Algae based biodiesel. This seems like a good idea. Here are some interesting links. What do you think about it? YouTube - Vertical Algae biofuel Growing
Race to algae-based biodiesel heats up | Green Tech - CNET News.com
UNH Biodiesel Group

 

Yup. That is the reason bio diesel really should not be used if the vehicle is not driven quite often and not parked for any length of time.

Darks green chunky fuel in your tank doesn't sound very good to me. I have seen it. Thank God it was not my truck!!

Andy

 

Thats really not what this is about, but there is some irony in the fact that a fuel contaminant can actually produce fuel.

The stuff that would be produced would be veggie oil. To make biodiesel out of that, ethanol would be blended to make the fuel viscosity more palatable for conventional fuel systems. Otherwise it could still be burned with some mods made to the fuel system (namely a fuel heater).

The type of oil that can be produced from those process is actually a superior fuel to any current source of veggie oil and could even make more BTUs per gallon than peto based diesels.

The main source of current crude oil reserves around the world was in fact originally from algae and other micro organisms (not dinosaurs as we once thought). This fuel would make it possible to bypass millions of years of geological activity and make it possible to fuel diesel engines off of solar power if you can imagine that.

This also does not displace food crops because it would mainly be grown in arid conditions.

Another neat feature about veggie oil is that its not considered flammible or toxic.

If they get it right it will change the world as we know it and could even tip the balance of political and military power by making crude oil worthless all over the world. Even plastics are being made using vegetable oil in some places.

 

nicebenz68,

maybe you should have read the article......lol

I think there are many great alternative fuel options to be considering. I hope this works out better than ethanol!!!

 

how do i buy stocks in algea based bio oil before it hits $150.00 a barrel??

 

Hey, haven't heard from you in a while. You been hiding or something?

I actually have an answer for you. There are several stocks that are held in universities all over the world. They are not a restricted material and you can order them through the mail (samples are usually between $50 and $150 each or free if you are a school teacher). The catch in all of this is getting the right strain of algae that has a high growth rate, high lipid content and will still grow well in your climate.

And that my friend is the focus of all of these researchers all over the world. The news stories have been publicized in the last few months, but the research itself into which types of algae that would be best is actually still under a lid for the most part.

After growing it, its filtered out of the water and squished to get the oil out (quite high pressure actually) and what is left is dried and can be used to make the ethanol or fertilizer, or livestock feed.

 

Sorry, I guess that I should have read the whole post first.

Andy

 

I don't know that much about bio-fuels but what I do know about the algea idea SOUNDS great.
The ability of diesels to burn bio-fuel (NOT made out of our food!) and waste products is one of the main reasons all of my current project rigs are diesels. I can put the time and effort into building them up right and not have to worry too much about fueling them down the road in 10-20 years. There is just so many fuels they can run on.

 

How much crap did you have to take when it was Daimler/Chrysler seeing as how you hate Dodges and own a Mercedes?

I'm not bustin' your chops, just curious.

If I wanted to make you mad I'd say something about you pushing your Ford in your signature. LOL

 

Well my Mercedes was built long before Mercedes thought they (adding to the list) could save Dodge / Chrysler. Now that they have found out that fixing Dodge and turning it around and now they can't unload Dodge fast enough. No takers? Well maybe Dodge will join the rest of the stuff being made in China. As long as Dodge builds cars / trucks on the cheap marketing to people that only look at price they will continue to build crap that on most occasions can not last mechanically as long as the warranty. Now the only exception is the Cummins Diesel engine. All I ever hear from Dodge truck owners is that the trucks are poorly constructed and very uncomfortable for driving long distance.

Even you own 4 Fords and only 1 Dodge. Obviously your preference too.

Not that I ever have to push my Stud Monkey Fords. Just being a mechanic I know that Chryler products have brought me more work and money than ANY other manufacturers vehicles.

Andy

 

Does this mean that all your work on chryslers amount to more than all the ford exploders that come your way?

I think chrysler's main fault is their blind devotion to the V8 engine in a time of unstable energy prices. It was known that daimler was getting pissed off at them for their lack of flexibility with what types of vehicles they were willing to build. Currently daimler benz is trying to push into the american market with entry level vehicles that are a stark contrast to the days when the 3 pointed star was synonymous with quality and indefinite service life and impossible price tag.

I still think the 300D was one of the all time best vehicle/engine combos. Even the seat upholstery was known to last almost as long as the engine.

Even as an electric car proponent, I think this fuel has enormous potential. It could be used as jet fuel (less likely to explode in a crash), marine fuel for large ships that haul long and heavy (no ecological disasters from a spill anymore) or even to replace coal as the fuel in 50% of the powerplants in the USA (clean and sustainable). And the sustainability is the big reason, this will not displace food crops but it will most certainly out perform them. The scientist in the video was not exaggerating with the production numbers per acre he was talking about.

 

I do like the Power Wagon though.....maybe one day....

 

Yes Dakotajeep. The powerwagon! Now that is when Dodge was still making truly reliable trucks. Used to have one and just could not kill it.

