So, you like running B100 in your PD huh?

andreigbs

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2004
Location
Walworth Co., Wisconsin
TDI
N/A
K, sooooooooooo....

Back on topic, please: DBW, how much did those nozzles cost and what have you advised the owner do after these repairs? If it really went 140K miles before needing new nozzle tips (cleaning aside) is it that bad compared to an ALH needing new tips? What about needing to clean the rest of the fuel system, such as the rails?
 

fnjimmy!

Chucklechump
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
TDIdiot
kcfoxie said:
One more reason to never touch a PD motor.
Is that really necessary?
The PD is a perfectly fine engine despite all the crap it gets on these fourms.
"The PD" ? I know of at least three different PDs sold in the US alone.

I don't know enough about the Mk5 PD to comment on its reputation.

The Passat PD has a predictable mode of failure in the flawed design of its chain-driven BSM, I'm sure many peoples ownership experience could be summed up as something other than "perfectly fine". Once that expensive problem is addressed, they indeed are fine cars.

The Mk4 PD has a known cam issue, but even replacing cams/lifters every belt interval in a mk4 (who's to say replacement cams will fail the same) is not an insurmountable maintenance expense considering the proven longevity of the model, especially by a dedicated owner.
 

ikendu

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Location
Iowa
TDI
2003 Golf Indigo Blue
You don't have a Volt, nor any other electric car either. If it's such an important issue to you, why haven't you yet taken any steps to mitigate your impact with regards to your personal transportation choice.
You don't have a solar array either. So just WHEN will you do something?

My biodiesel use had been in place for the past 10 years...
ikendu

I blocked his posts over a year ago and just unblocked them in this thread. Nothings changed, no electric car yet, no solar array...;)
Wow! You guys are a TOUGH audience! :)

Well, you got me. At least partly. >hangs head in shame< It's true. I don't have my own solar array.

I spent 18 months basically unemployed while I wrote my book and tried to earn a living writing (while I looked for new job in my experience field). So... cash for a new solar array was limited. I did look into it. The solar incentives in Germany meant that every last panel on Earth was getting sucked into Germany at the time and panels were a LOT more expensive. Now that I am working again (in the field where I actually get paid for my work), I'm beginning to plan how I could put a solar array up for my home even though I am in a heavily wooded forest (no lawn at all, no grass at all... just trees right up to the house and with a roof that slopes the wrong direction!).

Also true... no electric car either. I do have my name on the list at the local Chevy dealer (I'm first!) for the Volt when they start selling it here in Iowa.

So... you got me dead to rights on both of these issues!

What I have been doing...

For 7 1/2 years been running 100% soy biodeisel in my '03 Golf in spite of all the nay-sayers and alarmists on Fred's telling me I was crazy and was absolutely going to destroy my brand new TDI by using biodiesel and that ZERO biodiesel was warrantied or recommended by VW for my engine.

Helped started a used cooking oil recycling co-op here in this area (arranged for "Girl Mark" to come from California to teach us how to do it for those of you that are biodiesel insiders).

For the last 4 years, I've voluntarily paid more for my electricity on my 100% renewable sourced power for my home.

Volunteered for five years with the Iowa Renewable Energy Association board of directors to promote the use of solar, wind and bio-sourced energy in our state.

So... I haven't been entirely slacking on the energy issue.

ikendu... blocked his posts over a year ago and just unblocked them in this thread. ...Blocked again as of 7/28/2010...
Actually, I almost take that as a sort of badge of honor... I hope aja8888 is not offended by that. :)

I guess he won't be since he has me blocked again. Whew!

I guess I should post a little someting on topic...

I do agree with DBW to this extent. Neither my '03 or the PDs were designed to operate on high percentages of biodiesel. In my case, it hasn't mattered one bit except I've been forced to blend with petroleum diesel in the cold Iowa winters (which I hate to blend). My daughter has a PD and ran it on B100 for several years with no apparent difficulty at all.

