This is really just an excuse to us my Palm Treo 700p smartphone’s camera, but while filling up while out of town this week in Kentucky (no biodiesel pump) I happened to notice that the label is preparing us for ULSD vehicles in 2007 and the possibilty that pumps could still have LSD. I wonder what’s going to happen if someone buys a 2007 vehicle and fuel stations still have these labels … how many pumps are going to have that Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel when the first new cars and trucks show up on the market?
I remember what it was like back in the mid-1970s in the US and the oil embargo turns some drivers to diesel cars. One of the complaints was that there really weren’t that many stations carrying diesel fuels. Nowadays there is diesel everywhere … I can’t remember the last time I had to stick a monster nozzle in my Volkswagen TDI that ejects a firehose stream of fuel. Its just never been a problem.
The label today got me thinking that fuel retailers might be a step or two behind as a few 2007 diesel show up on our streets. I know the target is October 15 nationwide, but suspect that not every pipeline, truck, tank or pump will have been purged. What’s telling is that filling stations see a need to put labels on their pumps … that tells me that they too are suspect that everyone will be ready for the new ULSD diesel fuel? (15 ppm instead of today’s 500 ppm) We shall see …. but you might want to hold off before purchasing that brand new Mercedes R or GL class vehicle due out this fall?
🙂
A few days ago I posted a comment in regard to what a group citizens and activist were doing to preserve a flourishing Los Angeles, California green space call the South Central Farm. The newest video blog was release yesterday is reminiscent of the 1960s, but adds a little technology with a slide show of photos, music and web based video of the 14 acres of productive city land they are trying to save. For one I’m impress what a productive piece of land this acreage is in the middle of Urban development and how the community and variety of supporters are doing what they can to keep this impressive community farm productive. For as much money cities spend on creating and preserving green spaces, this is “a park” that would be maintained by the citizens without the regular maintenance that 99% of other green spaces require. Keeping this land for gardens would seem to be a good thing if there is a way to make everybody happy?
I also realized that the current landowner (no matter the political strings he pulled to get this land back) has a right to profit from the transactions, but I hope that there is a way business finance, city planning, community citizens can equitably use it for garden verses warehouses. This currently is obviously productive city property. Maybe all can come together to ‘save the farm?’
Heavy subject today as information about a terrorist plot continues to seeps out from Canada’s recent arrest of seventeen suspects in a terrorist plot. Allegedly, these were Muslim extremist, possibly el-Qaeta, and were planning bombings, the taking of hostages and even the beheading of Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper. (Canada has 2500 troops still in Afghanistan that these 17 wanted to see removed) Although some like Joseph Cordiano, a Liberal in Ontario’s provincial Parliament, see the plot as “grandiose” and that he had “serious, serious doubts about their capacity to carry it out” … others see it far more serious. It certainly isn’t any more questionable than the coordinated hijacking of four airliners and crashing them into major US targets like the World Trade Centers or the Pentagon.
The time-line: Last week, Canadian police and intelligence agents disrupted this plot in a series of coordinated raids. Twelve men and five teenage boys were arrested and the men of legal age appeared in a courthouse in suburban Brampton, Ontario on Tuesday. They were shackled together, wearing prison T-shirts and remanded for a bail hearing next week. According to the written statement submitted to the court by defense attorney Gary Batasar, the suspects were planning bombings of power plants, the taking of civilian hostages and the beheading of the Prime Minister if demands were not met. Prime Minister Harper was asked for his thoughts on being a personal target but he sloughed it off as a joke saying “I can live with all these threats as long as they are not from my caucus.” It must be disturbing to know a plot like this was being devised and that you were being personally targeted. How many other plots are still out there?
If these suspects living what seemed to be normal lives in Canada are willing to attack Canadians, how many people are there doing the same thing in the US? At what point to the peace loving people living and worshipping in communities here and in other countries have some knowledge of these Islamic radicals. Shouldn’t they start to step forward and respond like responsible citizens in protecting their fellow citizen and nation they reside in? I’d like to hear that the Mosques and Arab communities were turning over information instead of providing a safe haven for these kinds of individuals to conspire. Maybe they are … but I’m not hearing it. I don’t doubt the secrecy that these 17 ‘could’ operated under, but at some point the ability to procure 6000 pounds of explosive fertilizer (the amount confiscated), gather 17 people together should have drawn the attention of someone living in the community. Obviously … and thankfully … the Canadian intelligence agency was watching.
