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Chris Browder
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I think you are all looking at it wrong. Biodiesel can be produced from existing post-consumer waste streams for little to nothing, leaving a byproduct that with further processing with microbes, leaves ethanol. Imagine that, WASTE --USED-- veggie oil and useless chickenfat turned into both diesel and gasoline fuels. Amazing. North Carolina has a leading, and soon to be closed-loop, system in place. There is no diesel engine at present that cannot run 100% biodiesel. I have one of the high pressure TDI VW engines, 37k miles on 100% biodiesel. The only drawback is, as stated, cold weather and gelling. Matter of time before this is conquered by chemistry, and I don't mean by blending down to B50, B40 or B20 with petrol-diesel. Oil is bad for humans to start with, ask any nutritionist, so I don't see the issue here. Even so, the south uses enough oil alone with their cuisine to make much of the needed Biodiesel.
Those who say that fuel derrived from food sources, need to realize the amount of food we WASTE ... if it cost more, perhaps we wouldn't waste it so badly. I'm all for agri-fuel.
sdafd
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A utilization technology is efficient only if the entire process, and not only a single step within the process, is efficient. In that respect, Bio fuels are worse than Fossil fuels.
Get the right info.
Bob B
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hummm, sounds to me as if you would LOVE it in the Peoples Republic of China. You would fit right in, they limit population, they limit personal production, yes they are a bit suppressed, and the place on the whole is a real open porta-potty, I think that from your comments, you would feel right at home.
James Allan (UK)
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Well said David. Truth usually hurts and people need to realise that over procreation is as much a danger to the World as the over use of its resources.
Jodi
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I agree totally, not soon enough. What brand do you recommend that is the most environmentally friendly? We will be purchasing one and I was looking for the most environmentally friendly manuf. If you know could you email me @ evansenterprize@yahoo.com Thanks
Rick
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Well let me see now. We can't drill for oil close to Florida. ( We are reserving that for China and Mexico ) We can't drill in North Alaska. ( We are saving that for polar bears ) We can't have wind farms off the coast of Mas. ( We would block Kennedys and Kerrys view ) We can't drill off the coast of Cal. ( That would harm the beaches of the Hollywood Elite )
I say any state that will not produce energy within their borders should pay the states that will a energy tax. I also say impeach the President, all members of the Senate and all members of the House. None are looking out for us or the country.
Ron and Connie
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These people are doing us all a service and I hope it adds further strength to the biofuel lobby.
Lennich
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Bio diesel at the prsent time is tricky. I will not run it in my diesel as it causes lots of problems . Plus ,fools we are .bio diesel can be made from many NON food products . What do we do? - make it from food products. Smart,,,I don't think so .
Newbet
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To David Brown: Imagine you could run your RV on BS since you seem to be an expert. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, Congratulations on doing something positive to promote bio fuels and you have a lovely family.
David Brown
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It is disheartening to see people producing large families. It is particularly so in the USA since the citizens of this country are by far the biggest consumers of resources on planet Earth and the biggest producers of what we call "pollution." It is futher discouraging that a couple that is contributing to the over population of the planet - which is the greatest cause of the looming environmental disaster we face - can think that driving a motorhome around on biodiesel, promoting the use of biodiesel will solve the problem created by their supersized, over consumptive, polllution generating family. Please do everything you can to promote small (2 children or less) families. Many people now realize that, contrary to millennia old messages, not producing offspring provides a vibrant, rewarding life full of all the things a human desires. The planet MAY be able to sustain a population of 9 billion humans. It is impossible for it to sustain 9 billion humans consuming at the rate Americans do.Reduce, reuse, recycle. Promote and use renewable/sustainable energy ("green") sources such as biodiesel. Plant a garden.
Don L
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Biodiesel is a great concept. We need to continue to decrease our dependence on foreign oil. If not we will be riding bicycles in place of cars.
rick2210
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When Bio Diesel gets mandated by the government, corn flakes will be $50 a box
ednil
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It is the people that told congress not to drill for oil (Alaska,Off coast of Florida and California plus other places)and to restrict and regulate the building of new refineries.
Many congressmen that want us to use less fuel, live in smaler homes eat less and restrict us, live in 10,000 and more sq ft homes, fly around in their private jets, get driven around in limos with security vehicles following close behind. Let them lead by example.
