$4.49/gal for diesel ????

[PAUL161]

As for diesel as a fuel: an internal combustion engine which can be run on all the dregs from the refined petro-tanks or the fryer grease outta the local MickeyD's...

You hit the nail on the head.

Ship engines (which recently have come under the spotlight for producing the largest bulk of CO2) are running on exactly that. The remains after all the lighter petrolium products are gone, like gasoline, diesel, engine oil, gear oil, grease, tar, asphalt, then what's left over is like glass at room temperature, and must be heated to 160 deg C in order to flow through the fuel pipes, then to be burned in ship Diesel engines.
Not exactly stuff for road going cars, but they do use up the heavy petrolium products that can't otherwise be used.

We have been recently testing alternative products for fuels.
Horse fat, other animal fat, liposuction fat (really).

<span style="font-weight: bold">Better known as, "Bunker C"! It was also used in the manufacturing of steel.</span>

 

[bugimike]

Liposuction fat!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! That must be great news to the junk-food providers!! Fatten up America, we need you for fuel!!

 

[vagt6]

Oh, if we only had the mass transit systems like in western Europe! Trains to practically everywhere, and ON TIME! Buses, trams, subways, etc., at decent prices for all to utilize freely.

No need for a car at all in most places in the EU countries, even small towns have rail stations and buses to anywhere, day and night. Travel in Europe is a breeze! And trains like the "Eurostar": 180 MPH+ luxury, more comfy than a jet and quiet! A great way to travel.

We're stoopid: we've allowed our Congress to gulp the automotive/big oil/road building lobby's Kool-Aid for a hundred years now, and we're hopelessly entrenched in endless road building and inefficient transportation methods. Congress says no high speed rail or passenger rail systems for us. Not while there's a buck to be made on the almighty automobile and/or road building.

It can be done, but the initial cost will be hard to swallow for those tied to the hip with the automotive/oil lobby. It's the smartest thing we could possibly do in some areas with payback that begins immediately.

Maybe the $7/gal gas will bust the paradigm in Congress??? Probably not . . . maybe in a couple of generations IMHO.

 

[NutmegCT]

Mark - !!!

T.

 

[DrEntropy]

It's all GM's fault.

 

[AweMan]

I still see these idiots in their
4WDs,& SUVs speeding around like gas is
still 50 cents a gallon.

- Doug

And I see the idiots flying thier private jets daily, Heating and cooling thier multi mansions {More than one} Using more fossil fuel than any of us regular people. And screaming the loudest about Global Warming!
I don`t know what the answer is but studies are now showing that bio fuels and other supposedly "Green" energy is just as detramental to our atmosphere as fossil fuel is. Yes even solar and wind power, if you take into account what the manufacturing of the devices needed to capture solar and wind power has on polluting our atmosphere and ground water. And how much energy is consumed to manufacture these devices.
I`m sure my wife would not like riding her bicycle 55 miles one way each day back and forth to work. Besides she has to go through a high mountain pass to get there and in the winter time some days a 4x4 vehicle is the only way! You might think to yourself "Move closer to where she works" but that isn`t an option its a military instalation out in the boondocks. There isn`t anything {No town} out there. Thank the lord retirement for her is just a pencil away. {filling out the paperwork}

 

[mailbox]

Oh, if we only had the mass transit systems like in western Europe! Trains to practically everywhere, and ON TIME! Buses, trams, subways, etc., at decent prices for all to utilize freely.

No need for a car at all in most places in the EU countries, even small towns have rail stations and buses to anywhere, day and night. Travel in Europe is a breeze! And trains like the "Eurostar": 180 MPH+ luxury, more comfy than a jet and quiet! A great way to travel.

We're stoopid: we've allowed our Congress to gulp the automotive/big oil/road building lobby's Kool-Aid for a hundred years now, and we're hopelessly entrenched in endless road building and inefficient transportation methods. Congress says no high speed rail or passenger rail systems for us. Not while there's a buck to be made on the almighty automobile and/or road building.

It can be done, but the initial cost will be hard to swallow for those tied to the hip with the automotive/oil lobby. It's the smartest thing we could possibly do in some areas with payback that begins immediately.

Maybe the $7/gal gas will bust the paradigm in Congress??? Probably not . . . maybe in a couple of generations IMHO.

I think the reason no one puts money into these programs is because no one will use them. Amtrack has been around for years and always has to ask for help. It might work OK in a few places, but Americans LOVE their cars. You can't even pry them from their cold dead hands.

