Gas/Electric hybrid or bio diesel? Car experts?

[Catch22Dem]

Which is better? What are some of the pros and cons? I hear nothing but praise for the Prius, but I've also heard a VW Golf TDI running bio diesel is THE CAR to get!

I really don't know anything when it comes to stuff like this. I mean, could I even GET biodiesel?

[diddlysquat]

1. Try this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3619538

[Coastie for Truth]

2. Bio Diesel versus Diesel is a "relatively easy" conversion

If you know your way around under the hood, have the right tools, and the manuals.

Adjustments rather then new parts.

[jmowreader]

5. An electronic engine should adjust itself

The computer on the fuel injection system can compensate for the difference in cetane and BTU between petrodiesel and biodiesel.

If you have an old diesel, like an old Mercedes 240D (the perfect way to start in biodiesel because the car is very durable and they're practically giving them away now), you need to change all of the fuel hoses ESPECIALLY the ones after the injection pump. Biodiesel is very good at dissolving old hoses.

[Coastie for Truth]

8. Good point

I would get an upgrade or retrofit from somebody who knows all of the "tricks."

[GardeningGal]

9. You sound like you know a little about biodiesel.....

I have a VW new beetle that is a diesel which I would love to convert to biodiesel if it would work. I need to look for a constant supply, and I live in Colorado so I'm wondering if the temperatures would be a problem.

Do you have any suggestions?

[jmowreader]

10. Check out biodiesel.org

That's the website of the National Biodiesel Board.

Here's how you convert a New Beetle TDI, which has low-sulfur-diesel-compatible rubber components, to biodiesel:

1) Buy five new fuel filters.
2) Put biodiesel in your car. Do this when there's not a foot of snow on the ground.
3) Drive your car normally until the fuel filter clogs. Change the fuel filter and repeat this step.
4) When the temperatures get down to freezing (32 F is the cloud point of B100 biodiesel), you're going to need to run some petrodiesel in it--B50 clouds at 18 F and B20 clouds at 7 F. The B-numbers refer to the percentage of biodiesel in the mix--B20 is 20-percent biodiesel, and that's probably the most popular blend because you don't see two of the more fun side effects of biodiesel with B20--the solvent effect (biodiesel really cleans your fuel system--so much so that it will pull all the crud off the tank walls and clog your fuel filter, which is why you need to change it so many times when you convert) and the fuel-hose-eating effect.

And, at some point during the winter, you will need to run a percentage of kerosene in your car--just like you do now.

But really, it's a pretty simple change.

[GardeningGal]

11. Thanks for the info and the website! n/t

[Coastie for Truth]

3. Diesel Hybrid

That's what a "Diesel Locomotive" is.

GM has had a "21st Century Cadillac Seville" Prototype - - Diesel Hybrid.


<>

<>

<>

<>

[jmowreader]

6. A locomotive's not really a hybrid as we think of them today

It has a diesel engine and electric traction motors, but none of the power from the diesel is transmitted to the trucks mechanically. A locomotive is really a pure-electric vehicle that carries its own generator. (If you can run electric lines over the tracks, you can remove the diesel engine and the generator and the train will still run. It's done all the time.)

[Coastie for Truth]

7. When I started on the projects

we counted them as "hybrids" - the magic was two fold --- the IC ran at optimum rpm/mixture/timing, and, optionally, regenerative braking. The original idea was that the IC never directly supplied traction power - just ran a generator.

(I'm talking about the era when the modern EVs and hybrids were still "concepts").

[alittlelark]

4. Biodiesel rocks... but only if you can re-feul w/in reason

Do a quick google... there are a number of sites that show re-feiling locations.

[redqueen]

12. Bio-diesel is great but still combustion...

I think a bio-diesel hybrid would be the best, but if not available, I would go with the hybrid.