I just drove the Jeep Liberty diesel (again) last week and was planning to make some comments on the vehicle … unfortunately a blog post in AutoBlogGreen mentioned that the Detroit News indicated Daimler Chrysler would be killing the CRD. According to the articles, the new tougher federal emissions standards coming next year make it difficult to meet with the existing engine … and Chrysler doesn’t want to put a new engine in the Liberty. Another bullet in the “kill the diesels” just as the newer clean fuels find their way to market. (ULSD and Biodiesel) Its tough loving the EPA and federal standards when they take all our diesel cars away! (see the “No VW TDIs for 2007” post)
I’ll post the short Motorweek long term road test of the Jeep Liberty below … 28 mpg highway … nothing to sneeze at for a ‘Trail-rated” 4 x 4, but it could have been better. Jeep Liberty CRD Long Term Road Test
I’ve been using biodiesel for about 4 years in two of our Volkswagen TDIs, a John Deere and even in a Bobcat skidloader. Saturday I had my first fuel line casualty using B100 (or B99 recently) in my 1980s John Deere diesel while mowing. Yes I knew the fuel lines were not of a material that could withstand the corrosive effects of methanol used in the production of biodiesel but continued to use it nevertheless. Now what?
Viton hoses are the fuel line of choice but shockingly are very expensive if you need more than a foot or so of 5/16″ inside diameter hose. After looking at a few local speed shop options I decide to purchase some from McMaster-Carr and plumb it with some 5/16″ copper water line. (I know … copper isn’t the preferred material for biodiesel either) Put things together tonight and everything seems fine.
After I placed my order, a friend at the TDIClub posted a photo of his new ‘biodiesel resistant’ Polyurethane blue colored hose at Procycle. It is reasonably priced and looks like a good choice if using more than a few feet of fuel line. Perhaps the next time I need to replumb I’ll opt for this? Thanks for the advice and the photo Fortuna Wolf.
EDIT 6/10/2006: A couple of comments in regard the the polyurethane hose by a few valued TDI contacts have pointed out that even though polyurethane is more resistant to biodiesel than many polymers, it still may not be the best choice where one has high percentage biodiesel, ethanol or methanol alcohol use. In a follow up message from Fortuna Wolf at the TDIClub, he stated that “I had an order from McMaster and bought a foot of their blue polyurethane hose to see it. It is NOT the same as the procycle fuel lines. Its a much softer and lower temperature plastic.”
Also thanks Mike for your regular comments to my posts … your insight and knowledge is appreciated. Thanks for the backup links when commenting; they are most valuable.
The biggest state in the lower 48 is now the fastest … Texas is now home to the 80 mph Interstate speed limit, in some areas. Interesting timing, as I mentioned before, that this increase is coming when our nation debates our heavy petroleum addiction and use? In fact, the Department of Energy estimates that every 5 mph over 60 mph costs drivers an extra 20 cents per gallon — meaning pushing the pedal can get pricey in a period of high gas prices, as well as use more of our nation’s domestic and imported fuel.
There isn’t anything really new about the speeds people are traveling on the nations highways as cars and truck routinely travel at near 80 mph speed … according to my ‘unscientific’ study; in fact yours truly has been known to push well above the Ohio limits on lonely stretches of I-71 heading to and from Cleveland. Making it legal perhaps keeps a few more of us from breaking the law, on the other hand … it might encourage speeders to drive even faster?
Texas is now the only state to have gone above the 75 mph limit found in a few other states, which makes it the highest speed limit in the country. Lawmakers approved the increase after transportation officials found that 85 percent of drivers were already going between 76 and 79 mph on Texas highways. The signs are now going up along 521 miles of sparsely populated counties after the law was push through late last month.
Besides the loss of fuel efficiency at higher speeds in a time the nation is looking for ways to reduce our consumptions, the increase speeds also brings to question safety. According to some groups, the move is shortsighted and could lead to more accidents and deaths. This criticism was refuted by Texas transportation officials who point to data that shows fatalities dropped when the speed limit was raised to 75 mph on some roads in 1999. This also mirrored similar trends when the national 55 mph limit was boosted to higher limits. Perhaps the safety of vehicles, mandatory seatbelt laws and the manufactures adding multiple airbag systems are to be credited too?
To the credit of Texas lawmakers, the higher limit applies lighter vehicles only during daylight hours. Drivers of trucks, truck tractors, trailers, and semitrailers are limited to 70 mph and the limits drop to 65 mph after dark for all vehicles.
The weather here in southwest Ohio has really been terrific lately. We’ve enjoyed warm days, sunny blue skies and cool dry nights … although I know the humid weather is probably only a few weeks away. While cleaning up the yard we’ve been piling up debris and building a monster pile in the backyard. My son invited a gang over to celebrate his birthday a few days early and so we decided the still night was perfect for a fire. It looks as if everyone enjoyed (or still is enjoying) the cool air and warmth of the fire, which is going to be burning a while.
