| Subject: Re: Godd Bye vehicle warrenty! |
Author:
Oropan
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Date Posted: 15:55:00 02/27/07 Tue
In reply to:
Duncan7
's message, "Re: Godd Bye vehicle warrenty!" on 21:52:02 02/25/07 Sun
As soon as you modify ANYTHING on a new vehicle, the warrenty is voided....PERIOD!
>Haven't had a need for one. Other then brakes, tires
>and mufflers and regular service everythings pretty
>normal.
>
>>>For once, an article I agree with. Although you don't
>>>have to use methonal, any alcohol will do and I
>>>recommend a certain amount of butanol for best
>>results.
>>>
>>>>well what did you expect, lie and methonal is used
>to
>>>>make the biodiesel
>>>>
>>>>FUELING A REVOLUTION
>>>>Biodiesel moves almost into mainstream in Bay Area
>>>>
>>>>About a year ago, Paul McNees chose to change his
>>life
>>>>by changing his fuel.
>>>>
>>>>He sold his Saturn sport utility vehicle and bought
>a
>>>>diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz. A mechanic whipped it
>>>>into running order and replaced the soft rubber fuel
>>>>lines with something sturdier.
>>>>
>>>>Then the El Sobrante teacher started burning
>>biodiesel
>>>>-- a fuel cooked up not from petroleum but from
>>>>vegetable oil, often waste oil from restaurants or
>>>>food processing plants.
>>>>
>>>>"I just couldn't justify filling up that tank with
>>>>gasoline anymore for a multitude of reasons,'' said
>>>>McNees, 43, citing global warming and the war in
>>Iraq.
>>>>"This has been great. It's totally cleaned out the
>>>>engine. It runs great, has a lot more power. It sort
>>>>of smells like french fries -- it doesn't have that
>>>>noxious diesel smell."
>>>>
>>>>A small but growing number of Bay Area drivers like
>>>>McNees are trading their gasoline-fueled autos for
>>>>biodiesel-powered cars. How many is hard to tell.
>The
>>>>biodiesel industry is nascent, largely unregulated
>>and
>>>>informally organized. But experts agree that
>>biodiesel
>>>>use is growing.
>>>>
>>>>Nationally, biodiesel consumption is up sharply --
>>>>from 500,000 gallons in 1999 to more than 75 million
>>>>gallons in 2005. In the Bay Area, the number of
>>>>customers filling up at Berkeley's Biofuel Oasis --
>>>>one of the region's few public biodiesel stations --
>>>>has climbed from about 200 three years ago to about
>>>>1,800 today.
>>>>
>>>>Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and President Bush have
>>>>mentioned the fuel in their respective plans to cut
>>>>greenhouse gases and reduce petroleum dependence.
>The
>>>>University of California recently signed a landmark
>>>>deal with oil giant BP to develop biofuels.
>>>>
>>>>Much of biodiesel's appeal stems from the fuel's
>>>>ability to perform as well as petroleum diesel while
>>>>emitting fewer exhaust materials that cause smog,
>>>>particulate pollution and global warming. According
>>to
>>>>the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pure
>>>>biodiesel emits 67 percent fewer unburned
>>>>hydrocarbons, 48 percent less carbon monoxide and 47
>>>>percent fewer particulates but 10 percent more
>>>>nitrogen oxides.
>>>>
>>>>Yet, despite its benefits and growing popularity,
>>>>biodiesel might not be the fuel of the future
>>because,
>>>>as demand grows, the amount of land needed to
>produce
>>>>the oils could become untenable, experts say.
>>>>
>>>>Biodiesel is created in a relatively simple process
>>>>known as transesterification. Producers, including
>>>>fuel companies or home brewers, start with clean or
>>>>waste vegetable oil, then add methanol and a
>catalyst
>>>>such as lye. A chemical reaction produces biodiesel
>>>>and glycerine, which can be separated easily. The
>>>>glycerine can be used in a variety of products, from
>>>>soap to manufactured fireplace logs.
>>>>
>>>>Biodiesel has been popular for years among farmers
>in
>>>>the Midwest and in the South, where virgin soybean
>>oil
>>>>typically is used to produce the fuel. Yet its use
>in
>>>>the West, until recently, was largely limited to
>>>>hobbyists who brewed the fuel at home and people who
>>>>prided themselves on not using oil.
>>>>
>>>>The home brewers include people like Ben Jordan, who
>>>>makes his own biodiesel and teaches an alternative
>>>>fuels class at City College of San Francisco, in
>>which
>>>>students create a batch of biodiesel.
>>>>
>>>>"It's very dangerous and potentially very
>>>>problematic,'' he said. "You're dealing with
>methanol
>>>>and lye, and when you mix it together, it is very
>>>>explosive and toxic. It's not something to mess
>>around
>>>>with. However, if you know what you're doing, you
>can
>>>>safely and easily make it in your own home.''
