Who here wants a diesel in their RL?
#42
Originally Posted by matt_21484
^^^^___That is the main reason why I would purchase a diesel. Run it on vegetable oil from McDonald's. There are enough people addicted to that stuff more than cigarettes.
This might be getting off topic, but I don't think there is a law stating, you must operate a vehicle on taxed gasoline. I'm no lawyer so I don't know how this works, but thats my logic. I know that this is an endless debate, but just my
This might be getting off topic, but I don't think there is a law stating, you must operate a vehicle on taxed gasoline. I'm no lawyer so I don't know how this works, but thats my logic. I know that this is an endless debate, but just my
IRS Update
... the current alternative motor fuel issues addressed during the last year, including biodiesel fuel. The IRS regards biodiesel as a taxable fuel; however, since biodiesel does not contain paraffin, it is considered an "excluded liquid" and is not taxed under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 4081(a). Currently, biodiesel is taxed only when blended with another fuel or delivered into the fuel supply tank of a truck or train.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/23scmin1.htm
Grease is the word, the word that you heard......
#43
Trolling Canuckistan
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,453
Likes: 811
From: 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114
Here's a link to an Article in the Boston Phoenix from a few months back. They start talking about the legal issues of running a grease car on page 3, however, the whole article is rather interesting.
http://new.thephoenix.com/Article.aspx?id=50826&page=3
http://new.thephoenix.com/Article.aspx?id=50826&page=3
#44
#45
I read recently that we use approximately 380,000,000 gallons of gasoline A DAY in the U.S.
That's one helluva lot of used grease, so I hope all you guys aren't planning on using it for fuel ... the cost of french fries will skyrocket.
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That's one helluva lot of used grease, so I hope all you guys aren't planning on using it for fuel ... the cost of french fries will skyrocket.
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#46
Trolling Canuckistan
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,453
Likes: 811
From: 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114
Originally Posted by Mike_TX
That's one helluva lot of used grease, so I hope all you guys aren't planning on using it for fuel ... the cost of french fries will skyrocket.
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Restaurants are paying someone to take this used oil away to the rendering plant. If someone is willing to take it away for free, they are usually pretty happy about it. The RL "grease lightning" edition would acutally lower their overhead, whether they would turn the savings over to the consumer is a different story.
#47
Originally Posted by black label
I'm pretty sure you are joking about the cost of french fries, but in reality, it should lower costs.
Restaurants are paying someone to take this used oil away to the rendering plant. If someone is willing to take it away for free, they are usually pretty happy about it. The RL "grease lightning" edition would acutally lower their overhead, whether they would turn the savings over to the consumer is a different story.
Restaurants are paying someone to take this used oil away to the rendering plant. If someone is willing to take it away for free, they are usually pretty happy about it. The RL "grease lightning" edition would acutally lower their overhead, whether they would turn the savings over to the consumer is a different story.
But there are other issues, too. According to figures gleaned from Wikipedia, the annual "production" of used cooking oil in the U.S. from all sources - if all of it were turned into biodiesel (impossible, of course) - is only enough to satisfy about 1% of our fuel needs. And used oil is used for other purposes, too, so there's obviously no way all of it would ever be turned into biodiesel.
So, even if we were wildly optimistic, let's say it might take care of 1/4 of 1% of our fuel needs. Not very promising, except maybe for the backyard chemist who wants to make his own.
In fact, it's almost like the ethanol issue - if every available acre of farmland were pressed into service for the growing of corn for ethanol, it might account for 15% of our current gasoline usage. Again, not exactly the Big Solution.
In fact, this is one of the things that bother me about diesel for the U.S. market - it's fine as a supplement to our gasoline usage, but it isn't the answer to our fuel needs by a long shot. Diesel is produced as part of the refining process, and unfortunately, all of a barrel of oil can't be made into diesel. So diesel production is naturally limited along with the oil supply, just like gasoline, and most of the diesel supply is already spoken for by industry.
A diesel Acura would certainly appeal to a lot of you, but I'd just caution you not to think it's some kind of magic bullet that will solve our fuel supply issues. That will require drilling and production HERE in the U.S., as well as developing alternative (non-petroleum) fuels and engines.