 

[Brooklands]

I think the reason no one puts money into these programs is because no one will use them. Amtrack has been around for years and always has to ask for help. It might work OK in a few places, but Americans LOVE their cars. You can't even pry them from their cold dead hands.

We used to be able to drive 20 minutes to pick up a train to Philly, but now it is easier to drive the hour to 30th Street Station to get a train to Boston or DC. Until the system between other cities and towns improves, rail won't be a major alternative.

 

[NutmegCT]

Back in the Dark Ages (before around 1950) most cities and "suburbs" were linked by the inter urban service. Like an electric or diesel/electric trolley, usually two or three linked cars, each with engines or motors.

Took you to "city center", where you caught the regional service.

Anyone remember these?

Inter-urban

I even remember around 1960 when my hometown, Ft Worth TX, removed all the rails and overhead electric lines, so there would be more room for cars.

T.

 

[duffy]

Come and live in England we pay $10+ a Gallon

 

[angelfj1]

Why would the truckers give a crap??? The difference is made up by you and me.

BTW, are they the same truckers who idle their engines for hours on end??? Go figure???

 

[angelfj1]

"No screwin going on just plain old supply and demand."

If you are so naive to believe that I'd like to interest you in some beach-front property.

 

[Tinster]

Anyone remember these?

Inter-urban

I even remember around 1960 when my hometown, Ft Worth TX, removed all the rails and overhead electric lines, so there would be more room for cars.

T.

Yupper !! But ours were green and cream colored.

Ditto on the track removal program.

d

 

[angelfj1]

Tommy: In theory you should be correct, but it's not having any effect where I live. I heard an economist say that gas prices would have to hit in excess of $7 /gal before most US residents would modify their driving/consumption habits.

Note: I pulled up to the pump yesterday across from a "dink" who I know from the neighborhood. She drives one of those hideous Cadillac Escalade. Just her, mind you. I wanted to see what it cost her to fill up but didn't want it too look too obvious. Went inside and bought an overpriced coffee. When I got back to the pump I saw her bill - $94.30. :eeek:

At 7,100 lbs GVW , 6.2 L, 403 HP, this monster gulps a gallon of gas in 12 miles, and has a 26 gallon tank. I just don't understand????

 

[angelfj1]

Oh, if we only had the mass transit systems like in western Europe!

Yes, but wishing won't get us there. Voting may, but it will take a long time. Also, in the USA the distance between population centers is much greater. Mass transit MUST have government sponsorship because of the scale involved. Dub-ya and his ilk have no interest in a system that would use efficient electrical power if it endangers their investment in oil. So the next time you evaluate a political candidate think about it and what our children and grandchildren will face.

 

[AweMan]

On second thought nevermind, for obvious reasons!
I`ll just say that there is more than just one person and his cronies heavliy invested in oil!

 

[angelfj1]

Of course you are right!!! This kind of greed and insensitivity is common (both parties) in our government. But, you must admit it's so darn obvious with tweedledum and tweedledee. :frown:

 

[Mickey Richaud]

OK, folks. Gas prices are high. Diesel prices are high.

Let's keep politics out of the discussion, per the guidelines here, OK?

Thanks!

Mickey

 

[Golden_Swan]

I even remember around 1960 when my hometown, Ft Worth TX, removed all the rails and overhead electric lines, so there would be more room for cars.

T.

The dummies even removed the trams from Copenhagen back in 72 and sold all the equipment to Egypt.
We just wish we still had them.

Yeah, we can take trains just about anywhere, but they're a bit expensive, and not always on-time, though much better than you yankees.

 

[AweMan]

Mass transit may work great in the eastern united states where population densities are great and distances to and from where one need to go may not be so far, and mass transit is available. But out here in the Western States those distances a lot longer and mass transit is scarce! I know it may be hard for some of you whom have never been west of the Mississippi to understand but believe me when I say we Westerners need our cars to get to and from. High fuel prices will just mean less of something else not essential to our survival. There are some busses that run in some areas but usualy they do not meet the needs, for instance getting you where you need to go on time. Or in most cases getting you even close to where you need to go at all. It isn`t uncommon for a person out here to travel 30 or more miles each way to work. In order for mass transit to work out here the M.T.A. in each state needs to figure out how to coordinate the transit system with, or in conjunction with the hours of buissness operation. If it saves people money and meets thier needs i`m sure people would gladly ride mass transit out here. But then there is the premise that if people quit buying fuel, fuel prices will continue to go up to maintain profit ratios.
How do we win? That is the Million dollar question.