For myself I accepted the financial risks and it has paid off. I've cut my petroleum use by 75% and my carbon by 55% (what with winter blending and the fact that even biodiesel is about 22% methanol from natural gas).

DBW is a big proponet of GTL technology for synthetic fuel. The characteristics of such a fuel can be tailored to the engine design if necessary. Its a great idea, I just don't see anyone doing it yet. I'd love to buy some of that fuel right this very minute if it was produced in a low carbon manner with little or no imported oil. But... where to buy such fuel? Not in Iowa.

Lug_Nut, I'll still be driving my '03 on mostly 100% biodiesel (from that co-op that recycles cooking oil) for at least another year. I can't get a Volt any sooner than that. It's great that I'm using biodiesel and I want everyone else that can... to use it too. There's just not enough to go around. I've tried to focus on transportations solution that mere mortals can do. Most folks won't make their own biodiesel or fiddle with winter blending to keep their cars from gelling up.

They might drive Chevy Volts. Over time, we need to switch our grid electricity away from coal and natural gas (heck, eventually, we'll even run out of those fuels). I hope my example will start to get people to switch away from petroleum. It won't happen over night, but we have to start somewhere.

If renewable, GTL fuels become widely available, GREAT! I'm all for that.

Lug_Nut, keep the faith and keep on using that renewable B100. It's good! I wish more people would follow your example.

I've had a lot of people point out to me that biodiesel costs more for transportation. I don't expect to save money on my Chevy Volt either. I'm not doing this to save money, I'm doing it because someone has to start taking our energy situation towards a more sustainable future for our environment, economy and our security. For me, I'll be switching to electric drive (in about a year, hopefully) ...to be followed by my own solar array if I can get the money together and make it happen.

If you guys really want me to get my own solar array... get all your friends to buy my BOOK! :)
 

fnjimmy!

Chucklechump
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
TDIdiot
For the last 4 years, I've voluntarily paid more for my electricity on my 100% renewable sourced power for my home.
LOL! You actually believe that and expect us to? So in the last four years you haven't used any electricity between dusk and dawn while the wind wasn't blowing? I believe you may participate in a "green" energy program but I would be very interested in seeing any proof of your claim that the premium you pay delivers 100% renewable energy to your home. If you want to pay a guilt tax for your electricity that's your prerogative but don't kid yourself.
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, MA. USA
TDI
2015 GSW 6M in S trim the other oil burners: 1967 two stroke Sonett 1988 Bolens DGT1700
I've had a lot of people point out to me that biodiesel costs more for transportation.
Probably not. Biodiesel can be produced from local wastes. It doesn't need to be shipped in from Saudi Arabia oil fields nor Indonesian Palm plantations.
Does all the transportation cost get shifted to the food industry? Maybe, maybe not. Since the food industry paid to ship it to the local use point whether or not it converted to Bio, I think the transportation "cost" should only be from the location of used oil recovery to the local transesterification facility and then to the local fuel retail point.
There aren't the economies of scale as with a mega-tanker, but the much shorter distances more than compensate.

I had considered, quite seriously, a Vectrix electric scooter. After analysis of my municipal electric company's sources and mix, it turned out that the 40+ mpg TDI running on B100 produces LESS climate changing emissions than the same distance travel on such a scooter using the nearly 50% renewable and non-fossil electricity sent to my home.
Unless the Volt gets more miles per KWh than an electric scooter, it's even more of an environmental drain.
 

ikendu

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Location
Iowa
TDI
2003 Golf Indigo Blue
... expect us to?
Nope. You can believe what you like. I only imagine that it helps promote my utility company to purchase more wind energy. Although, I'm sure if I HAD my own solar array (grid connected), you might also be telling me that I'm accomplishing nothing 'cause after the sun goes down I'm still using the utility system. There are folks that will only accept an "ALL or nothing-short-of-all helps at all" idea. Sorry, I believe in making incremental progress. There's no magic switch what will take us instantly to ALL renewable energy.

