Diesel $5.50 per gallon, what month this year - Page 6 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BodhiBenz1987 · #76 04-14-2006, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old300D

You are right, that is scary. I detest the smell of diesel fuel. If it wasn't for biofuels, I would NEVER drive a diesel.

As a kid my family did a lot of summer traveling ... I guess I associate the smell of truck stops with that so I like it. My parents both drove diesels (one of them the one I'm driving now) when I was a kid so the stuff just brings me warm fuzzies, what can I say?

rchase · #77 04-14-2006, 09:49 AM

Hmmm,

Thats a good point.... I have been looking at S320's for ages now and have considered them priced a bit out of my comfort zone until recently..... Perhaps the fuel costs for the V8 and V12 powered cars have pushed down the values on the entire series? Certainly good if your in the market for another car.....

I just did my fuel calculations and got 23.4mpg with mixed driving.... Pretty darn good considering the car is supposed to do 24 highway..... I love my Diesel 126 but I really could get used to oozing down the highway in the 140 with its Bose audio system and cold storage A/C.

BodhiBenz1987 · #78 04-14-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rchase

Hmmm,

There are no modifications? Why are you putting installing a heater into your tank then? I am aware of the differences of WVO and Biodiesel but honestly consider them the same thing. External heated tanks and fuel switch valves and having to replace the rubber fuel lines are all non factory modifications that have to be performed on vehicles that run that type of fuel. Even vehicles that run straight biodiesel eventually have to have their fuel hoses replaced. Last time I checked replacing factory parts (rubber fuel hoses) with non factory parts (synthetic fuel hoses) is considered a modification.

rchase, no offense, but you obviously haven't researched biodiesel very hard ... it doesn't need to be run through a seperate tank or heated. You can dump it right in the existing fuel system, and if it's quality fuel it will run just fine. A lot of times they mix it with regular diesel, so you get B2 (2 percent biodiesel, 98 percent regular), B5 (five percent biodiesel), B20, etc. For example, my Jeep came from the dealer with a tank of B2 ... wouldn't know the different, and I've been running the regular stuff ever since. In a lot of states, they sell B2 just as through it were normal stuff ... it can go in any diesel-powered car or truck. SVO or WVO, on the other hand, gets coagulated when it's cold and will not work until it is heated ... biodiesel does not do this. It behaves like regular diesel.

In short: no tanks, no new lines, no flux capacitators.

Heck, I don't use the stuff and don't think it's the nectar of the gods, but don't critisize it on a basis that isn't even correct.

rchase · #79 04-14-2006, 09:55 AM

I love the smell of regular diesel fuel..... Reminds me of the airport...... All the Diesel Ground Vehicles and the much nicer smell of Jet A...... Hmmm Jet A incence? Just kidding

Gas stinks.... I filled my S320 today and remembered how I hate the smell..... Im not sure what makes it stink so bad.... The 110LL fuel used in private aircraft smells much better..... Perhaps its part of the refinement process.....

Old300D · #80 04-14-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

The rest of your post was all good points, but I find this offensive to say the least. I'm about as far from "lazy" as a person can be. I work my deriere off at my job, as well as running every morning. It's not like I'm lying on my coach 10 hours a day thinking 'I don't feel like making biodiesel because it's too much work.' I have other priorities at this point in my life, I'm very dedicated to them and I have little consistent time. Nobody sells biodiesel in my area. I live in a small apartment with no driveway or garage facility. I have a nice greasy oil collection pan sitting in my living room, but I don't think there's space for a biodiesel factory. Yes, there are a lot of things I'd like to learn or start doing ... and I'm always willing to work hard to get there. Biodiesel intrigues me, and I've made a point of learning some things about it, but it isn't at the top of my list of things to take on. If it were, I'd have figured out how to make it by now.

Please don't insinuate that everyone who doesn't use biodiesel is "lazy." I don't call people who aren't runners "lazy" or who don't change their own oil "lazy." I know plenty of hard-working, innovative people who simply dedicate their time to other things.

I apologize for my comment, I meant no offense. Funny as it may seem, I meant it purely in jest.

rchase · #81 04-14-2006, 10:34 AM

Perhaps your right by no means do I consider myself an expert. It's a pretty new type of fuel and the long term effects are not as well known as diesel fuel. Im just not comfortable being one of the people that will discover the long term effects good or bad. I'm sure some BMW engineers can tell you all about the catostrophic effects of minor differences in fuel formulations. Many V8 Equipped 5 series and 7 series cars are driving around on new engines because of these minor differences. Until I read the time tested research performed by trained engineers I won't be using it in my car.

My car has its original engine and Injection pump and I would like to keep it that was as long as possible. When I can get real diesel that the engine was designed to run for the same price (depending on how you do your math) why would I want to hassle with hauling putrid oil, dealing with toxic chemicals and pissing off my neighbors?

For those of you who run the stuff Im very glad that your saving money and sticking it to big oil. I wish there was an easier way to do it otherwise I would be doing the same myself.

Old300D · #82 04-14-2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rchase

Hmmm,

There are no modifications? Why are you putting installing a heater into your tank then? I am aware of the differences of WVO and Biodiesel but honestly consider them the same thing. External heated tanks and fuel switch valves and having to replace the rubber fuel lines are all non factory modifications that have to be performed on vehicles that run that type of fuel. Even vehicles that run straight biodiesel eventually have to have their fuel hoses replaced. Last time I checked replacing factory parts (rubber fuel hoses) with non factory parts (synthetic fuel hoses) is considered a modification.