My Township is starting to use 5% Bio and what Delta Bunny said is 100% true about the fuel filters and the other problems with it. The fire department and ambulance crew were upset because they were not told of these problems and were concerned about the trucks and equipment stalling and quiting on a fire or accident call.
We all should know that the market will drive the use of bio and not the government. If the governments mandates the use of bio then the price will skyrocket.
Has anyone read about the price of corn products going up because so much of it is being turned into bio fuels. That will mean we will be paying more for our food because of bio.
There are so many "Chicken Little" people out there that the truth is hard to find. The sky is not falling they just want us to believe it.
Sue E
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I think we need to pressure congress for biofuel to be a bigger priority and more available at a competitive price. RV manufacturers should be looking at their RVs and presuring engine builders and equipment manufacturers to come up with more fuel efficient systems.
Delta Bunny
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Heres my small amount of knowledge on bio-diesel. Don't use it if you come where the tempertures are low. It will gel more quickly than diesel. Second, there is no real standard on Bio-diesel, so no one really knows what they are getting. In pickup trucks in our area, bio-diesel has caused havoc since it is a high detergent diesel. Expect to have plugged fuel filters if you have never run it before. It could take 2-3 filters if you vehicle has a number of miles. Bacteria really love bio-diesel because of what it is. Possibly may cause problems to injectors and filters. Setting in a meeting with GM folks, they did not oppose the addition of fuel additive. With low sulfur and wax content in the new fuel, seals, injectors and pumps will be more likely to experience wear. Quite honestly, I won't use the Bio-fuel until I have standards and more experience. I have seen too much problem with it if you change from regular diesel and back. The price difference is nothing compared to a tow and new filters. Take this advice for what it is, just advice.
Cosmickt
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It is absolutely immoral that in the year 2007, I cannot go out and buy a relatively inexpensive RV that is fully equipped with solar, be at least biodiesel powered and totally environmentally safe. There is something terribly wrong with a society that cannot bring this about. WHEN is this going to happen?
Rob James
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As I read it both Cat and Cummins say biodiesel will not harm their engines. But Caterpillar also says it neither approves nor disapproves of biodiesel but ANY fuel related problems are not covered under warranty. It's also a question of how much is blended, B2 is only 2% biodiesel and 98% diesel so it doesn't make much difference. Cat gives fuel specifications up to 30% biodiesel. Seems to me that they say it's ok for any of their diesels but if the fuel has any contaminents etc that damage the engine it's not covered.
Ed
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Does anyone know if my 1992 Holiday Rambler Limited 300 HP CAT diesel will run ok on biodiesel
Joe
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Why do we the voting public allow the goverment to keep Bio fuel from the market. If we change all diesels to use Bio fuel. gas would be 30 cent a gal. and the cartel can drown in their oil. Think of it, all Heavy Equipment, all Trucks, RV's, Boats, Buses running on Bio-diesel. Let's all vote.....
Big Joe
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I think the problem is with both the auto makers and our government. We "boomers" have the power (with our numbers) to control both by just voting. I love my diesel and should be paying less than gas but again, our fault (The Vote). We have more power now than any group in history. We can get what we want from cheaper fuel to better social security to anything reasonable or even un reasonable with our numbers. We must all realize just how much power we have. The United States belongs to us. However we do need to be reasonable with this power. All us "boomers" should rememeber the "gas shortage" in the 70's and Washingtons "we will be free of import oil by the 90's" and we should also remember when Washington borrowed our Social Security "stockpile" that they were going to repay......WHEN? Bio Diesel is a good start but we need more and faster. Long live the long running Diesel engines!!!!
sjw
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Diesel costs more than gas. Why - ask the makers why -when it costs less to make by using less energy to make and has more btu power than gas. Diesel engines are now cleaner than ever and use less oil because less contaminants in the combustion process. I think american auto makers are afraid of how long they last. It will only make them look worse because they cannot make a car to last nearly as long as the engine. This would cheat the longevity of the engine being able to last more than twice its life 300,000 plus mile in many cases. Something is wrong with the price fixing not the engines.
Maddy
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There is a place in Ojai CA that converts diesel RV'S to running on left over vegetable oil from deep fryers at MacDonalds etc. I hear they have really good results.
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