Oh... and just a side note, after promoting renewable energy for nine years (after 9-11), there's very little you might say or Laugh Out Loud at that I haven't heard many, many times from all the blogging, writing and speaking I've done at churches, schools and special events to get the message out there about renewable energy. Happy to have provided a little amusement for you!
 
Last edited:

fnjimmy!

Chucklechump
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
TDIdiot
For the last 4 years, I've voluntarily paid more for my electricity on my 100% renewable sourced power for my home.
There's no magic switch what will take us instantly to ALL renewable energy.
Well! glad we have that cleared up!
Oh... and just a side note, after promoting renewable energy for nine years (after 9-11), there's very little you might say or Laugh Out Loud at that I haven't heard many, many times from all the blogging, writing and speaking I've done at churches, schools and special events to get the message out there about renewable energy. Happy to have provided a little amusement for you!
I really couldn't care less how many times you might have heard what I have to say, but it is relief to me that in the past you've met challenge from other intelligent and informed people who don't blindly accept your smug declarations as fact regardless of your attempts at insult or subterfuge.
 

ikendu

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Location
Iowa
TDI
2003 Golf Indigo Blue
Well! glad we have that cleared up!
Really, how could you imagine that virtually anyone believes in that magic switch? Do you imagine that I don't know that electricity on the grid comes from a mix of sources? Really? You think that? Come on... really?
 

fnjimmy!

Chucklechump
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
TDIdiot
Really, how could you imagine that virtually anyone believes in that magic switch? Do you imagine that I don't know that electricity on the grid comes from a mix of sources? Really? You think that? Come on... really?
LOL don't hyperventilate, I was referring specifically to this claim, by you, that you have made twice in thread:

For the last 4 years, I've voluntarily paid more for my electricity on my 100% renewable sourced power for my home.
Care to reconcile the contradiction here? Or would you prefer to shut up and stop promoting yourself?
 

ikendu

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Location
Iowa
TDI
2003 Golf Indigo Blue
Care to reconcile the contradiction here?
OK. Well, if you want to take a look at this seriously, I'm game.

My contract requires my utility to purchase as much renewable energy as I sign up for. Let's say I use 100 kwh of electricity (from mixed sources, as I think we agree). At the end of the month, my utility is obligated by contract to buy 100 kwh of renewable energy. They buy mostly wind energy but also a little solar (my energy association helped put up one such array in Cedar Rapids) and a little hydro-electric I believe (although, Iowa has very little hydro).

I feel like this helps increase the amount of renewable energy. I can believe that you might not. But that's 100 kwh that the utility would probably have not bought were it not for my contractual realationship. Can I be 100% sure of the complete impact I am hoping for? Sadly, I can not. I just hope that it is helping.

There it is. What you choose to believe is entirely up to you.

I think I've probably said as much as I should on this off-topic... and probably MORE than should be said. Sorry for expending too many electrons on this off-topic topic.
 

fnjimmy!

Chucklechump
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
TDIdiot
OK. Well, if you want to take a look at this seriously, I'm game.

My contract requires my utility to purchase as much renewable energy as I sign up for. Let's say I use 100 kwh of electricity (from mixed sources, as I think we agree). At the end of the month, my utility is obligated by contract to buy 100 kwh of renewable energy. They buy mostly wind energy but also a little solar (my energy association helped put up one such array in Cedar Rapids) and a little hydro-electric I believe (although, Iowa has very little hydro).

I feel like this helps increase the amount of renewable energy. I can believe that you might not. But that's 100 kwh that the utility would probably have not bought were it not for my contractual realationship. Can I be 100% sure of the complete impact I am hoping for? Sadly, I can not. I just hope that it is helping.

There it is. What you choose to believe is entirely up to you.

I think I've probably said as much as I should on this off-topic... and probably MORE than should be said. Sorry for expending too many electrons on this off-topic topic.
The issue is that you present it initially as being different than reality. You claim you only use 100% renewable energy, but the reality is you purchase offsets. These are absolutely not the same thing. If it makes you feel better to purchase offsets, fantastic, it doesn't exempt you from being a consumer of fossil fuels.
 

need4speed

Veteran Member
Joined
May 4, 2004
Well; been promoting "alternative" energy since 1976, since we were naive enough to believe the answer was, building a hundred space shuttles, and constructing orbital solar power stations, and beaming the energy back town to the surface via microwaves.

