| Subject: Re: Godd Bye vehicle warrenty! |
Author:
Duncan7
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 23:18:16 02/27/07 Tue
In reply to:
Oropan
's message, "Re: Godd Bye vehicle warrenty!" on 15:55:00 02/27/07 Tue
Don't care. I buy my vehicles used anyway. Let someone else take the depreciation.
>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
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 