Ah … brings back good memories of bonfires on the beach all summer long. What a great childhood I was privileged to have … thanks Mom and Dad.
Terry Hessler of Hessler Machine Tool gave an interesting lecture and then demonstrated his detail study and reproduction of an early Wright Brothers aircraft engine. His endeavor was covered on a History Channel TV special and DVD detailing the Wright Brother’s technology and first flight. We learned not only that Charles Taylor, the builder of the original engine, was an exceptional inventor … but that he was able to do a considerable amount on a very small budget.
(note above is an illustration not by Hessler but by John Batchelor for a Popular Mechanics article on the Charles “Charlie” Taylor 1903 engine)
The highlight was of course a bunch of airplane nuts from EAA Chapter 284 gathered around to watch this hand built engine come to life. One could only imagine what it must have been like laying on a wing … or perhaps a few could do more than imagine? (see Wright-Brothers.org) Today not many of us would think of flying with such a persnickety contraption, but marvel in what it took to have this vision. Thank Terry for giving us a peek and for your excellent presentation.
I’ll included the Huffman Prairie flight narrated by Tim Gaffney of the Dayton Daily News below.
Daryl Hannah is tree sitting with a few other notables (Julia “Butterfly” Hill and John Quigley) in hopes to save 14 acres of produce producing land known as South Central Farms. These acres are located at 41st and Alameda Streets in Los Angeles, California, not an area you would expect to see a productive farm co-op? Besides being a celebrity and recognized athletic actress since 1982, she is best known as the pretty face behind the alternative fuel called biodiesel and is an advocate for many environmental causes. (if she’s the pretty face that would make Willie Nelson the … hmm … )
😉
Besides the dhlovelife.com video blog, Greta Van Susteren in her FoxNews program “On The Record” did a short report tonight on the South Central Farms with Ms. Hannah. No mention of biodiesel, but some interesting background on the property and what a handful of people are trying to do to save the greenspace. No doubt the $16 million the current property owner wants for the 14 acres is a lot to raise for ‘farmland,’ but perhaps its more than just produce producing property in the middle of downtown Los Angeles? Let’s hope some LA city planners see some way to keep this land in its present form.
I heard about Bob Hoover’s engine out aerobatics and pouring tea while doing a barrel roll on a BBC program and thankfully was able to find it on … you guessed it … youtube.com. (amazing place … one could really waste time there!) The twin-engine performance flying is impressive enough until you consider he does his low level aerobatic engines off! Nevertheless, he does comment that he’s had some close calls and lost some friends as there is no room for error. I suspect that these approaches are not sanctioned by the FAA in this country so think twice before ‘playing glider’ with your twin engine airplane.
EDIT 6/5/2006:Good friend and ‘all things aviation’ guru Bob Luken pointed out to me that Mr. Hoover has substantial flying history; the wikipedia link that Bob email me has also convinced me that my email source of Hoover being a British pilot was wrong too. Thanks Bob.
The label today got me thinking that fuel retailers might be a step or two behind as a few 2007 diesel show up on our streets. I know the target is October 15 nationwide, but suspect that not every pipeline, truck, tank or pump will have been purged. What’s telling is that filling stations see a need to put labels on their pumps … that tells me that they too are suspect that everyone will be ready for the new ULSD diesel fuel? (15 ppm instead of today’s 500 ppm) We shall see …. but you might want to hold off before purchasing that brand new Mercedes R or GL class vehicle due out this fall?
A few days ago I 
Heavy subject today as information about a terrorist plot continues to seeps out from Canada’s recent arrest of seventeen suspects in a terrorist plot. Allegedly, these were Muslim extremist, possibly el-Qaeta, and were planning bombings, the taking of hostages and even the beheading of Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper. (Canada has 2500 troops still in Afghanistan that these 17 wanted to see removed) Although some like Joseph Cordiano, a Liberal in Ontario’s provincial Parliament, see the plot as “grandiose” and that he had “serious, serious doubts about their capacity to carry it out” … others see it far more serious. It certainly isn’t any more questionable than the coordinated hijacking of four airliners and crashing them into major US targets like the World Trade Centers or the Pentagon.
I just drove the Jeep Liberty diesel (again) last week and was planning to make some comments on the vehicle … unfortunately a blog post in 
After I placed my order, a friend at the 
The biggest state in the lower 48 is now the fastest … Texas is now home to the 80 mph Interstate speed limit, in some areas. Interesting timing, as I mentioned 
Terry Hessler of Hessler Machine Tool gave an interesting lecture and then demonstrated his detail study and reproduction of an early Wright Brothers aircraft engine. His endeavor was covered on a 
I heard about Bob Hoover’s engine out aerobatics and pouring tea while doing a barrel roll on a BBC program and thankfully was able to find it on … you guessed it …