What all will run these cars besides diesel?
I know of folks running veggie, bio, even transformer oil
and trans fluid.
If the western world collapses as we know it, and we need to
get out, what can be put in the tank?

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

Ive been thinking the same scenario. To my knowledge, anything that is oily, and can burn. Im thinking any oil that you can put on a wick and burn. Trans fluid, vegetable oils, motor oils, lamp oil, ect ect. I envision finding cars that are abandoned on the side of the road and draining their fluids and filling up. when the world falls apart and the worlds a horrible place, ill be the only one with a car . I better drive fast though!

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

Diesel. Keep a two gallon jerry can in the trunk and don't run out of fuel in the first place.

Last summer I left my walet at the office 50 miles away, found this out when I pulled up to a pump to fuel up. Reserve light on.

I poured a gallon of Delo and 2 qts of trans fluid in.
(she does not use any fluids I just carry them)

Got to the house no one home and not a penny to be found.

So off to the barn

5 gallons of tractor hydraulic fluid
2 gallons delo
several qts trans fluid
1 gallon canola oil (kitchen)
Suzuki fork oil
bunches of 2 stroke oil
several qts. marvel mystery oils
and anything else I could find.
I really just cleaned the shelves of old stock that had been there for years.

Darn thing ran like a top real quiet and smooth.

Made it to work the next day and then some.

So there,

or find one of those jerry cans that fit into the spare tire.. I've seen a few on ebay

Get out to where? The western world should not collapse in your lifetime. It may change a lot but barring a serious natural occurance not too much should happen.
Anyways travel during a really serious event would probably be impractical or far too dangerous. I suspect fuel for your car would be a minimal issue at such a time.
I think that lessening the cost per mile of transportation is a good thing though. A person like myself can save a substantial amount of money by calculating a way to lessen energy use and increase efficiency of whatever method of transportation I own.
I have been experimenting a little with the direct current three phase motors and controllers. They seem practical if I can get the electroylite for constructing larger iron oxide batteries. Buying them at this point even if available requires too much money. That is academic though as to the best of my knowledge they are not available in large sizes.
The above package is practical and easily affordable in my opinion for short haul use. Almost any light car could be converted at home in my opinion at very low cost.
We live about 3-4 miles from town for example. The iron oxide battery can be totally recharged safely in 10-15 minutes if you can get enough input charge current flowing. There are no safety issues with those batteries and energy density is adaquate for a car. I have not calculated range but even if just 30-40 miles on a charge might be enough. .
Because of the rapid recharge rate it might be usable for some one like myself. Sure we would still retain fossil fuel cars for distant trips.
Remember possibly 80 percent of the years overall milage a car like that could handle quite easily for us. The vast majority are back and forth to town trips after all. Several a day in fact. Plus local errands.
If you have never have had any experience with three phase direct current motors you should aquire some. No brushes, No wear points other than bearings, Easily constructed so you are not held ransom to get one.
The iron oxide battery is another item that hopefully meets the same criteria. Who says the rust from your mercedes has no value? The motor speed controller is possible as well. To reverse the motor just switch any two of the three windings. Thats if you eliminated the transmission for weight savings on a rear drive car.
If you depend on commercial production for these items initially they will be priced out of sight if marketed. I very much doubt marketing to an individual level anyways would happen.
.The true practical range is subject to calculation but I think you could burn rubber until the tires where totally destroyed with little effort on one charge. Lack of performance would not be an issue. Using it just depletes range.
The iron oxide battery output is constant until almost the very end of the stored charge. Today you can put 10 c size cells of this type in series and spot weld with them for example. Gives you at least 70 amps maybe 100 at 30 volts. Four c cells in series will boost a car quite well. This battery technlogy has a 10 year shelf life. Holds charge extremly well. Delivers enormous current upon request and thrives on abuse. Has at least 2,000 charge cycles available with no deterioration or degradation recorded at all. Thats about six years of daily use if you almost deplete the battery every day and recharge. My guess is you would get about ten years of practical lifespan.
One of the big three have brought into this technology just in case nothing better comes down the pike. Their intent to actually market it is not known by me.. There are better technologies on the horizon or in the lab. The problem is use of them by the individual will be probably impossible.
Anyways back to emergency petroleum fuels. In a true emergency any petroleum fuel used for household and smaller industrial/commercial buildings would be my target. No chance of fuel problems. Higher sulphur content perhaps yet a person should be able to promote some somehow in a true emergency situation. Lets hope it never comes to that.

what?

I got it the first time, jeeze.


When you plug a car in, the power comes from elsewhere... I'm just going to stop now; I'm not in the mood to debate alternative energy.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

and how is that related to the other fuels you can run in a diesel


There was an extensive topic on this sometime ago.. kinda recent

I agree with keeping some spare diesel in a can in the trunk. These cars have huge fuel tanks, if you run out of fuel, then its your own fault for not paying attention.

Its not worth the risk of damaging the injection pump, nozzles, piston rings etc....just to run something other than diesel. Not to mention clogged filters etc... These are not multi-fuel military vehicles....they're just little normal diesels.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

That's a pretty hilarious laundry list. What was the total cost for all of those fluids?

Kevin

1978 300D
1979 240D

Birds must have been dropping from the sky and trees must have been falling over across the road as you went by!! I can't even begin to think of the pollution you must have been churning out!!!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

I believe the OP was talking in Apocolyptic(sp?) terms, and I think that's an expansion on the usual alternative fuel debate. Consider the following scenario (the likelyhood of which is different subject):

When diesel, WVO, etc. are no longer an option; what could you possibly use to drive 20-30 miles to the nearest food distribution point so you and your family don't starve to death? If the car is destroyed as a result, so be it.

Floor wax?
Oil based paint?
Turpentine?

I think it's an interesting question, but after re-reading the thread so far, I can understand if everyone's lost their enthusiasm.

Trust me, and many others, There is no shortage in our supply of oil/fuel. "Mad-Max", "Blade-Runner" and "The Postman", were just movies. If it ever does happen, all of us, and our cars, will be long gone by then anyways. "Don't Panic"

Trucky

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[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

I always keep extra fuel in the trunk, right in my 12 gallon auxillary tank.

If something major happens, there will be so much pandomonium going on
you would take your life in your hands to get out on the road. It would be
dog eat dog. Just look at how it is at commute time.

I remember all the fear going on back in the 70`s when we had the so
called first gas shortage. the long lines at the pumps, and the SUV wasn`t
even around then. come to think about it, we didn`t have Soccer moms
either.

We had the Federal mandate of 55MPH by Jimmy Carter. those were the
days.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works