Shawn,
I don't think so, I think that they are still working on what fuels to provide. But that does remind me that I don't remember reading any complaints from you when the Pentagon was spending $800 to buy hammers that didn't need any R&D.
My little brother (the other one, not Nate) has a Hans Christian 46 (or is it a 48?). I don't think that it has a Benz diesel in it. And he sure doesn't have those nice distracting, scantily clad deck hands - at least not on the days that I've sailed with him.
Conceptually, I love the Cummins diesels. Many diesel makers are using urea injection and particulate traps and other technologies to make engines clean. But Cummins is delivering diesels now that meet smog requirements WITHOUT fluid injection. I guess that shows that attention to innovation and product quality may be a better business strategy than bitching about regulations. (Unfortunately, Cummins is about the only stand alone diesel engine maker. The others are all tied to car or truck manufacturers, which give those other companies a competitive advantage.)
Tom; '81 300SD, 360+++ mi.
In a message dated 7/16/2012 8:42:50 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, shawnabaird1@yahoo.com writes:
Well said, Tom. Is that the company that sells to the DOJ at $26/gallon? Whew -- there is no business like guhvment business, thats for sure. They'll be in the black in no time!
Someday, hopefully soon, I will have Detroit Ben down here to set up the perfect veggie system for me in both the MB and the Cummins, complete with separate tanks, line heaters, upgraded fuel lines and pumps, etc... . Even if its only used in the summer, or on longer trips, or when our politics (domestic and foreign) runs us off a cliff and Dino is difficult to obtain and we're all forced to mix up some old turpentine, brake fluid, and veggie... at least I'll have another transportation option other than the horses. And when we finally get our head out of our unmentionables, I'll find someone like Nate to fix all of the damage that the aforementioned did and we can start to learn already-learned lessons... again.
You know, on second thought, I was on a Has Christian '43 once with a MB diesel in it. I was 20 at the time and all I could think of was scantily clad deck hands. More than a decade later, all I can think of is maintaining a good sail inventory and where to put more veggie tanks... Perhaps the collapse of the West is better viewed from afar.
Shawn near Columbus
'84 300D
154k. 43k, wonderful, absolutely trouble free miles with me.
From: "audiolaw@aol.com" <audiolaw@aol.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2012 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re: Alternate Diesel Fuels
I think a lot of this forum is guys who are old enough to "know" that them damn Japs couldn't make anything but crap. That's what we were taught back in the 50s and early 60s. Their crap would never amount to anything decent.
I hear a lot of the same talk about stuff made in China today.
It seems to me that focus on the instant present may distract us from noticing the actual progress of technology, quality control and other things.
For years, people have been talking about the possibility that petroleum alternatives might be generated using biology, by culturing bacteria or other organisms that produce oils. For just as long, people have been 'knowing' that such processes can't really work, or would be too expensive, or other explanations for dismissing the technology.
Now it seems that one of the companies pursuing such processes has quielty just moved ahead with the technology. Like the Japanese and the Chinese, the company is developing its technology, improving its production facilities and actually delivering product. For right now, the company is cranking out oils that are essential to the perfume industry and other small consumers, rather than gasoline or diesel. But it's a start. They now have a contract with the Pentagon for experimental fuel oil production.
The company still loses money. But it seems just possible that it (and probably others) are on track to develop processes to use a variety of feed stocks for production, not just WVO, sugar cane and other commonly discussed stocks. If they succeed, then we get diesel without the friction contaminants and without the glycerin and other clogging contaminants.
(Full disclosure, the company is Solazyme and I am an investor in it. So my enthusiasm may be shaded by that.)
Tom
In a message dated 7/16/2012 5:58:08 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, vwnate1@yahoo.com writes:
Although it is possible to neutralize the acidic content of WMO , I personally do not believe it's possible to get all the abrasives out and every single WMO engine I've seen , has at the very least , badly worn out injector nozzles and smokes badly after 10,000 miles or so .
I think the primary fault in alternative fuels is the time and effort .
Surely I looked into them a fair bit when Dino Diesel reached $5.00 the gallon ! . -ouch- .
When they (the big , scary THEM) decide it's in their interest to make bio or veggie fuels , I have no doubt they'll do so in mass quantities but for now , only the die hards will get to $ave $eriou$ $ on alternate fuels .
Sad to be sure but them's the facts , jack .
-Nate
Bobby wrote:
>
> Nate,
>
> I agree totally that if someone wants a trouble free car, they should not
> experiment with unorthodox fuels.
>
> If someone wants to experiment with unorthodox fuels, the best engine to
> use is our favorite MB.
>
> Sorry I didn't comment on the Ws.
>
> Waste Vegetable Oil must be filtered or centrifuged or allowed to settle or
> a combination. It can then be used as SVO or used as a feedstock for
> making biodiesel.
>
> There is only enough WVO available in the USA to replace about 1/8 of
> current diesel usage, so it could help our energy needs, but not enough to
> totally solve them.
>
> I have not seen a plan for using Waste Motor Oil that I have confidence
> in. Some people have attempted to blend it with gasoline and some of those
> have had disastrous results. I believe if it were well filtered, it could
> be treated as SVO. but have no proof.
>
> I don't know what volume of WMO is available, but would assume it is
> similar to WVO - enough to make some difference, but not enough to single
> handidly solve our energy problems.
>
> Both of these do provide an opportunity to use a waste product for energy.
> If someone is looking for an extreme cost cutter, they are possibilities.
>
> Nate, you are correct, if someone wants a trouble free MB, he should stick
> with dino diesel plus a little bio diesel.
>
> Bobby
>
>
No comments:
Post a Comment