Biodiesel vehicles - READ ONLY

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#124 of 170 Good used trucks for running biodiesel by charlotte7 Sep 08, 2005 (1:03 pm)
My boyfriend is thinking about selling me his Saturn wagon (which I'd love) and buying a used diesel truck to run biodiesel in. He's very interested in biodiesel for the environmental and cost benefits. He'd also like to get a truck because he's doing some major home renovation and really needs one. He'd only have about $7-8000 for a used truck. Can anyone recommend a decent diesel truck in that price range? It's my understanding that any diesel can run biodiesel, right? Replies to this message: fenris2 (Sep 20, 2005 7:24 pm) fenris2 (Sep 20, 2005 7:27 pm) gagrice (Sep 20, 2005 8:20 pm)
#125 of 170 India is not waiting for a crisis in oil to adopt BD by gagrice Sep 20, 2005 (6:31 am)
If you were asked to suggest the next class of Mercedes vehicles, you may as well bet on `BD', for bio-diesel. DaimlerChrysler India (DCIL) is so charged up on the idea that in August it took two C class vehicles - Mercedes Benz and Viano, the Mercedes van - topped them up with biodiesel from the jatropha plant for a 1,920-km drive from Chandigarh to Leh. In the project with DCIL are the Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute and the University of Hohenheim. http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=13943482 Bio-diesel has been accepted as clean alternative fuel by US and its production presently is about 100 million Gallons. Each state has passed specific bills to promote the use of Bio-diesel by reduction of taxes. Sunflower, rapeseed etc is the raw material used in Europe whereas soyabean is used in USA. Thailand uses palm oil, Ireland uses frying oil and animal fats. Due to its favorable properties, Bio-diesel can be used as fuel for diesel engines (as either, B5-a blend of 5% Bio-diesel in petro-diesel fuel) or B20 or B100). USA uses B 20 and B100 Bio-diesel, France uses B5 as mandatory in all diesel fuel. It can also be used as an additive to reduce the overall sulfur content of blend and to compensate for lubricity loss due to sulfur removal from diesel fuel. http://www.ethanolindia.net/biodiesel_india.html Replies to this message: sinepman (Sep 20, 2005 6:52 am) gagrice (Sep 20, 2005 7:23 am) sinepman (Sep 20, 2005 7:53 am) drewba (Sep 20, 2005 11:29 am)
#126 of 170 Re: India is not waiting for a crisis in oil to adopt BD [gagrice] by sinepman Sep 20, 2005 (6:52 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Sep 20, 2005 6:31 am) Do you think that if it went mainstream and people adapted there would be enough to go around? Imagine? Growing vegetables and converting it into fuel? Novel idea, but can it be done? I'd support it! Replies to this message: gagrice (Sep 20, 2005 7:23 am) sinepman (Sep 20, 2005 7:53 am) drewba (Sep 20, 2005 11:29 am)
#127 of 170 Re: India is not waiting for a crisis in oil to adopt BD [sinepman] by gagrice Sep 20, 2005 (7:23 am)
Replying to: sinepman (Sep 20, 2005 6:52 am) The big question is can it be done without subsidies. In Hawaii biodiesel is now less than #2 petrol diesel. It is limited in the islands by the amount of waste oil and grease that is collected. In the rest of the country we are subsidizing a buck a gallon for B100. I don't have any idea how much we subsidize petroleum. Kind of a tough call. I do know in CA the biodiesel producers are not keeping up with the demand. Many high profile entertainers are getting on the biodiesel bandwagon. Replies to this message: sinepman (Sep 20, 2005 7:53 am) drewba (Sep 20, 2005 11:29 am)
#128 of 170 Re: India is not waiting for a crisis in oil to adopt BD [gagrice] by sinepman Sep 20, 2005 (7:53 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Sep 20, 2005 7:23 am) I wonder if there is a net gain in energy from the production of bio diesel. As much as the ideal sounds wonderful, I can't see it going mainstream. With Rita showing her skirt in the open waters of the Gulf we can only pray it does not harm our infrastructure any further. We definitely need alternatives and I'm glad bio diesel has a chance.
#129 of 170 Re: India is not waiting for a crisis in oil to adopt BD [gagrice] by drewba Sep 20, 2005 (11:29 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Sep 20, 2005 7:23 am) In the rest of the country we are subsidizing a buck a gallon for B100. I don't have any idea how much we subsidize petroleum. When you account for our military costs in the Middle East, I think we are subsidizing petroleum at a monetary cost far greater than a dollar per gallon.
#130 of 170 Re: Good used trucks for running biodiesel [charlotte7] by fenris2 Sep 20, 2005 (7:24 pm)
Replying to: charlotte7 (Sep 08, 2005 1:03 pm) Hmm, I am considering doing the same to test the waters. Wife says buying a new 30k vehical to test BD is in no way smart, and she's right. You may want to check Dodge Rams, careful as I beleive there are a few years where it is not recomended (possibly due to fuel pump type). But, go to journeytoforever.org or the biodiesel list they have linked from there and ask. Annecdotally, from what I have read the two biggies are auto transmissions on dodge (get manual) and something with the housing/mounting of the turbo that can rust out an mislead people into thinking the whole turbo is bad. I seem to remember someone saying 94-95 was a good year for BD use and should be in that price range if well maintained Ford 7.3s also seem to do well. But, I am probably steering clear of newer duramax and newer powestrokes just from the stories I have heard - nothing to do with BD, but just general reliability issues Replies to this message: fenris2 (Sep 20, 2005 7:27 pm) gagrice (Sep 20, 2005 8:20 pm)
#131 of 170 Re: Good used trucks for running biodiesel [fenris2] by fenris2 Sep 20, 2005 (7:27 pm)
Replying to: fenris2 (Sep 20, 2005 7:24 pm) Hmmm, best add that al lthese are the superduty variety of full sized pickup truck (dodge ram 2500, ford f-250). Although afaik ford also made the excursion SUV along with the 7.3 diesel and it was geared better for milage, but worse for towing vs. the PUs Replies to this message: gagrice (Sep 20, 2005 8:20 pm)
#132 of 170 Re: Good used trucks for running biodiesel [fenris2] by gagrice Sep 20, 2005 (8:20 pm)
Replying to: fenris2 (Sep 20, 2005 7:27 pm) I work with a fellow that lives in So Dakota. He has used B20 in his Ford 6.0 PowerStroke since new two years ago. He says it does fine year round. He buys fuel at the co-op and B20 is consistently less expensive than unleaded regular gas.
#133 of 170 2005 Mercedes E320 CDI and Biodiesel by mitch9 Oct 23, 2005 (9:38 am)
I just purchased a 2005 Mercedes E320 CDI. I live near a biodiesel retailer that sells "B100". I have checked around and verified that they sell "high quality" biodiesel fuel that meets ASTM standards. Does anyone have experience running this car on biodiesel? Is there any retrofitting I would need to do? I've read conflicting things. Any help, especially from someone with experience, would be greatly appreciated. Replies to this message: gagrice (Oct 23, 2005 10:24 am) mitch9 (Oct 24, 2005 11:15 am) pete55 (Mar 10, 2007 6:17 pm) harperb80 (Mar 12, 2007 2:10 pm) pete55 (May 01, 2007 9:09 pm)