| Subject: That's smart |
Author:
Oropan
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Date Posted: 08:13:14 02/28/07 Wed
In reply to:
Duncan7
's message, "Re: Godd Bye vehicle warrenty!" on 23:18:16 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
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