(and I'm not a big fan of wind turbines. I think; eventually, it's going to have to be a whole lot of different forms of PV that fixes this; PV doesn't murder birds).

I did run my 03 on B100 (honestly, B99) for 2 years. I stopped, because the price spiked, and when petro diesel went back down, my biodiesel supplier didn't lower their prices. I couldn't justify $5.50 a gallon while petro diesel was $2.97. And it's simple economics - and you know what, that's correct that there isn't enough to meet demand. That's why prices are higher. So, if I'm not burning it, someone else is. I have a very (very) short commute anyway. I'd like to say that I make a difference. I guess I do by living close to work. (close enough that on nice days, I pedal).

Anyway - the only ill-effects I'm aware of, is, I gunked up my fuel filter good. Right when I switched BACK to ULSD. My VNT-15 cashed-in at about 100k miles; with evidence that something solid was ingested, but I can't for the life of me figure out how anything got in there. Use of B99 couldn't have done that. 115k miles on her now, and the injectors seem fine.

I think that algae-based biodiesel will eventually be a very important part of the solution to the transportation-infrastructure problem. It takes the whole "food" production argument out of the equation. Electric drive-trains offer so much simplicity (and durability, and efficiency) though, I can't really see IC engines surviving as a technology if the electricity storage problem ever gets solved. (ultracapacitors, maybe? Probably *not* chemical batteries). My opinion, anyway, fwiw.

I'd really like to see PV become. . . affordable.
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, MA. USA
TDI
2015 GSW 6M in S trim the other oil burners: 1967 two stroke Sonett 1988 Bolens DGT1700
....(and I'm not a big fan of wind turbines. I think; eventually, it's going to have to be a whole lot of different forms of PV that fixes this; PV doesn't murder birds).
You've mis-spelled BP as PV. Care to make the correction?
Biodiesel is considered to be non-toxic, is non-carcinogenic, is biodegradable, is SARA (superfund) exempt,....
I did run my 03 on B100 (honestly, B99) for 2 years. I stopped, because the price spiked, and when petro diesel went back down, my biodiesel supplier didn't lower their prices. I couldn't justify $5.50 a gallon while petro diesel was $2.97. And it's simple economics - and you know what, that's correct that there isn't enough to meet demand. That's why prices are higher. So, if I'm not burning it, someone else is.
And I thank you for that. Your incremental reduction to the demand side makes my slice of the supply that much larger. I'm buying, at retail, B99 locally produced from local waste, A.S.T.M. certified (and yes, I HAVE toured the production plant and HAVE asked to see, and have been shown, the certificates of batch analysis). Price at the public access pump, paid with credit card, is presently $0.40 per gallon LESS than ULSD. I can't afford to NOT use B99/B100.
I have a very (very) short commute anyway. I'd like to say that I make a difference. I guess I do by living close to work. (close enough that on nice days, I pedal).
Rainy days allow me to drive in with clean clothes and take the worn ones home for laundering. Not environmentally effective in the long term. I generally wind up with twice as much washing (cycling gear and work clothes) per day, two showers (on arrival at work and arrival back at home). But I need the excercize....
I'd really like to see PV become. . . affordable.
I'd really like to see the energy density (per pound or per cubic volume) even approach 50% that of liquid fuels. A Pb-A battery of 9x9x12 inches (about the size in our cars) consumes 972 cubic inches of volume. Thats about 4 gallons of gasoline or (bio)diesel. I can drive 150+ miles on that volume of liquid fuel. How long do I wait for battery technology to even approach 1/2 that range on an equal space? More importantly to me: WHY should I wait and use petroleum based fuels in the interim?