As for the lazy comment have you ever heard the term "time is money". Its true for a number of people in this world. Additionally not all of us have the ability or desire for that matter to set up a chemical refining plant in our back yard. Some people live in Apartments or have Neighborhood Associations that would not permit such activities. Its good that you have those resources and consider your time to be "free" but everyone's situation is different. I would rather spend time with my family and friends in my time off from work and pay a little extra on my fuel costs. Not everyone considers their time to be free so that $.70 a gallon figure might change a bit depending on who is doing the math. Just for the sake of argument why don't you calculate it again and keep track of your time and use the $5.15 minimum wage to see what biodiesel "really" costs. It would be interesting to see the real numbers.

I'll repeat myself. There are NO vehicle modifications necessary to run biodiesel in your diesel vehicle. Period. So if you had done research, you would know that. Biodiesel in NOT the same as WVO, biodiesel is made from WVO. I do not have a tank heater, or valves or extra plumbing or different fuel filters, and no one else running biodiesel does either.

I already explained my labor costs me nothing to make fuel. My salary does not change by me making my own fuel. It's my hobby that essentially saves me $2000 a year in fuel costs.

BodhiBenz1987 · #83 04-14-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old300D

I apologize for my comment, I meant no offense. Funny as it may seem, I meant it purely in jest.

No problem ... it wasn't really that offensive ... I was just in a cranky mood (it's been known to happen now and then) ...

andmoon · #84 04-14-2006, 11:29 AM

There are tree huggers, wallet huggers, self sufficiency nuts...etc.BUT

I think a major reason behind the bio/wvo is the 'hobby/fun' factor.

If/when diesel hits $5 there will be many wallet huggers joining the wvo/home bio. group.

Winter is over. Demand for home heating diesel no longer exists. Why are prices going up?

aklim · #85 04-14-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old300D

I'll repeat myself. There are NO vehicle modifications necessary to run biodiesel in your diesel vehicle. Period. So if you had done research, you would know that. Biodiesel in NOT the same as WVO, biodiesel is made from WVO. I do not have a tank heater, or valves or extra plumbing or different fuel filters, and no one else running biodiesel does either.

I already explained my labor costs me nothing to make fuel. My salary does not change by me making my own fuel. It's my hobby that essentially saves me $2000 a year in fuel costs.

I think he is confusing biodiesel with WVO and SVO. Only thing I have noticed is that the mileage went down a little with higher percentages of Biodiesel but at B20, I think the effect is negligible. Tailpipe emmissions never concerned me as to whether it smelled like french fries or regular diesel. All the same to me since I don't smell it. OTOH, I do know that the Cenex stopped offering higher percentages of Biodiesel in the winter because of gelling issues. Not sure they are correct but that is how it played out here.

Your salary remains the same but your free time drops. There is no free lunch. As to $2000, Not sure I would do that "hobby" for that little money but to each his own. Would I want to have to build a space for "hobby materials"? Probably not. I saved up a few hundred bucks by doing my bathroom walls and celing paint and a medicine cabinet install plus recaulking. That was a one time deal and I chose the time to do it. Now, if I had to do it every so often, rain or shine, snow or whatever, probably not. When my wife gets off work, I'd rather spend the time playing with her than fuel in the shed. Also there is my dogs to take out for runs and what not that I'd rather do.

Mistress · #86 04-14-2006, 12:34 PM

Fuel prices will probably over $4.00 a gallon right before July 4th. I remember when it was .25 cents a gallon, last of the great curmudgeons.

Addicted · #87 04-14-2006, 12:42 PM

A family Friend...not to old 45 I think, said she remembers living in Texas and there would be gas wars. She said fuel would go down to 10 cents a gallon

Now is there a way we can start some type of fuel war!! No not including a real war overseas. The other type between stations or Companies.

I'm sure there are many other ways in the alternative fuel section but how about something more criminal and mean...kinda a pay back.

But I did here yesterday on the news that Gas stations in a lot of cases are selling the fuel cheaper then they are ending up replacing it for the following fill up. Sounds impossible to me...business would shut down...but who knows in this crazy world of energy.

Mistress · #88 04-14-2006, 12:52 PM

I remember the gas wars, those were fun. I also remember the gas rationing in Florida....odd even plate numbers, only allowed so many gallons...alot of "creative" purchasing was done back then to get a full tank of gas...glad I can walk to and from work.

Old300D · #89 04-14-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Your salary remains the same but your free time drops. There is no free lunch. As to $2000, Not sure I would do that "hobby" for that little money but to each his own. Would I want to have to build a space for "hobby materials"? Probably not. I saved up a few hundred bucks by doing my bathroom walls and celing paint and a medicine cabinet install plus recaulking. That was a one time deal and I chose the time to do it. Now, if I had to do it every so often, rain or shine, snow or whatever, probably not. When my wife gets off work, I'd rather spend the time playing with her than fuel in the shed. Also there is my dogs to take out for runs and what not that I'd rather do.

Most people spend 6x more time watching television than what I do making fuel. To each his/her own. And I don't know of many hobbies that pay better or at all -- I used to drag race, that was a huge wallet drain.

aklim · #90 04-14-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Addicted

But I did here yesterday on the news that Gas stations in a lot of cases are selling the fuel cheaper then they are ending up replacing it for the following fill up. Sounds impossible to me...business would shut down...but who knows in this crazy world of energy.

Not necessarily true. As I understand it, they base the sale off the fill up price today. IOW, Today I get it for $2 and I mark it up to $2.50 but tomorrow the tanker comes in and sells it for $1.50 so I mark it up to $1.95. Yes, today I take a bath but tomorrow it evens out.