No politics here - just a dose of reality.
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#48
I don't think there's any one that believes diesel is any kind of solution. I think with the new CAFE standards though, it's going to appeal to the manufacturers as it factors into their fleet economy. I'm not exactly sure about the specifics of that though.
At any rate, it's an appealing near term fuel source but the real, long term solution has to cut any carbon emitting fuel supply out of the picture.
Now where did I leave my Mr. Fusion...
At any rate, it's an appealing near term fuel source but the real, long term solution has to cut any carbon emitting fuel supply out of the picture.
Now where did I leave my Mr. Fusion...
#49
Originally Posted by LukeaTron
I don't think there's any one that believes diesel is any kind of solution. I think with the new CAFE standards though, it's going to appeal to the manufacturers as it factors into their fleet economy. I'm not exactly sure about the specifics of that though.
At any rate, it's an appealing near term fuel source but the real, long term solution has to cut any carbon emitting fuel supply out of the picture.
Now where did I leave my Mr. Fusion...
At any rate, it's an appealing near term fuel source but the real, long term solution has to cut any carbon emitting fuel supply out of the picture.
Now where did I leave my Mr. Fusion...
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#50
The TSX looks to be 1st. Makes sense the 4 cylinder diesel is aleady launched in Europe.
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7646/1609/FREE
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...7646/1609/FREE
#51
For what it is worth, TOV has an article in rumors and news section that announces the TSX as the first i-DTEC car in the US. It will not be part of the 2009 TSX launch vehicles, but sometime later in 2009.
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=734677
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=734677
#52
Originally Posted by Chas2
For what it is worth, TOV has an article in rumors and news section that announces the TSX as the first i-DTEC car in the US. It will not be part of the 2009 TSX launch vehicles, but sometime later in 2009.
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=734677
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=734677
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#53
For my business, I just bought a new Dodge Sprinter van with the MB diesel and powertrain. The engine is a 3.5l diesel V6. Wow, this engine was very, very quiet. You would not think it is a diesel. With a little noise and vibration, it reminds me of a gasoline I4 engine. Not a lot of HP, decent torque and unheard of fuel economy.
All of my other diesel vehicles have been Ford Powerstrokes. Hopefully this will be more reliable. This basic Federal Express looking plain white vehicle costs more than our RL's.
All of my other diesel vehicles have been Ford Powerstrokes. Hopefully this will be more reliable. This basic Federal Express looking plain white vehicle costs more than our RL's.
#54
this MB diesel is pretty high tech and produces unbelievable fuel economy, with no smoke or odor whatsoever. This motor has less than 200 HP. The MB e320 blue tech diesel has about 1 second less 0 -60. Are you willing to pay more for a fuel economy diesel that will drop your acceleration
#55
Originally Posted by larrynimmo
this MB diesel is pretty high tech and produces unbelievable fuel economy, with no smoke or odor whatsoever. This motor has less than 200 HP. The MB e320 blue tech diesel has about 1 second less 0 -60. Are you willing to pay more for a fuel economy diesel that will drop your acceleration
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#57
You seem to be stuck on the diesel engines of years past. New diesel engines are completely different beasts that pour out torque across the entire rev range. It's a mistake to dismiss the idea so readily. Look at Audi that won (handily) the last LeMans with a diesel engine. How much more serious about driving can you get?
#58
Originally Posted by LukeaTron
You seem to be stuck on the diesel engines of years past. New diesel engines are completely different beasts that pour out torque across the entire rev range. It's a mistake to dismiss the idea so readily. Look at Audi that won (handily) the last LeMans with a diesel engine. How much more serious about driving can you get?
Secondly, (and I quote again) "The concessions afforded diesel-powered cars at Le Mans this year are numerous. Compared with a turbocharged gasoline-fueled car, the diesels enjoy a 50-percent larger displacement limit, a 52-percent larger intake restrictor, and an absolute boost pressure limit nearly twice as high. Additionally, the diesels are allowed variable nozzle turbines in their turbochargers. It is also rumored that Audi successfully lobbied to raise the minimum weight to accommodate the R10's massive powerplant."