Biodiesel isn't perfect, but for me it isn't an alternative fuel, it IS my fuel.
 

tSoG

Active member
Joined
Sep 28, 2006
Location
NW PA
TDI
I wish...
I'd also like to hear what the noob has to say in educating a GM engineer about the Volt's batteries. :D Does he really think they are the same ones that are in his vibrator?? :p
I won't argue that he can't take spare batteries for one to run the other. :rolleyes:
and I won't argue that 50k miles on my TDI makes me a noob.

jus that he can justify their use, and I can't...

this grid can definitely support more 'lectrics

I'm honestly surprised that sort of thing hasn't happened more often. I've talked to some of the dispatchers, and transmission operators that were on duty in/around cleveland at the time, they knew it was gonna happen, but couldn't do anything but dump load, or hope it held. in the end, relays made the decision for them :D




Does anyone disagree with him that it would be extremely difficult to find enough oil feedstock to swtich our nation's tranportation needs over to biodiesel?

Wind and solar CAN supplant a very real % of our total energy use, so electric cars will make a lot of sense in the future. As always, there is no silver bullet, and a variety of solutions should be implemented concurrently for most benefit.
I disagree that we can't find a fuel stock. hemp produces more oil per acre than soy if I remember correctly, along with the ability to grow like a weed, without as much pesticide/herbicide use. :D then you have algae, which I've yet to see implemented on a large scale, but I do like the algae scrubber idea that I saw. basically, an algae was found to have high oil content per mass, and the ability to survive in an exhaust percolated water bin. like pumping your car exhaust into a fish tank... but this stuff flourished. also, WVO is waste. unrefined in a TDI seems like a bad idea to me, but IDI, or refinement = using waste.

I agree that wind and solar can help, but putting a solar array on my house is a laughable idea. nowhere near the sunny requirements to justify the cost. passive solar, for water heating, perhaps, but cost not justifiable again for me, because of the limited water use.

when I have time for non-car related projects, WVO will be powering/heating/cooling my home, and workshop, along with a wind genny, 125vdc backup supply, and good ol fashioned american made hardwood heating. have a large enough wvo supplier to run a IDI vw engine/genny for large loading (machining/welding/clothes washing/etc) and a low RPM one knocker listeroid, as needed (aka 24/7 when I finally get there)

Well; been promoting "alternative" energy since 1976, since we were naive enough to believe the answer was, building a hundred space shuttles, and constructing orbital solar power stations, and beaming the energy back town to the surface via microwaves.
I actually heard a well argued debate for nuclear energy that wasn't far off. build new/efficient nuclear generating stations, and build semi-disposable hydrogen fueled rockets to jettison the waste nuclear material, the amount of storage materials currently used for
nuclear waste exceeds what would be lost when shooting the junk into space. I might have been a little drunk when I heard this proposal, therefore I can't remember the details specifically, but I do remember it being quite thought out, and detailed, I'll have to talk to the thinker, and get refreshed, and see if it was drunkenly a good idea, or actually interesting.
 

turbocharged798

Veteran Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Location
Ellenville, NY
TDI
99.5 black ALH Jetta;09 Gasser Jetta
"The PD" ? I know of at least three different PDs sold in the US alone.

I don't know enough about the Mk5 PD to comment on its reputation.

The Passat PD has a predictable mode of failure in the flawed design of its chain-driven BSM, I'm sure many peoples ownership experience could be summed up as something other than "perfectly fine". Once that expensive problem is addressed, they indeed are fine cars.

The Mk4 PD has a known cam issue, but even replacing cams/lifters every belt interval in a mk4 (who's to say replacement cams will fail the same) is not an insurmountable maintenance expense considering the proven longevity of the model, especially by a dedicated owner.
Pretty sure all those engines use a very similar head hence "the PD", I was mostly talking about the BEW/BRM though. Yes, every engine has it's quirks and problems.

