7-percent improvement in fuel economy, from 15 to 16 mpg, during a 1,600-mile road trip.

Avoid Excessive Idling
When a car is idling, it is using fuel, yet not going anywhere. This translates to 0 mpg. When you leave your car running while you are waiting in line at the drive-thru, or as you wait outside your kids' school, you are wasting fuel. It is more efficient to turn the engine off while you wait and then restart the car. If that's not practical (like in the line at McDonald's), then park the car and go inside instead.

Think Before You Vent(ilate)
Running your air conditioner does cause your vehicle to consume more fuel, but driving with your windows rolled down can be even worse due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. If you are driving slowly, such as around town or in city traffic, then you are better off leaving your windows open, if at all possible. For highway driving, roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning on.

Combine Your Errands
A little planning can make a big difference in fuel economy. When your engine is cold, it uses more fuel than when it is warm. Combining errands can improve your gas mileage because your engine will be warm for more of the trip. It might also mean you travel less total miles. According to the DOE, several short trips all begun with a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a single, longer trip that covers the same distance.

Lastly, http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml, has some more advice related to the above. While http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/current.shtml discusses various alt energy vehicles. Our gov't, here to help us...

[Stoner]

Hobbes.....mornin'

More important today,IMHO, how fast is it?
If it's large and heavy, a bigger motor is obviously the cure
Speed sells
Lets face it.......a timely response from a machine is necessary in today's hustle and bustle society where achieving the instant gratification of mercurial acquisition while hunting at the local Mall.....is ....well....let's face it......good for the economy
So, a 6500 lb SUV needs that double overhead cam, 32 valve, 5.4 liter V8 with a Borla freeflow exhaust and a K&N airfilter kit.
You never know when you'll need that extra torque for jumping parking curbs in a quest for the closest parking space to the store's front door.......time is money

Low tire pressures and big knobby tires are also a "+" in low traction situations where the 4wheel drive just isn't enough in the parking lot....

[Wet Chicken]

Originally Posted by Stoner

and a K&N airfilter kit.

Don't forget the 'Tornado' airfilter attachment

[tdi_veedub]

In Kingston, ON, the city busses all run on bio-diesel. In the winter they use an 80/20 mix of regular petrol diesel, and 20% bio-diesel (known as B20) to prevent gelling in cold conditions, and in the summer they use straight bio-diesel(known as B100).

Bio-diesel is created from vegetable oil (mostly soybean oil, and used re-treated restaurant oil). That's as renewable as you can get right now.

Bio-diesel emits less particulate matter, Carbon Monoxide and hydrocarbons than petrol-diesel. However, NoX emissions are as much as 15% higher than petro-diesel because it is less efficient, and burns hotter. NoX can be controlled(as it is now) with an EGR system, and catalytic converters. However, since biodiesel has no sulpher content, reduced engine timing, and the use of heavy alkylates, can reduce the added NoX output of biodiesel to below that of the current emissions of NoX from petrol-diesel (Low sulpher, 500ppm).

With a proper NoX reduction system in place, bio-diesel is currently the most environmentally friendly feulling option availabe because it is:

Renewable
Pollutes less (with proper controls in place)
Doesn't rely on fossil fuels (as there is with hydrogen cells)

I knew nothing of this until I bought my self a TDI volkswagen

[ComputerFix]

Originally Posted by tdi_veedub

In Kingston, ON, the city busses all run on bio-diesel. In the winter they use an 80/20 mix of regular petrol diesel, and 20% bio-diesel (known as B20) to prevent gelling in cold conditions, and in the summer they use straight bio-diesel(known as B100).

Bio-diesel is created from vegetable oil (mostly soybean oil, and used re-treated restaurant oil). That's as renewable as you can get right now.

Bio-diesel emits less particulate matter, Carbon Monoxide and hydrocarbons than petrol-diesel. However, NoX emissions are as much as 15% higher than petro-diesel because it is less efficient, and burns hotter. NoX can be controlled(as it is now) with an EGR system, and catalytic converters. However, since biodiesel has no sulpher content, reduced engine timing, and the use of heavy alkylates, can reduce the added NoX output of biodiesel to below that of the current emissions of NoX from petrol-diesel (Low sulpher, 500ppm).

With a proper NoX reduction system in place, bio-diesel is currently the most environmentally friendly feulling option availabe because it is:

Renewable
Pollutes less (with proper controls in place)
Doesn't rely on fossil fuels (as there is with hydrogen cells)

I knew nothing of this until I bought my self a TDI volkswagen

Yes! This was mentioned as well, though you will have to recheck you last line, as it does require fossil fuels, diesel to be exact. The article mentioned that there are states here going for it, as those who are truely subject to fuel costs, the trucking industry, could benifit greatly.

Of course, the reality is, gasoline is but a pittance of what we use crude oil for. Remember, gasoline, with a little less refinement, is simply the by product of processing oil. It would simply be burned off right at the refinery if there were no need for it.

I wonder if DN is floating around? If memory serves, he has all sorts of info regarding why we are truely dependant on the black gold, and it isn't Mulder's SUV.

[tdi_veedub]

though you will have to recheck you last line, as it does require fossil fuels, diesel to be exact.

Yes, B20 requires Petrol-diesel. My bad for not making that clear.

However, B100 biodiesel, is pure biodiesel(No petrol-diesel). The only problem with it is it's incompatability with cold temps.

[ComputerFix]

Originally Posted by tdi_veedub

Yes, B20 requires Petrol-diesel. My bad for not making that clear.

However, B100 biodiesel, is pure biodiesel(No petrol-diesel). The only problem with it is it's incompatability with cold temps.

As I also understand it, there is a problem with "modern" diesels, though no formal studies, or at least published ones, have been done on the long term engine effects. The article alleged that Wal-Mart has been studying it for thier truck fleet, to determine if the potentially shortened engine life outweighs the benifits.

IMO, finding a viable source for trucking is going to be far more benificial in the short term. These folks rack up the miles, the money, and the emissions. I'm not picking on them, but there are no carpool options, the engines are massive, as is the amount of fuel to run them, and no private person is going to rival thier use. They also will be more likely to have the capital required to invest in an alternative. (look at the prices of those rigs!)

[MSM Hobbes]

Stoner mentioned the "K&N airfilter kit"... yeap, forgot to mention that just installed such on two of the three rigs [durn Honda Odyssee is a bear to change the air filter! take these four screws out, hold that there, take out this other screw, move that over there, do this, do that, and then finally change the filter, reverse procedure, finish. BS!!! no way to be that much of a mucky mess for such a simple operation! ]. The S-10 blazer also has the free-flow exhaust,,, zoooooom... zooooooom! Runs on mich m&s, no knobbies for hobbies. As to speed, ha! Speed is my friend.

btw, g'morn Jack.

[MSM Hobbes]

CF, you nailed one of my biggest complaints squarely on the head! Unfortunately, the main avenue to reduce trucks is to increase rail, and that system, while improving of late, is such a sad mess. Forget the actual number, but recall something along the lines of one train can carry hundreds of same freight as trucks, w/o the road damage and w/ much less emissions. Will have to find that article.

[ComputerFix]

Rail is a dying industry. Even with rail, trucks are still required. Accident rates are huge. While the industry is making huge strides towards efficiency as of late, I fear it is simply too late. IMO, take the same money and make point to point transport "better" (I say this in an all around better sense).