You're too stupid to... own a diesel small truck

[krista]

You can buy a diesel powered HiLux in most countries on Earth.  The real point is that its the US which is the exception.

Why?

Big oil. They kill any ideas that might lead to less consumption of gasoline or oil.

I would buy a VW TDI truck INSTANTLY.

Hell, I often think about finding an old NA diesel Caddy that will get insane fuel economy.

Buy a NGV car or truck. If the 2000 Ford E van Zina and I bought had been natural gas, instead of spending $35,000 on gasoline over it's 116000 miles, it would have cost $13,000 to drive those same miles. A savings in $ equivalent to the new sale price of aforementioned Ford E van.

I'm totally going to become a psycho CNG geek. I sold my gasoline powered 4 wheelers and will only buy NGV now. $2/gallon and same MPG as you got before. Buy used and they're not much more expensive than gasoline propelled vehicles.

Oh and solo HOV carpool lane access. Here's my shopping list for vehicles.

Natural gas = cleaner than hybrids, no batteries that fail, $2/gallon, comes from the USA so $$$ stay in USA.

Almost better than 

[MendoDave]

Do they make compressor stations that you can run at your house?

[hbliam]

Do they make compressor stations that you can run at your house?

Yes. A friend of mine installs them.

[krista]

Yes. A friend of mine installs them.

Oh wow! Please pass me his info. That brings the total cost of fueling to under $1/gallon! Of course there's buying the thing...

How's the Panigale? I'm in awe of what Ducati has been up to lately.

Chris

[zooom]

I think chris might be a friend of T Boone Pickens

[hbliam]

Oh wow! Please pass me his info. That brings the total cost of fueling to under $1/gallon! Of course there's buying the thing...

How's the Panigale? I'm in awe of what Ducati has been up to lately.

Chris

PM sent.

And its way more convenient.

[krista]

I think chris might be a friend of T Boone Pickens

Not yet. Heard the name... and I get why cng/ngv people are kinda nutty. I really am disturbed that there are still gasoline cars.

[zooom]

Not yet. Heard the name... and I get why cng/ngv people are kinda nutty. I really am disturbed that there are still gasoline cars.

it is only because the petroleum companies have all the right people in their pockets to keep them afloat....why do you think diesel is so expensive now?....it is a byproduct of manufacturing gas and they realized it was a better alternative and a better profit margin if they jacked it up...god forbid they help find their own replacement....

[krista]

I did lots of lexis/nexis research in `96 for college papers. Everything I could find on 2 stroke engine technology... Toyota, Ford, and GM had serious programs underway. GM had a plan for 100hp 3 cyl ceramic 2 stroke that was emissions-clean. They were hung up on the marketing standpoint of perceived unreliable nature of 2 smokes. So they were going to offer to replace the engine for very cheap, like $300~500.

Yeah big oil killed that all off. Told them to knock it off. Big oil was threatening Honda, too, about the NGV Civics but they flipped the bird to Oil...

[Drjones]

Shrug.  "Big Oil" is responsible for NatGas and also large scale geothermal plants.  Soprano's quote, ". . . interested in what ever makes shit gr$$n . . ."

[rgramjet]

Nat gas make big boom in a wreck, no?

[krista]

Nah. Google around. Fire Departments say it's the safest energy storage in cars; much better than 10 to 30 gallons of liquid flame propellant. Tanks are strong as hell and don't POP. If you manage to POP the tank, you're already being cut into little pieces by train wheels, etc... When natural gas leaks, it rises quickly and dissipates. At 3600 psi, the systems are very strong.

Plus, it's the same exact stuff that is in homes and businesses all over.

Wow, just saw this on CNGnow.com:

Eaton Corp. and General Electric Co. are working on competing projects to develop a $500 home natural gas fueling station, a product that could entice car owners to switch to a fuel whose price has plummeted because of shale drilling.

and...

Yesterday automakers met in Oklahoma to iron out a request from 22 states who want more natural gas vehicles available.

[Zaster]

NG has been in use in Europe for a decade. A friend of mine in Belgium set up his F150 to run on NG and gas. NG in some areas costs less than a third of the Arab stuff. The US has one of the largest reserves of NG and could put some competitive pressure on gasoline prices by promoting a different fuel . But then again... silly me...why would the oil companies want to compete against themselves.

[rgramjet]

Yes. A friend of mine installs them.

Details please.

[ungeheuer]

Driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres on gas (by which I mean gas, rather than petrol...) .. make the beast with two backs.

I'll start again  .

Driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres in a variety of LPG powered vehicles, some conversions and more recently dedicated LPG factory built Ford Falcons.  Cost of LPG at the pump is around half that of petrol gasoline, although LPG consumption is around 30% greater, but still the savings are there.  Power output from the LPG powered Falcons suffers to the tune of around 10% compared to the gasoline fueled variants.  Its noticeable.

Not sure if the same would be true for LNG, but its worth mentioning that some vehicles converted to run on LPG from gasoline suffered valve and valve seat damage.

LPG seems to be on the rapid decline now in Australia (excluding taxis).  Many fleets - including The Salt Mine - are switching to modern Euro-built fuel efficient turbo diesels.