I still can't figure out why people bash the PD so much on these fourms.:confused: It's actually a pretty good engine as long you use a good oil in it.:cool:
 

thebigarniedog

Master of the Obvious
Joined
Oct 14, 2007
Location
Fail Command (Central Ohio)
TDI
1998 Jetta tdi
ikendu

I blocked his posts over a year ago and just unblocked them in this thread. Nothings changed, no electric car yet, no solar array, same bantering, kind of sounds like the Sierra Club goons I had to listen to years ago when living in CA.

Blocked again as of 7/28/2010.;)
I read with interest his occupation of working at Government Motors :D.

Ikendu said:
Indeed. I worked for GM for 17 years and bought many GM cars that whole time. The dealer experience ranged from OK to pretty-darn-awful. I would say my VW dealer experience is OK at best. They broke my vacuum hose for my power brakes during servicing and wanted to charge me $120 for a 4" piece of hose because VW doesn't OEM just that piece of hose (had to buy an entire unit).

I would like to "Buy American" too for my next ride. I'm not completely opposed to buying imported cars (got two right at the moment; VW & Mazda). I do worry about our shrinking manufacturing base in the U.S. It's nice that GM is in the lead for PHEVs. I want them to succeed.
 
Last edited:

fnjimmy!

Chucklechump
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
TDIdiot
Pretty sure all those engines use a very similar head hence "the PD", I was mostly talking about the BEW/BRM though. Yes, every engine has it's quirks and problems.
I still can't figure out why people bash the PD so much on these fourms.:confused: It's actually a pretty good engine as long you use a good oil in it.:cool:
it's allegedly less-tolerant of inadequate oil than the earlier engines, but based on the failures I know of, I don't believe using "x" oil is a guarantee against PD cam failure. If a PD cam is prone to failure it will fail, if it isn't, it won't. Using inadequate oil could cause a failure, but using oil that meets 505.01 specs won't necessarily prevent a failure. Some ALH engines in 02 had "soft" cams and failed under the same use and maintenance as their older and newer counterparts. There's also evidence that suggests CJ4 is a better standard for wear prevention than 505.01 anyway, which is why I use the words "adequate" and "inadequate" rather than "approved". Anyway, this isn't an oil thread.
 

beanpoleagain

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Location
angier nc
TDI
05 golf bew
i think i will own up. these might be my injectors not sure, fuel is home brew soy 3 t or lower and has run 2 cummings 98/ 2004 and the vw for well over 100kand 3yrs,other than a lift pump at 67 k this is the first problem. i have sent my fuel for the cheep astm test 2 time and did very well,i home test for soap/ mono and di glycern water and acid valve. i water wash far more than nec. and heat well over 200 and bubble dry than filter thru three 10 micron filter before it goes to holding tank from holding tank to vehical it goes thru a 10 mic and two 2micron water block filters. i am usually not long storage but do store about 400 gal for 3 month winter when i blend 20 -30 percent. i change fuel filters at 10k and oil at 5 k with right spec oil. dont think the oil was changed with right oil for the first 50 k even though it was stealership done all reciepts were with car when i bought it. as for rust i had 2 water mistakes in the beginning and needed to drain tank. i am sure in the beginnning fuel was not as good as it is now. as for the 900 dollors i had to shell out for the injector service it unfortunite but considing that i make 1-200 dollars collecting wvo ea. month equipment and my fuel is free, smell like roses and reduces funding middle east towel heads. with all that said is the pd the best for biodiesel in large ratios not at all but live and learn. im glad when i started this project that i talked myself out of the two tank wvo system.
 

