Re: [AMC-List] E85 and Old Cars

[adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker)]

" From: JOE FULTON <piper_pa20@xxxxxxxxxxx>
" 
" I think Charlie Nash, George Mason, or George Romney
" would be jumping on the E85 bandwagon today.  They
" might even have a Rambler model called the E85.  
" 
" When and if it becomes commonly available here in CA,
" I think I'll convert one of my old cars to run on it. 
" Surely a Rambler three speed with overdrive would get
" decent mileage on it.  And it sure beats paying dues
" to ragheads (excuse me, people with textile headwear)
" who want nothing from me but my money.
" 
" Archer Daniels Midland may stand the most to gain by
" E85 right now, but the technology to make ethanol is
" pretty simple (although patented biota may complicate
" the issue in the future).  Too many folks know how to
" set up a little production device in a secluded hollar
" in the hills. 

imho the best fuel with mid-range potential is biodiesel.

you might recall that when you mix lye and tallow, you get soap
[sodium stearate] and glycerin.  wood ash will do; then you get
potassium stearate.  mix alcohol and vegetable oil [or tallow, or any
other fat/oil] in the right conditions and you get biodiesel and
glycerin.  you can pour it straight into the tank of any diesel - or
other oil burner, like your furnace - and it lubricates the injection
system better than petrodiesel, burns cleaner than petrodiesel, and
even makes more power [a bit] than petrodiesel.

the chemistry is simple and the technical issue of efficient
manufadture is already being addressed, by many.  the biggest hitches
i see are 'wax point'; without additives it isn't reliably usable much
below freezing [though additives will surely be developed], and the
byproduct glycerin.  there are industrial and cosmetic uses for it -
but can you buy enough products to consume a gallon of glycerin a
week?

an acre of rapeseed [aka canola] produces a ton of oil.  an acre of
oil palms produces 5 tons.

ps. 'b100' is industry shorthand for pure biodiesel.  you'll often see
'b20', 20% bio/80% petro; low temp operation isn't a problem with this
mix.  and btw all diesel jeep libertys leave the factory with b5 in
their tanks.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought
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