Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion > Alternative Fuels

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-23-2007, 02:43 PM
BioBens's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Montana
Posts: 267
ATTN: Biodiesel fans

Just called my methanol supplier, Brenntag Chem (Pacific Div.) to confirm the company's mail notification to me of a MeOH price increase to $7.016/gallon. Confirmed. I was advised that the price will go up from there and that it's likely to remain at those prices thru '07.

For those who use but don't make biodiesel, it takes 20% MeOH by volume to make biodiesel. Most production facilities (commercial and private) are used to paying $1.50 - $3/gal for MeOH. Methanol is made from natural gas. Can you say BIG OIL?

__________________
1984 300 TDT 200k mi.
1982 300 SD 65k orig mi. (sold)
1985 BMW 524 TD 90k mi.
1996 Ford Explorer 225k mi. (still strong)
1997 Clackacraft drift boat
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-23-2007, 03:16 PM
John Schroader's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 404
I wish I could say that I'm surprised. Disappointed, yes -- surprised, no.
__________________
John Schroader
bio burnin' 83 300D, '83 300 SD, '79 240D
"I've never met a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else" Ben Franklin
"You cannot permanently help a man by doing for him what he could and should do for himself" Abraham Lincoln
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-23-2007, 03:23 PM
TheDon's Avatar
Ghost of Diesels Past
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,285
I remember paying $1.25 a gallon.... kinda surprised that it would jump that high.. I smell something fishy

wonder if that weak dollar has to do with anything also
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-23-2007, 07:31 PM
BioBens's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Montana
Posts: 267
RANT -- I just don't get it. Methanol was stable at $1.25ish for decades. All the methanol plants in North America close by 2006, production moves to Trinidad, Taiwan, China, Persian Gulf etc. and the methanol price blows through the roof. If this is an example of economic globalization, the US has been hoisted on its own pitard. Methanol is the single most widely used industrial chemical on earth. What's next, air? sunlight?
__________________
1984 300 TDT 200k mi.
1982 300 SD 65k orig mi. (sold)
1985 BMW 524 TD 90k mi.
1996 Ford Explorer 225k mi. (still strong)
1997 Clackacraft drift boat
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-23-2007, 08:00 PM
ForcedInduction
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Another sign that the world is about to end in 2012.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-23-2007, 08:18 PM
Stevo's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NW WA
Posts: 6,299
Quote:
Originally Posted by ForcedInduction View Post
Another sign that the world is about to end in 2012.
I'll bet you your car against my whole fleet, it wont
__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-23-2007, 08:45 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Yountville, CA
Posts: 1,176
Any other known substitutes for methanol to assist in the reaction needed? This news is not good!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-23-2007, 09:17 PM
Certified Diesel Nut
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Maine
Posts: 78
ethanol?
__________________
1985 300D Mango Green with 16" Pentas, Vogtland springs, Euros/ clear corners, 234k, lots to come soon....
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-23-2007, 09:21 PM
ForcedInduction
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Quote:
Originally Posted by DZL_Damon View Post
ethanol?
Ethanol is hygroscopic. You might as well use water instead.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-23-2007, 09:21 PM
Wodnek's Avatar
Vintage Mercedes Junkie
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Southeast Wisconsin
Posts: 1,661
Quote:
Originally Posted by DZL_Damon View Post
ethanol?
The problem with ethanol is that even .1 % water will kill the reaction. Since ethanol instantly will leach water from the air a homebrewer will never succeed.

Isopropyl alchohol (rubbing) will work but is even more expensive.
__________________
1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-23-2007, 09:33 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 117
ethanol

Yes ethanol is very hydroscopic. However, I have read a number of papers that have been written on the successful use of ethanol in the manufacture of biodiesel. There are ways of extracting the H2O from it. If you really wanted to avoid fossil fuels, brewing your own alcohol and using it to make biodiesel would be the ultimate way to do it. The process would likely not be justifiable economically if you wanted to include the value of your time. If you considered it a hobby that was self supporting it would be kind of cool.
__________________
Sedecrem

82 300SD 290k(needs engine swap)
79 240D 354k with new heart transplant w/220k
82 240D w/auto tranny soon to be manual 4 speed
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-23-2007, 09:48 PM
TheDon's Avatar
Ghost of Diesels Past
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 13,285
but to make your own ethanol in quantaties larger than.. IIRC 500 gallons you need a License/Permit

there is some limit I just cannot recall it
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 10-23-2007, 09:55 PM
winmutt's Avatar
85 300D 4spd+tow+h4
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Atl Gawga
Posts: 9,346
Heh. Plenty of methane from my house after a night of refried beans. Come one over and fill up!
__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 10-23-2007, 09:59 PM
pmari's Avatar
OM606.962 177hp 330nm
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: L.I. N.Y.
Posts: 1,033
You can make beer and wine for personal consumption (within state and federal limits) with out a licence.

You can not distill without a licence.
__________________
1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”

The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 10-23-2007, 11:53 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 117
As long as you denature the ethanol(add something to make it unfit for human consumption) I believe you can make it for fuel. It takes a little more ethanol to transesterify the triglycerides to make biodiesel because the molecule is almost twice as large. However, 100 gal of ethanol would probably make about 400 gal of biodiesel. Figuring you would only use it straight during the warmer weather and would blend it with No. 2 in the cooler weather, that should be enough unless you do a lot of driving.

__________________
Sedecrem

82 300SD 290k(needs engine swap)
79 240D 354k with new heart transplant w/220k
82 240D w/auto tranny soon to be manual 4 speed
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page