Riley

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Location
Texas
TDI
1996 Passat B4V
For a thread that started out showing how bad it is to run B100 in a PD, it sure went through every energy subject out there.
This proves my observation that there are 2 groups in the energy discussion: those that say there's nothing wrong with what we got or what we do now, so why change? then there's those that say we are ruining our planet, must progress to cleaner energy, cars, etc. or let our children face the consequences. It's always one extreme or the other and hardly ever any that are "on the fence" (unless they remain quiet). It's true even at my workplace, though most are the V8 truck guys who say the earth is fine and always will be.....and the rest who drive gas efficient green machines.
If you were back in 60's or 70's and told a musclecar owner that one day we would be driving fuel efficient turbo diesels, he probably would have laughed and asked why in world would we want that. Same goes now for diesel guys asking about plug-ins or EV's. I predict that we will always have fossil fueled cars but eventually electric cars will become more widespread and affordable. Change is and will happen, though very slowly. Oil rich Texas, my home state, is going to be the biggest producer to wind energy. I also don't believe we will run out of oil. There are so many capped wells out there that oil companies won't use until the price is right. After all, supply and demand go hand in hand. As long as the supply is just right, the price per gallon is tolerable, car manufacturers don't have to invent new technology and everyone is happy. Yes, I am in the group that would love to buy a Volt but price is an object. I still hate BP for ruining the Gulf Coast.

Oh yeah, what about all those diesels that every car manufacturer was begin selling in the US? What happened to that? Death by politics? or supply and demand?
 

fnjimmy!

Chucklechump
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
TDIdiot
For a thread that started out showing how bad it is to run B100 in a PD, it sure went through every energy subject out there.
This proves my observation that there are 2 groups in the energy discussion: those that say there's nothing wrong with what we got or what we do now, so why change? then there's those that say we are ruining our planet, must progress to cleaner energy, cars, etc. or let our children face the consequences. It's always one extreme or the other and hardly ever any that are "on the fence" (unless they remain quiet).
Bingo. The most polarized are generally the loudest because not only are they trying to convince others, they're struggling to convince themselves. Many people are sensitized to clueless green evangelists who don't even understand what they're talking about but feel better about themselves by believing they're making an effort, regardless of how factually correct they are. Then you have those who insist pollution or conservation in any forms are irrelevant, and anyone who says otherwise is a propagandist. At the opposite ends of the spectrum are the folks in complete denial. As you work toward the center you find the masses, the real people who work somewhere within the realm of reality and practicality, who can see through the BS and are so battle weary they'll happily keep their mouth shut and let the bickering commence without them.

Oh yeah, what about all those diesels that every car manufacturer was begin selling in the US? What happened to that? Death by politics? or supply and demand?
Diesels are more expensive to make, harder to mass market, and pose a challenge to manufacturers bringing existing european models here due to our relatively poor diesel. The VW sales rep at the NYC auto show this year told a club member that VW loses money on every TDI it sells in the US. As long as manufacturers meet CAFE requirements, they don't have more incentive to sell high fuel-economy cars. The US is tough market in general for european car makers because in general we won't pay a lot of money for a plush small car, our idea of luxury is size, and even at that the Phaeton wasn't a big hit. Standard features, safety requirements, and what we're willing to pay for a small car limits what we get compared to the rest of the world. This is the reason we never got the Gen2 (C1) Ford Focus, Ford decided they couldn't make money on it. In England, Ford makes special models that have hybrid-like efficiency features the standard models don't have, and they can charge a premium for them. This is because their tax structure makes it worth paying more up front for efficiency because of the tax breaks over time. There is no such incentive in the US, and people complain that a loaded VW costs $30k.
 

Lug_Nut

TDIClub Enthusiast, Pre-Forum Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 20, 1998
Location
Sterling, MA. USA
TDI
2015 GSW 6M in S trim the other oil burners: 1967 two stroke Sonett 1988 Bolens DGT1700
..fuel is home brew ..... for well over 100kand 3yrs, other than a lift pump at 67 k, this is the first problem.
As for the 900 dollars I had to shell out for the injector service, it's unfortunate, but considing that I make 1-200 dollars collecting wvo ea. month, equipment and my fuel is free, smell like roses and reduces funding middle east.....
Sounds to me as though a logical cost / benefit analysis has been performed. Not all will apply the same relative value to each side of the equasion based on their own personal weighting structure, and as a result not all will come to the same conclusion. For example: I'd apply more value to my time needed for oil collection. Because of this perception l don't produce my own, but that's neither here nor there.
A two tank WVO user I knew expected to consume a VE pump a year, planned for that possibility/eventuality, and still figured he came out ahead. That was his analysis.