The diesels that we'll see in passenger cars will indeed be cleaner and more efficient than diesels of old, but with the new CAFE standards, we can probably expect engines with modest hp/torque output, and they'll most probably show up mainly in smaller cars and in trucks and small SUV's.
IOW, I'll be surprised if they ever threaten the gasoline engine for mid-size or larger cars, and certainly not for cars offering much in the way of performance.
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#59
Originally Posted by Mike_TX
How unbelievable is unbelievable? I know this is a commercial van, but can you compare the mileage to your gasoline vans and give us some numbers?
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the gasoline trucks that we have (loaded with parts & tools) get 30 to 40% less fuel mileage than our diesel trucks. The down side of our diesels is that there are very few people to work on them, and repairs have been astronomical.
With the Dodge Sprinter we are hopefull that with the MB reliability we will have a very fuel efficient engine/powertrain that can go 250,000 miles without a major repair. Every Ford diesel in our fleet has had major work performed under 150,000 miles. Injector failure, oil cooler heat exchanger, high voltage injector wiring harnesses burning up, oil leaks. On the old 7.3 L, we had glow plug relays failing every year. On our manual shift models, flywheels would come apart.
There are so many things I like about the Ford F350 with powerstroke, I just wish it wouldn't tear up so much, or cost as much as it does.
#60
Originally Posted by larrynimmo
the gasoline trucks that we have (loaded with parts & tools) get 30 to 40% less fuel mileage than our diesel trucks. The down side of our diesels is that there are very few people to work on them, and repairs have been astronomical.
With the Dodge Sprinter we are hopefull that with the MB reliability we will have a very fuel efficient engine/powertrain that can go 250,000 miles without a major repair. Every Ford diesel in our fleet has had major work performed under 150,000 miles. Injector failure, oil cooler heat exchanger, high voltage injector wiring harnesses burning up, oil leaks. On the old 7.3 L, we had glow plug relays failing every year. On our manual shift models, flywheels would come apart.
There are so many things I like about the Ford F350 with powerstroke, I just wish it wouldn't tear up so much, or cost as much as it does.
With the Dodge Sprinter we are hopefull that with the MB reliability we will have a very fuel efficient engine/powertrain that can go 250,000 miles without a major repair. Every Ford diesel in our fleet has had major work performed under 150,000 miles. Injector failure, oil cooler heat exchanger, high voltage injector wiring harnesses burning up, oil leaks. On the old 7.3 L, we had glow plug relays failing every year. On our manual shift models, flywheels would come apart.
There are so many things I like about the Ford F350 with powerstroke, I just wish it wouldn't tear up so much, or cost as much as it does.
"They" claim the recent powerstrokes (6.4-liters) are far better than the last-generation 6.0-liters, but Ford lost a lot of friends with that engine. The old 7.3 was considered by most to be their best diesel.
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#61
http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/02/11...eline-and-mdx/
Hinting of the V6 diesel for the RL and TL as well.
Hinting of the V6 diesel for the RL and TL as well.
#62
Hybrid vs Diesel
The idea is to substantially reduce the dependence of foreign oil, not create another way to use it. The automobile industry could produce a hybrid or fuel cell engine that would rival the characterisitcs of a high performance combustion engine allowing us - auto enthusiasts - to still enjoy our cars but pass by the pumps!
#63
Originally Posted by carlover22
The idea is to substantially reduce the dependence of foreign oil, not create another way to use it. The automobile industry could produce a hybrid or fuel cell engine that would rival the characterisitcs of a high performance combustion engine allowing us - auto enthusiasts - to still enjoy our cars but pass by the pumps!
#64
Originally Posted by dwboston
Fuel cells aren't currently economically viable due to high production costs and a lack of infrastructure for hydrogen refueling. It's going to take a while to get there, and to convince people that they aren't driving a potential Hindenburg. And it's debatable whether hybrids do anything (especially right now) to reduce dependency on foreign oil. Hybrids are an intermediate step until fuel cells or some other petroleum-free technology is viable.
http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-cla...ell/evolution/
http://vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=722888
I agree that hybrids are an interim step, and what are we going to do with all those dead batteries?
