Re: [AMC-List] E85 and Old Cars

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

Bio-diesel and pure ethanol both have similar problems that dino fuels 
don't have -- they both have problems at lower temperatures. Bio-diesel 
starts gelling in the low 30's to upper 20's. You can cut it with ethanol 
to help (you have to watch how much so you don't put holes in pistons) so 
it's really not an option for the northern half (geographically) of the 
country for a good chunk of the year. Vehicles using pure ethanol also have 
starting problems in the same temperature range. The 15% gas in E85 is 
apparently enough to start engines below those temperatures (I think that 
was already brought up).

BTW, I'm not trying to poo-poo these fuels but there are trade offs with 
everything.

Matt

At 01:03 PM 4/26/2006 -0400, you wrote:
>" From: JOE FULTON <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>"
>" I think Charlie Nash, George Mason, or George Romney
>" would be jumping on the E85 bandwagon today.  They
>" might even have a Rambler model called the E85.
>"
>" When and if it becomes commonly available here in CA,
>" I think I'll convert one of my old cars to run on it.
>" Surely a Rambler three speed with overdrive would get
>" decent mileage on it.  And it sure beats paying dues
>" to ragheads (excuse me, people with textile headwear)
>" who want nothing from me but my money.
>"
>" Archer Daniels Midland may stand the most to gain by
>" E85 right now, but the technology to make ethanol is
>" pretty simple (although patented biota may complicate
>" the issue in the future).  Too many folks know how to
>" set up a little production device in a secluded hollar
>" in the hills.
>
>imho the best fuel with mid-range potential is biodiesel.
>
>you might recall that when you mix lye and tallow, you get soap
>[sodium stearate] and glycerin.  wood ash will do; then you get
>potassium stearate.  mix alcohol and vegetable oil [or tallow, or any
>other fat/oil] in the right conditions and you get biodiesel and
>glycerin.  you can pour it straight into the tank of any diesel - or
>other oil burner, like your furnace - and it lubricates the injection
>system better than petrodiesel, burns cleaner than petrodiesel, and
>even makes more power [a bit] than petrodiesel.
>
>the chemistry is simple and the technical issue of efficient
>manufadture is already being addressed, by many.  the biggest hitches
>i see are 'wax point'; without additives it isn't reliably usable much
>below freezing [though additives will surely be developed], and the
>byproduct glycerin.  there are industrial and cosmetic uses for it -
>but can you buy enough products to consume a gallon of glycerin a
>week?
>
>an acre of rapeseed [aka canola] produces a ton of oil.  an acre of
>oil palms produces 5 tons.
>
>ps. 'b100' is industry shorthand for pure biodiesel.  you'll often see
>'b20', 20% bio/80% petro; low temp operation isn't a problem with this
>mix.  and btw all diesel jeep libertys leave the factory with b5 in
>their tanks.
>________________________________________________________________________
>Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
>internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
>adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought
>_______________________________________________
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mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1967 Rambler American wagon
1968 Rambler American sedan
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