Alternative fuels

Post by **Foxtrot X-Ray** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 2:50 am

I don't know what fuel prices are doing in Australia at the moment, but up here in the States, they're slowly creeping up.

And up.

And UP.

As some of you may remember, I've been plotting the rescue of my Car, the '73 AMC Javelin, from it's Prison/Storage.

As you could imagine, a car like that eats a HELL of a lot of fuel.

With this weighing heavily on my mind, I've been poking around for a bit looking at alternate fuel sources.

The most likely candidate I've found thus far is Alcohol... Home-Brewed Ethanol.

There are several problems with the idea..

One is Cylinder Pressure.

Apparantly, an Ultra high compression ratio is ideal.

Somethin on the order of 14 to 1!!

Or, a fella could just go supercharged.

(To that end, if someone could send me a GMC 4/53* Blower in good shape....)

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the subject of alternative fuels.

Also, feel free to post up any links you have,

Always wanting to know more.

* 4/53 = Four Cylinder, 212 Cubic inch GMC Diesel

Post by **Thunderdome** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 4:25 am

Methane. Methane comes from pig sh*t.

Post by **methane** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 7:03 am

I'll use my own poop thank you.

Post by **Redd4** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 7:36 am

Got this from a comedian whose name escapes me: We here in the states go into conniptions when gas gets above $2.00 a gallon, but we cheerily plop down $1.50 for a 12 ounce cup of coffee...

Post by **camchain** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 10:12 am

Over here, it's getting easier to get LPG (I think the trade name is AutoGas). It costs about 1000 pounds to convert a car, but the cost of the fuel is just under half that of petrol.

Check out www.veg-oil-car.com for info on how to run on pure vegetable oil.

Post by **Foxtrot X-Ray** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:06 pm

Is LPG the same as Propane?

Over here they're expecting the price of Propane to rise as well.

Ideally, a Multi-Fuel capable vehicle would be best.

(I Still say the Black was probably a Dual Fueler running a choice of either Nitro-Methane or Gasoline.)

A car capable of running Gasoline, Alcohol or Propane would be perfect for driving the Post apocalyptic countryside of this country.

I'm leaning heavily towards the Alcohol, though. It can be bought or someone with the Knowin' could manufacture his own fuel.

An Alcohol car could also (in theory)run gasoline if need be.

I don't know much about Methane, but I doubt it's something that could be manufactured in your own backyard.

(My cousin's husband farms pigs and they do reclaim Methane from their livestock to suppliment the regular energy costs.

I don't think they could run the whole place on methane alone, though)

http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_lib ... meCh1.html

Post by **Motar** » Fri Sep 12, 2003 11:24 pm

I believe the proper name is low priced gas.

Post by **SCREWLOOSE** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 12:39 pm

Ive seen the prices creep up for the gas recently. Its a ploy do it cheap and get the punter interested then hike the prices up when we have enought people to make a profit!!!

Post by **max_rockatansky** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 6:56 pm

I'm not sure but someone once told me that a US gallon is roughly equal to 4 litres, if thats true then $2.00 a gallon isn't bad at all, it would be 50 cents per litre, here in Australia at the moment we pay anywhere from 82 cents to 98 cents per litre, sometimes $1.00 per litre!!!!

Now i'm not sure about the US, but with a population of 280 million or whatever it is (i'ts quite big anyway) and with oh i don't know what say 100 million people buying petrol everyday where does all that money go? what about smokes, if it is say at least 50 million people per day buying smokes (probably alot more) at what at least $2.00 tax on each packet where does all that money go? then there is clothes, food, entertainment and so forth the US couldn't be in that sort of debt, here in Australia it's exactly the same thing, just on a much smaller scale, we have a large land mass and only around 20 million people our Government is greedy as hell

Post by **Foxtrot X-Ray** » Sun Sep 14, 2003 7:33 pm

Put that way, $2.00 a gallon doesn't sound bad.

However, I remember a time, not that long ago when I was paying 79 cents a gallon. So that really does affect one's perspective.

Also, my household's monthly fuel expendatures are reaching $160 a month. A Signifigant amount in our case.

Anyway, I THINK I could "brew" the Alcohol fuel at home for a modest $1.10 a gallon.

Less than that if I don't have to pay for the plant material that will be fermented & 'stilled.

It's even possible that a fella could use Yard Waste (Which costs extra every month to have the garbage collectors take)

People would pay me to take away their yard waste and I'd turn it into fuel.

But that's pure supposition on my part. I have no idea if grass clippings would ferment properly. (Sawdust will)