| Subject: Re: That's smart |
Author:
Duncan7
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Date Posted: 09:09:47 02/28/07 Wed
In reply to:
Oropan
's message, "That's smart" on 08:13:14 02/28/07 Wed
I may be a touch liberal and alot republican, but i'm 100% capitalists and when it comes to money I always walk away with more!
>>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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