Re: NEW \'05 Passat, Hard to start on B100
I'm a republican actually, but the majority of my points have nothing to do with politics or economics.
2. I'm very particular about the quality of my biodiesel, and I have reasons to believe that my engine will last longer on my homebrew than on stinky diesel.
I don't see how #2 is political or just cash related. It's a durability issue.
3. Somehow, some of the money that we send over to Saudi Arabia ends up in the hands of terrorists. These people have openly stated that their goal is to brutally kill us and crush our U.S. economy along the way. I don't feel like supporting them while they cut the heads off innocent people and blow Londoners up.
Would you say that opposing people who want to kill me and my family is more of a Republican stance or more of a Democratic stance? The fact that I don't want to fund people who blow up my friends seems apolitical to me. I do fully support President Bush and the military intervention in Iraq by the way. I want to defeat the terrorists by both economic and military means.
4. I don't have any soot/grunge buildup problems, though I don't have a jillion miles on my car yet. How is yours?
Point 4 is a documented maintenance issue. How is that political or just "cheap"?
5. My fuel is almost carbon neutral, so I'm directly helping to reduce or prevent the global warming that's screwing up our weather. Ask all the huricane victims if that's a meaningful gesture.
How is global warming and greenhouse gasses a political issue?
6. Stinky petro diesel is a known carcinogen, biodiesel is essentially non-toxic. You could actually drink moderate amounts of it without doing any permanent damage.
For point six, the fact that I don't want to expose myself of my family to a known carcinogen, how is that political?
8. In the not too distant future, we're going to run out of cheap oil and be forced to switch to alternatives. If we don't do that pro-actively, it could be a very bumpy ride that makes the Great Depression look like a walk in the park. Shouldn't we get started now?
For point 8, are you aware that Matt Simons, the energy advisor to President Bush, has been a vocal advocate for peak oil issues. And so has former VP Al Gore. If they both feel this is a real issue, I don't see how that's political. Remind me.
9. Crap fuel, dino or bio, will hurt your car. Are you suggesting that there is no off-spec petro diesel out there? VW won't cover your repairs under warranty for bad stinky diesel will they? That's really not much different than a denied warranty due to bad biodiesel, is it? I think my risk of getting poor quality fuel is higher with petro diesel than my own quality controlled biodiesel.
For point 9, are you implying that the dealer WILL perform warranty work if I use off spec petro diesel and have problems?
10. My car doesn't stink the garage up every time I start up or back in. Petro diesel fumes are vastly more toxic than biodiesel fumes.
On point 10, the stinkiness of my garage seems neither political, nor motivated by monetary issues. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't like stinky toxic diesel fumes in my garage.
Yes, when you make biodiesel, you work with toxic chemicals. Namely methanol and lye. You handle methanol every time you add washer fluid to your car. And lye is crystal drano. Both must be handled appropriately, but nothing exotic, difficult or insurmountable. Basically, rubber gloves, a closed processor and good ventilation.
I have 12,000 miles on homebrew, since it was new essentially. I have friends that have over 50,000 trouble free miles.
Finest regards,
troy