Alternative Fuel Oppo?

"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
10/23/2018 at 17:18 • Filed to: COFL Asks Oppo

Anyone here drive or has driven a vehicle that is powered by alternative fuel? I would count petrol, diesel and electric as mainstream power sources. I mean alternatives like LNG, CNG, LPG (Propane), E85, Methanol, Hydrogen. I am willing to accept bio-diesel and alternatively generated electric, like vehicle mounted solar panels.

I drove a Mirai (hydrogen fuel cell) once, and met some of the people that worked on the drive train. I have not had any other experience with alt. fuels other than max 10% ethanol in my petrol.

After further research and comments below, here I some I missed:

B85 (85% Bio-Diesel)

Ammonia (!)

Nuclear reactor (+1 million points in the next Oppo rally if you have a nuclear car)

Compressed air

Liquid Nitrogen

DISCUSSION (14)

lone_liberal > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 17:33

My Camaro is powered mostly by a potent mix of prayer and swearing, if that counts.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 17:33

I have run B85 (85% bio-diesel) in the little F ord tractor in the summer, but only a tank’s worth to see how it did. It was fine, but started a little hard, and the B85 place is nearly 30 miles away, so I didn’t bother getting more. I doubt that counts, but its all I got.

I’ve personally driven a full-bio-diesel Mercedies 300D, and a 90's propane F150, and a multi-fuel D odge C aravan that was running on E85, that probably doesnt really coun t either... But maybe?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
10/23/2018 at 17:34

I changed it to count. My main question is, do you find that performance varies at all?

Tripper > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 17:36

I have experience with E85 in a friends tuned/supercharged BRZ. He had a special fuel map for it and the gas mileage was terrible, but it performed very well.

I also have brief experience with bio- diesel. A friend and restaurant owner had a diesel Ford Excursion that had been converted. I drove it once for 15 minutes and smelled like old food for 3 days.

benjrblant > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 17:39

Knew someone that drove a CNG Crown Vic. IIRC, there were no CNG stations nearby so he had to install a gas compressor at his home. Refueling took mostly overnight.

Brianc72gt > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 17:46

E85 & E100 may be a corn industry boondoggle, but the stuff is magic go-go juice for boosted engines. Stupid high stock compression and want to add boost without reducing the compression ratio? No problem run E85 or E100 and no detonation. Crank up the boost sky high on an OEM turbo motor, again, E 85 to the rescue.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 17:56

I once ran the Saab on its starter to get it on and off a trailer. So for like... 100 ft I had an electric car. RIP that starter...

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 17:58

Ah, OK, the B85 in (summer weather) in a small mechanically-injected IDI-style engine was fine, I noticed no change in performance once warmed u p , but it started a little harder than on regular diesel, and smelled very slightly less petroleum-like on the exhaust end.

The Bio-diesel 300D was running a “ grease kit”, so it had two tanks and a change over mechamism: you start it on regular diesel, let it warm up, (and also heat the grease tank so it flows well), then switch over. It smelled like French frys and was as slow as a non-turbo 300D with an automatic ever is, which is VERY slow.

The propane F150 was a big v8 of whatever kind they used in the early 90's and was kinda gutless, but i thin k they all pr etty much were back then. Notably, it had a high-pressure fill valve under the gas cap, and two huge, armored pressure tanks under the bed that added nearly 5 00 lbs of weight over the standard truck. It ran fine, and i drove it in the winter, the propane seemed to result in notably easier cold weather starting. The exhaust smelled like nothing. I didnt experience it personally, but the owner said the range was only kile 250 miles.

The Caravan running on E85 was completely transparent, if no one had told me it was burning E85 instead of gasoline, I never would of known. I probably could have figured it out if I looked at the trip computer for economy, as E85 apparently results in about 20% drop in mpg, but it drove exactly like any other 2000's Caravan.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 18:16

duurtlang has a lpg P eugeot https://oppositelock.kinja.com/milestone-achieved-1827416314

BobintheMtns > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 18:42

I spent over a decade in a synthetic fuel startup that was dealing with new ways to synthesize alcohol fuels.

So I’ve driven MANY miles on highly concentrated alcohol/gas blends (90%+ alcohols). And I’ve also spent quite a bit of time and miles driving on just pure alcohols in unmodified cars.

I’ve also spent a lot of time in laboratories studying the effects of alcohol fuels on.. emissions, fuel mileage, as well as the corrosive effects of alcohols in unmodified engines.

I still go top off my motorcycles’ tanks with E85 to clean out the carbs etc...

Kinja'd!!!

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 18:44

I’ve only driven propane powered forklifts. I noticed no difference from similar gasoline powered forklifts.

bhtooefr > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 18:48

I used to religiously run 20% biodiesel in my diesel cars, FWIW.

(I don’t have any diesel cars any more, that’s why I don’t do that any more.)

DipodomysDeserti > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/23/2018 at 23:45

My brother owned two ‘80s Mercedes 300D sedans that ran on veggie oil when he lived with me. He would get used oil for free from resturaunts. Had a system to filter the oil set up in my backyard. He ran his car for free for a few years. Then it started to catch on and places started selling their used oil. His cars smelled like french fries.

Longtime Lurker > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
10/25/2018 at 23:18

A friend of my dad has square body GMC he converted to propane, he got all the parts from a parts car. I t drove no differently from any other old truck. I rode in it only but we took it up a mountain near Kamloops.