Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Pickups Diesels Diesels in the News
8147 messages, Last post on Dec 04, 2009 at 8:22 PM
You are in the Diesels Forum. Your Host is kcram
|
Replying to: winter2 (Jun 30, 2008 3:00 pm) |
|
|
|
I propose we change the name of the forum to "Dimethyl Ether in the News". China plans to use it in place of diesel, I'm sure everyone else will follow.  DME has a higher cetane number and looks to be a clean burning fuel. Mix it with some LPG and it works in petrol engines too. DME can be created from coal, natural gas or biomass. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethyl_ether |
|
|
|
|
'Global oil demand is expected to increase to 94.14 million bpd in 2013 from an estimated 86.87 million bpd this year and will be heavily biased to middle distillates, such as diesel, heating oil and jet fuel, the IEA said.....Europe is already importing such fuels in large volumes and North American distillate supplies are likely to fall short of demand growth in a short term, IEA said." http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080701.wrefineries0701/BNSt- ory/Business If the IEA is correct diesel prices would stay at current levels or increase but not drop. I'm not sure the IEA has all the facts they need to make the call. I suspect there are a lot of internal plans by refineries to increase diesel production that the IEA is not aware of. Still, it makes a person wonder if it isn't best to hold off switching to a diesel until things become more clear. As time goes on the percentage of diesels in the European fleet continue to increase. For every 100 cars sold in Europe, about 55 are diesel. It is likely they are replacing 15+ year old cars, 90% of which are gassers. This will continue to increase demand for diesel and keep prices high.
|
|
|
Replying to: avalon02wh (Jul 01, 2008 6:07 pm) Where is your gambling spirit man? I bought the 05 Passat TDI in April of 2005 when diesel in Oregon was about 30 cents more than regular. A year later in May of 06 gas was over $3 and diesel was $2.49. I made $3,000 over what I bought the car new for. If diesel holds at these prices a person should get a good buy on a diesel vehicle. Then when the price rolls over you laugh all the way to the bank. If not it will still be a superior vehicle to anything with a gas engine. Win Win!! That and the simple fact is ethanol will NEVER replace gas. There are at least 4 good shots at distillate replacements in the not too distant future. Life is a gamble.
|
|
|
Replying to: ruking1 (Jul 01, 2008 8:30 am) We put on 145K miles on our 93 and never had a lick of serious mechanical trouble. They quit making them in 04 so we went out last summer and bought another used one to bridge the gap until someone builds a quality car with good mileage in the USA.. If you look around a low mileage Park Ave is in your neighborhood.
|
|
|
Replying to: gagrice (Jul 01, 2008 8:12 pm) |
|
no commute costs  CLUB FED PEN..... oh the benes!!! Drivers of vegetable-oil vehicles in a legal pickle EFFORT TO GO GREEN VIOLATES FEDERAL ENVIRONMENT LAWS By Tom Pelton The Baltimore Sun Article Launched: 07/02/2008 01:35:39 AM PDT link title
|
|
| Local dealer (Chicago area) called and said he just received a Jetta diesel. It is a demo that will be used for test drives. | |
|
Replying to: ruking1 (Jul 02, 2008 6:28 am)
|
|
|
Replying to: jkinzel (Jul 02, 2008 6:42 am) See the bolded parts below to see my point being made. But these motorists are running afoul of federal and state government agencies whose jobs are to collect taxes from drivers to pay for road maintenance and make sure that fuels don't pollute the air. Maryland drivers face a $1,000 fine for driving on vegetable fuel if they don't register first with the state and file monthly reports and payments, according to Chuck Ulm, assistant director of motor vehicle taxes in the state comptroller's office. A spokesman for Comptroller Peter Franchot said Franchot generally supports the use of alternative fuels as a way to help end the nation's dependence on foreign oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But, said spokesman Warren Hansen, "At this point, the legislature has not changed the way this fuel is taxed or regulated, so we are just enforcing the laws that are currently on the books." But a tax credit in Maryland would have little effect if driving while green is illegal at the federal level. Catherine C. Milbourn, spokeswoman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said federal laws prohibit running vehicles on used vegetable oil. "All fuels have to be tested before they can be used in a vehicle, because when something goes into the engine and is burned up, something comes out of the tailpipe. And we want to make sure it doesn't harm the environment in any way," Milbourn said. "Vegetable fuel has not been registered as a motor vehicle fuel." Now, here's what I think SHOULD happen: 1. The EPA should fully test veggie oil fuel and get it "registered as a motor vehicle fuel" so people can use it. 2. The law needs to change to allow it's use. 3. The tax collection process should change to allow veggie oil burners to easily pay thie fair share of fuel taxes and make it EASY on the vehicle owner to pay those taxes. Now - WILL all that happen? It should.
|
|
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