Yes David85, I have to say WAY more! As far as the blind devotion to V8's I would have to say that all American manufacturers, escecially GM have that issue. I have even gone to the point of begging Ford to come out with a current car with the same (of course improved for the EPA) version of the 83 to 87 Ford Tempo's and Escorts as well as the Mercury Topaz and Lynx with the diesel engine. This is the ONLY TRUE 50+ MPG car that has ever been produced that was not a hybrid. I averaged 53 to 55MPG with every one I have owned. They claim there is not a market demand for them. Yeah right!

The ONLY reason Dodge / Chrysler is still alive and people like them is because of exterion design. Once again, Mercedes engineers turning a turd into a beautiful car. But it is still a turd. Looks are only skin deep if someone does not stop building drivetrain components on the big time cheap. The drivetrains are the problem. Well that and the interior components being cheap and poorly constructed to where after 30K miles things start to squeak and rattle. No matter what Mercedes does with exterior looks they can not change the market aim of Dodge / Chrysler (people just looking for the lowest sticker price, regardless of true quality value).

You mention the electric car. Good points but still a long way down the road to real feasability. I still say that there is a huge impact to be made by producing extremely economical diesel cars. For my pennies worth, just in case someone is listening, I honestly believe that an oil company paid Ford / Mercury to stop production of the above mentioned cars. Call me a consiracy theorist but there definately was nothing wrong with those car, reliable, 900+ miles per tankfull of fuel! Awsome vehicles! Wish that I had one now. The heck with my Geo Metro Pick-up.

 

We have another light ford diesel from the mid 80s. The engine came out of a 1985 ford ranger and now resides in in my sister's 1988 ranger (OEM was the 2.9L EFI). Every time I drive that thing I try and figure out why they ever stopped making them. Its not just peppy, but its fun to drive. It has that turbo wistle even when just idleing and spools really nice even in the low revs. Its a great little motor and parts are still available for them if you know where to look. Best it got was close to 30 MPG, but that was running at max power to see if we could break it (I had to pegg my speedo to catch her at one point during that trip).

We had so much fun playing in the snow with it during the big dump last winter. Smashed through 2F banks, did drifting, snow blowing over the roof, you name it, we did it with that ranger. Eventually we wore down the snow in the parking lot though so had to pack it in. It was the only unstoppable vehicle in the family that could cope with that much snow, good times....

I have never seen the tempo diesel you speak of, but I would love to find one just to see it. I have heard of them, but never saw so much as a photo in the web of one. Must have been pretty rare. I have also heard from a single source that ford offered a mid sized car like the LTD or grand marquis with the mercedes 5 cyl diesel engine, but thats been impossible to verify to date. Just finding info on the mitsubishi 4D55T in the ranger can be a challenge.

I don't know if oil companies ever tried to shut down diesel cars in the late 80s (may have been more to do with emissions), but chevron/texaco is on record successfully suing toyota for building an all electric version of the rav4 because they were able to gain control of the patent on the battery that toyota was using. The electric rav4 is in such high demand these days that they actually sell for above the sticker price even years after they stopped making them. At less than $2 per 80-100 mile charge, its easy to see why. Ford did a similar conversion on the 98 ranger and they are easier and cheaper to find, but the range is more limited. The more die hard EV owners charge off of solar panels on the roof of their homes and drive for free.

Electric cars have their limitations, but its hard for me to overlook their advantages. Alternatives are the reason I got into diesels after all.....


What engine did ford use in that tempo? was it their own?

 

Hello david85, Yeah I have heard about those TC diesel Rangers. I wanted one at one time but really doesn't meet my towing load needs. Great trucks which production stopped at the same time as the Tempo's, Escorts,.......... Heck the Tempos and the Topaz's were true midsize cars which especially the Mercury Topez was extremely comfortable and quiet. Sure does make you wonder why the heck they stopped making them. The Cars were all equipped with a Mazda 2.0 Liter non-turbo charged diesel which even though no turbo it was surely as powerful as any gas engine offered for those years. I am not sure about the LTD being driven by a diesel engine but I know for a fact that there was a Lincoln Continental and Mercury Marquis which were powered by a BMW 2.4 Liter Turbo charged diesel engine and BMW transmission. Not quite enough power for such large cars. We would more than likely be driving a heck of a lot more Diesel engine driven vehicles if it was not for the cheap @ss folks at GM, making terrible 350 Diesel engines. Heck GM has never and I mean NEVER made a decent diesel engine and more than likely never will. You could probably say that for any American auto maker (Ford and Dodge included). That is why all of them put other manufacturers engines in their trucks. Realizing that price alone is the reason that no one puts Caterpillar engines in their trucks. That and the fact that Caterpillar has not made a RELIABLE small truck engine in years should preclude anyone from looking there way regardless of price now.

Yes, I look forward (more than likely way forward) to the days when we are driving cars like on that Sandra Bulluck and Sylvester Stallon (spelling) in the far future when he as a cop jailed and frozen cop was unthawed to catch Wesley Snipes who is a serious bad boy. Remamber? That and the car filling with foam instead of air bags was something I thought would catch on.

Andy