Each of us will choose what we wish to use. Each of us should accept, and shouldn't attempt to transfer, any blame if our decisions turn out to be incorrect.

On the same note: Each of us should also avoid picking and choosing abberant examples to bolster our opinions for the purpose of proselytizing. Using 140k mile injectors that needed to be ultrasonically washed to restore to usage is hardly blanket damning biodiesel. But I too, have my opinion and it will take much more than the example displayed in this post for me to be swayed.
 

shizzler

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2005
Location
Ann Arbor MI
TDI
05 BEW Wagon
In most of EU you pay a tax based on engine size just to buy the vehicle (and I think to re-register it every year). Combine that with much higher taxes on fuel, and I think that's the basic premise hes talking about.

As for the larger debate in general, re: the masses in the middle.... they are still doing almost nothing to change the way we all live. Doing what is practical and realistic in their lives still means living and consuming within the established American system of energy waste. Until the general opinion supports making some sacrifices to reduce our energy demand and carbon emission, we are still digging ourselves into a very deep hole.
 

RC

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 13, 2000
Location
Maryland`s Eastern Shore
TDI
Two White 96 B4 Wagons
As for the larger debate in general, re: the masses in the middle.... they are still doing almost nothing to change the way we all live. Doing what is practical and realistic in their lives still means living and consuming within the established American system of energy waste. Until the general opinion supports making some sacrifices to reduce our energy demand and carbon emission, we are still digging ourselves into a very deep hole.
Agreed. I think we will need to fall over the edge before most Americans consider a serious lifestyle change. From what I can see the average American has yet to actually see and understand our dire predicament.
 

dalchri

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Location
Muncy, PA
TDI
99 Beetle
i think i will own up.
I don't think I can adequately express my gratefulness for you providing some fact for this discussion.

To confirm, the feedstock is WVO soy. What do you mean by 3 t or lower?

Can you give us an idea of the condition of the oil? How often the fryer oil is changed? Fryer temperatures? Type of restaurant? How acidic is the oil before you process it into biodiesel?

I am interested in what led you to discover the problem with the injectors. Was it a no start condition? Do you know if this caused any collateral damage to the engine?

Thanks again for divulging the details, it helps all of us improve.
 

fnjimmy!

Chucklechump
Joined
Apr 11, 2009
Location
Tacoma, WA
TDI
TDIdiot
Agreed. I think we will need to fall over the edge before most Americans consider a serious lifestyle change. From what I can see the average American has yet to actually see and understand our dire predicament.
the other predicament is that which many people consider to take priority, their own. When the power company proposes rate hikes to the regulatory committee, low and fixed-income show up en masse to scream genocide at the power companys actions. Whether this makes sense from one persons perspective to another is what makes us all different, but for the bulk of the country the greater cost of green energy is a luxury not a necessity. They're already switching their lights off when they're not using them and adjusting their thermostat a few degrees, they can't afford not to.
 

HUVW

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2008
Location
Hungary
TDI
05 Passat Highline 4Motion
I'm not sure about the UK's policy on fuel tax but in Hungary the "road tax" is a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of tax paid on each liter of fuel. Today I purchased 66 liters of diesel for the USD equivalent of ~$97. ~$30 of the fuel cost was tax. This is in addition to the registration fee, pollution control examination fee and the "road tax."

Regardless of the tax though, I can't wait for the day to trade in my 1.9 PD TDI B5.5 Passat for a 4.2 TDI Audi A8!
 

thebigarniedog

Master of the Obvious
Joined
Oct 14, 2007
Location
Fail Command (Central Ohio)
TDI
1998 Jetta tdi
Wanna solve the big problem? Bring on the fuel tax. Please.
What problem do you speak of will be solved by:

1. Making it too expensive for low income people to drive?
2. Encouraging more fuel thefts?
3. taking more money from people to be wasted by the goberment?
4. Limiting driving to the elite?

Shall I go on? The solution (as I posted in other threads) is a diesel mandate not more punitive taxation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKDLJUevrY
 
Top