>>>>
>>>>Home brewers deserve much of the credit for the
>>>>percolating interest in biodiesel, said Anna
>>>>Halpern-Lande of Tellurion Biodiesel, a San
>Francisco
>>>>marketing and distribution firm.
>>>>
>>>>"The hobbyists make up a very small portion of the
>>>>market," she said, "but they play a critical role:
>>>>They capture the public's attention.''
>>>>
>>>>In the past couple of years, biodiesel and other
>>>>so-called alternative fuels have moved out of
>garages
>>>>and workshops and into the mainstream. On Wednesday,
>>>>Safeway, which operates 300 fuel stations in the
>>>>United States, opened a biodiesel test pump in West
>>>>Seattle. The fuel also is becoming popular with
>>>>celebrities: Country music legend Willie Nelson, for
>>>>example, is a partner in BioWillie Diesel, which
>>>>markets the natural fuel primarily to truck stops.
>>>>
>>>>The change hasn't gone unnoticed by some of
>>>>biodiesel's earlier adopters, such as Ahri Golden,
>>32,
>>>>a public radio documentarian from Berkeley, who has
>>>>burned biodiesel in her 1980 Mercedes for four
>>years.
>>>>
>>>>"It was kind of hippie-ish," Golden said as she
>>filled
>>>>up at Biofuel Oasis. "Now you see a lot more people
>>>>with nicer cars and more money coming for the
>>>>practicality and not just the ideology.''
>>>>
>>>>Yet it isn't practical for everyone. New diesel cars
>>>>aren't sold in California because of air-quality
>>>>regulations, and buying an older diesel can be
>>>>competitive, biodiesel users say. No significant
>>>>modifications are required to use biodiesel, but
>>>>because it is a solvent, soft rubber gas lines need
>>to
>>>>be replaced with stronger tubing.
>>>>
>>>>Biodiesel stations also are still hard to find:
>There
>>>>are just nine in the nine-county Bay Area, according
>>>>to the National Biodiesel Board. The small-scale
>>>>operations usually have limited business hours.
>>>>
>>>>"You can't just run down to the gas station,'' said
>>>>biodiesel user Jonathan Austin of Oakland. "You've
>>got
>>>>to plan ahead.''
>>>>
>>>>Because fueling stations have limited hours, many
>>>>biodiesel users fill their tanks, as well as one or
>>>>more 5-gallon containers that can be stored in the
>>>>trunk or stashed in the garage. Although the process
>>>>of making it can be dangerous, the biodiesel itself
>>is
>>>>safe because it burns at a much higher temperature.
>>>>
>>>>And while some users don't like to use petroleum
>>>>diesel, the fuels can be mixed or used
>>>>interchangeably. Many biodiesel users fill their
>>tanks
>>>>with blends -- B-20, a blend containing 20 percent
>>>>biodiesel, is common.
>>>>
>>>>Filling up with biodiesel can also be more costly
>>>>depending on fuel prices and a vehicle's fuel
>>>>efficiency, although many experts believe the price
>>>>will drop as use of the fuel becomes more
>widespread.
>>>>At Biofuel Oasis, the current supply of B-99
>>>>biodiesel, made from reclaimed soy oil from a potato
>>>>chip factory, sells for $3.65 a gallon. Gasoline
>>sells
>>>>for around $2.79 a gallon nearby and petroleum
>diesel
>>>>for about $3.01 a gallon. However, cars that run on
>>>>diesel -- including biodiesel -- can get 40 to 50
>>>>miles per gallon.
>>>>
>>>>Many biodiesel users say they care less about the
>>cost
>>>>and more about cutting America's dependence on oil
>>and
>>>>combatting climate change. Their bumper stickers
>>>>reflect those opinions. "Biodiesel -- no war
>>>>required,'' read one on a car waiting to fill up at
>>>>Biodiesel Oasis. "This car powered by vegetable
>>oil,''
>>>>read another.
>>>>
>>>>Jennifer Radtke, one of the five women who own
>>Biofuel
>>>>Oasis, thinks growing concern about climate change
>>and
>>>>the diminishing oil supply is driving the popularity
>>>>of alternative fuels.
>>>>
>>>>"A lot of our customers switched to biodiesel
>because
>>>>of the war,'' she said. "That's probably common in
>>the
>>>>Bay Area, but across the country, it's probably
>>>>because of concern about climate change and
>renewable
>>>>energy. And that it's so cool.''
>>>>
>>>>Yet biodiesel faces serious obstacles before it can
>>>>become the fuel of the future.
>>>>
>>>>A current challenge is availability. Interest in
>>>>biodiesel may be rising, but so far local production
>>>>isn't. Just one firm manufactures biodiesel in the
>>Bay
>>>>Area, according to the National Biodiesel Board, but
>>>>two Bay Area plants are under construction and are
>>>>expected to be producing the fuel later this year.