Kind of like the compact fluorescent craze. Great stuff, energy saving, better though not great color rendering, and when the bulbs die, all that mercury going into the landfills, and eventually the ground water? I have a box with a couple of dead CFLs. In a few years, when I have more, I will take them to the local hazardous waste disposal site, but I doubt there are many who have been sensitized to this problem which accompanies any fluorescent tube, CFL or not.
#65
Some will disagree with me, but I just wish Honda would have made the Clarity more "normal-looking", instead of the uncomfortable humpbacked shape they chose.
Why hybrids and most other alternative-fuel cars have to look so weird (can you say "Prius", or "Insight"?) I can't figure out. I mean, people might actually be more willing to go for these things if they didn't look like they were from Mars.
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Why hybrids and most other alternative-fuel cars have to look so weird (can you say "Prius", or "Insight"?) I can't figure out. I mean, people might actually be more willing to go for these things if they didn't look like they were from Mars.
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#66
Originally Posted by Mike_TX
Some will disagree with me, but I just wish Honda would have made the Clarity more "normal-looking", instead of the uncomfortable humpbacked shape they chose.
Why hybrids and most other alternative-fuel cars have to look so weird (can you say "Prius", or "Insight"?) I can't figure out. I mean, people might actually be more willing to go for these things if they didn't look like they were from Mars.
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Why hybrids and most other alternative-fuel cars have to look so weird (can you say "Prius", or "Insight"?) I can't figure out. I mean, people might actually be more willing to go for these things if they didn't look like they were from Mars.
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#67
Originally Posted by LuvMyTSX
I totally agree.
Wasn't one of the reasons that the Accord hybrid was criticized (beyond the fact that the hybrid was used to boost HP and not really MPG) was that it looked almost exactly like the regular Accord V6?
I love the V8, horsepower king getting riled by alternative energy car designs.
#68
Originally Posted by dwboston
I love the V8, horsepower king getting riled by alternative energy car designs.
But actually, some of the car mag reviews I've read actually compliment Honda for making the Civic and Accord hybrids look "normal", as well as Toyota for making the hybrid Camry virtually indistinguishable from the regular one. Ditto for the hybrid Lexus models - RX, GS and LS. And, like me, they decry the cartoonish shapes they've bestowed on some of their other hybrid products.
Some "Greenies" love the attention they get from driving hybrids, but most just want to "do good for the environment" or whatever, and not make some kind of social statement.
The funniest thing to me, though, is how Prius drivers express their penis envy by trying to race us guys with regular cars ... guess they're trying to prove their toy cars really run.
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#69
Originally Posted by Mike_TX
The funniest thing to me, though, is how Prius drivers express their penis envy by trying to race us guys with regular cars ... guess they're trying to prove their toy cars really run.
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#70
If the diesel will be a V6 3.5, similar to the FANTASTIC 3.0 biturbo of the BMW5, that is considered even better of the classical fuel one 306 hp, I am for the diesel in the RL!!
The 286 biturbo diesel of the BMW is fast as the classical biturbo BMW...
500 Nm of torque, big engine, good mileage consum., what you can ask more to a sedan?
the Audi has to launch this year 2 new 3.0L engine, both with 300 hp, one diesel and one not: the same power, but different Nm.
The only thing I don't like of the diesel engines is the awful sound it makes.
BUT!! the best car to get the Diesel in, is a big SUV. Than let's get for the MDX a new big diesel, and I'll buy it for sure...
The 286 biturbo diesel of the BMW is fast as the classical biturbo BMW...
500 Nm of torque, big engine, good mileage consum., what you can ask more to a sedan?
the Audi has to launch this year 2 new 3.0L engine, both with 300 hp, one diesel and one not: the same power, but different Nm.
The only thing I don't like of the diesel engines is the awful sound it makes.
BUT!! the best car to get the Diesel in, is a big SUV. Than let's get for the MDX a new big diesel, and I'll buy it for sure...
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