>>>>
>>>>Yokayo Biofuels in Ukiah (Mendocino County) has
>>>>produced biodiesel from waste vegetable oils for
>five
>>>>years. The company only recently began making enough
>>>>to supply Biofuel Oasis, in addition to three
>>stations
>>>>in Mendocino County.
>>>>
>>>>Kumar Plocher, Yokayo's president and founder, said
>>>>that although the process of making biodiesel is
>>>>relatively simple, it can be difficult to
>efficiently
>>>>and consistently produce high-quality fuel. Some
>>>>firms, he said, have invested in top-of-the-line
>>>>equipment and hired petroleum and chemical industry
>>>>experts but still failed to produce and distribute
>>the
>>>>fuel.
>>>>
>>>>Yokayo has grown slowly and learned along the way,
>he
>>>>said. The company is still a small producer, he
>said,
>>>>making about 15,000 gallons a month.
>>>>
>>>>"Biodiesel has a lot of interesting little nuances
>>>>that you need to get to know,'' he said. "It's its
>>own
>>>>beast, its own molecule.''
>>>>
>>>>Like oil, biodiesel may have its limits because of
>>the
>>>>sources of the vegetable oils used to produce the
>>>>fuel.
>>>>
>>>>"People are really excited about biofuels now,''
>>>>Plocher said. "But there isn't much knowledge about
>>>>them. For instance, the issue of sustainability.''
>>>>
>>>>Much of the Bay Area's biodiesel is produced from
>>>>waste vegetable oil that comes from restaurants --
>>>>including burger joints and Chez Panisse. Although
>>>>that supply is now plentiful, it won't always be,
>>>>especially if biodiesel use and healthier eating
>>>>habits become more popular.
>>>>
>>>>"It's extremely attractive and cost-effective, but
>>>>it's very limited,'' said Severin Borenstein, head
>of
>>>>the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley.
>>>>
>>>>Most of the biodiesel produced and used nationally
>is
>>>>made from soybeans, which yield 50 gallons of
>>>>biodiesel per acre, Plocher said. Sunflowers can
>>>>produce up to 100 gallons an acre and canola
>>>>(rapeseed) as much as 150 gallons an acre.
>>>>
>>>>The huge amount of land required to grow biodiesel
>>oil
>>>>could crowd out food crops. Aware of that concern,
>>>>some biodiesel producers have started importing palm
>>>>oil from the tropics. But the growing popularity and
>>>>production of palm oil for purposes including
>>>>biodiesel has caused the destruction of rain forests
>>>>in Malaysia and Indonesia, according to
>environmental
>>>>groups, including Friends of the Earth.
>>>>
>>>>Researchers are looking for more productive, and
>>>>sustainable, sources of biofuel -- including algae.
>>>>They're focusing primarily on four types of high-oil
>>>>algae -- diatoms, green algae, blue-green algae and
>>>>golden algae -- that could be cultivated in farms or
>>>>ponds. Oils could be extracted using chemical
>>>>solvents, enzymes, expeller presses, osmotic shock
>or
>>>>ultrasonic shock waves.
>>>>
>>>>But whatever its future, biodiesel has already
>>>>generated a fleet of loyal fans who say they would
>>>>never go back to petroleum diesel.
>>>>
>>>>"It feels good to be living your own ethics,''
>McNees
>>>>said after filling his tank at the Biofuel Oasis.
>"It
>>>>is a little bit of a hassle, but knowing that I'm
>not
>>>>adding to the problem makes it so worth it.''
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>----------------------------------------------------
>-
>>-
>>>-
>>>>-------------------------
>>>>New life for old grease
>>>>
>>>>Used frying oil is one source of vegetable oil that
>>>>can be made into biodiesel. A common method called
>>>>transesterification breaks down cooking oil,
>>resulting
>>>>in two valuable products: glycerine, an additive to
>>>>soaps, and methyl esters, the chemical name for
>>>>biodiesel, which can fuel a diesel engine.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>1. PREPARATION
>>>>
>>>>-- Vegetable oil poured into processor
>>>>
>>>>-- Oil is heated to 120° Fahrenheit
>>>>
>>>>-- Acidity level is checked
>>>>
>>>>2. REACTOR
>>>>
>>>>-- Lye (alkaline base) and methanol (alcohol) are
>>>>mixed in a separate container
>>>>
>>>>-- Solution is mixed with oil
>>>>
>>>>3. SETTLING
>>>>
>>>>-- Oil is separated into glycerine and unwashed
>>>>biodiesel
>>>>
>>>>-- Glycerine removed
>>>>
>>>>4. WASHING
>>>>
>>>>-- Biodiesel is washed with water
>>>>
>>>>5. PURIFICATION
>>>>
>>>>-- Oil is separated from water
>>>>
>>>>-- Water removed
>>>>
>>>>-- Processed biodiesel transferred to storage
>>>>container
>>>>
>>>>6. DISTRIBUTION
>>>>
>>>>-- Biodiesel is "dried" or allowed to settle
>>>>
>>>>-- Ready for fueling
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Source: National Biodiesel Board
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