RustBuket
1/2 ton status
Yes, the guys that run alcohol make lots of ponies....I'm also wondering if there is a way to make one that is a little less powerful but more reliable?
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
GAS PRICES!! alternatives????
- Thread starter 78Suburban
- Start date
DavidB
1/2 ton status
Diesels have big butts. Er, beefy bottom ends...
thfonz98
1/2 ton status
shoot, my 91 k5 gets the same gas mileage as the 87 tbi 2.8l s10 blazer i used to have.
i dont know about 4.3s though, (k5)17.5 mpg driving conservatively, and 15 driving like a bat out of hell.
i dont know about 4.3s though, (k5)17.5 mpg driving conservatively, and 15 driving like a bat out of hell.
mudhound72
1/2 ton status
OK I have been wondering the same thing, around here there is stuff they call E-85 it is 85% ethonal goes for as of last night $1.65/gal 
this stuff is ment to run in stock flex fuel veh.
Me and a budd were talking that all we might need to do is play with the timing and jetting to make it run in our trucks
I am to the point that I may get a can or two and throw it in the truck and see what happins
Then if it works out I will then go after the RV and see what happins
this stuff is ment to run in stock flex fuel veh. Me and a budd were talking that all we might need to do is play with the timing and jetting to make it run in our trucks
I am to the point that I may get a can or two and throw it in the truck and see what happins
Then if it works out I will then go after the RV and see what happins
I don't think you'd want to burn alcohol on something you'd regularly drive. I've been around drag racing for quite awhile and learned a little about it, but I'm by no means an expert on it. This is what I do know.
The first big thing is it takes MUCH more alcohol than it does gasoline for the engine to run. So you would need much larger jets, and a very high volume fuel pump. Most alcohol cars run a fuel pump off the driveshaft. Since you would be burning around twice as much alcohol as you would be gas, you'd have to be able to aquire it very cheaply. As far as other mods, you would need to do something a little different with your fuel system because it likes to eat rubber (carb seals, gaskets hoses..). It's also washes away oil, so it increases wear on the cylinder walls. I haven't heard of anyone running it on a low compression engine I don't know if it can be done or not. Part of the reason for alcohol is it likes high compression which is more efficent.
Did I talk you out of it yet?
The first big thing is it takes MUCH more alcohol than it does gasoline for the engine to run. So you would need much larger jets, and a very high volume fuel pump. Most alcohol cars run a fuel pump off the driveshaft. Since you would be burning around twice as much alcohol as you would be gas, you'd have to be able to aquire it very cheaply. As far as other mods, you would need to do something a little different with your fuel system because it likes to eat rubber (carb seals, gaskets hoses..). It's also washes away oil, so it increases wear on the cylinder walls. I haven't heard of anyone running it on a low compression engine I don't know if it can be done or not. Part of the reason for alcohol is it likes high compression which is more efficent.
Did I talk you out of it yet?
thfonz98
1/2 ton status
would the exhaust burn people's eyes a bit just like modified(alcohol running) dirt track cars? or is there not enough(only85%) alcohol to do that.
it burns relatively cold IIRC(takes forever to warm up our modified(a friend's), even with blocking the air flow to the radiator), you need a lot more alcohol to run vs. gas.
it burns relatively cold IIRC(takes forever to warm up our modified(a friend's), even with blocking the air flow to the radiator), you need a lot more alcohol to run vs. gas.
Too Complicated..
I have a book on "How To Make Your Own Alcohol Fuels"...it tells you everything,from how to make stills out of 55 gallon drums(and larger!),how to convert your car or truck to run on it (drilling carb jets out,timing mods,a gas injector for cold weather starts--
Alcohol wont ignite at low temps like gasoline)...its complicated,not much cheaper,(and you need to spend most of your waking hours boiling mash and running the still!)..plus its illegal of course,unless you apply for a permit from the federal government to produce alcohol in small quantities!--on TOP of all the last post said about engine damage,and how much more Alcohol you burn to produce the same amount of energy--about 3 times more!...I'd DRINK the Alcohol,and stay home!
I asked at several fast food places in my area--nearly ALL of them now have a contract with a recycling firm to take ALL their waste vegatable oils used in the fryolators!--they sell it to Biodiesel companies!--the few places that dont already have more guys begging for it for their diesel trucks than they produce!
...so much for that idea,of running my 6.2 on used fryolator oil...
If I could make my diesel run on drain oil from engines,I'd be golden!(I can get tons of it free no sweat!)..My oil furnace would be converted too,IF I could find a way to make it work..but I hear from folks with waste oil heaters that synthetic motor oil gums them up--it wont burn like petroleum oil,and the garages dump ALL the oils in one waste tank!
..another blow for recycling,and free fuel.. 
Face Facts!--were are screwed!....the only way we can get good gas is to buy it--and pay whatever the rapists are getting for it!..its far too complicated for the average Joe to make fuel for his vehicles himself!--and any alternative fuels will quickly be raised in price until they can no longer compete with gasoline or diesel...its just the way it is,always has been,and always will be...just bend over,smear on some vaseline,and get used to it!...
I have a book on "How To Make Your Own Alcohol Fuels"...it tells you everything,from how to make stills out of 55 gallon drums(and larger!),how to convert your car or truck to run on it (drilling carb jets out,timing mods,a gas injector for cold weather starts--
Alcohol wont ignite at low temps like gasoline)...its complicated,not much cheaper,(and you need to spend most of your waking hours boiling mash and running the still!)..plus its illegal of course,unless you apply for a permit from the federal government to produce alcohol in small quantities!--on TOP of all the last post said about engine damage,and how much more Alcohol you burn to produce the same amount of energy--about 3 times more!...I'd DRINK the Alcohol,and stay home!
I asked at several fast food places in my area--nearly ALL of them now have a contract with a recycling firm to take ALL their waste vegatable oils used in the fryolators!--they sell it to Biodiesel companies!--the few places that dont already have more guys begging for it for their diesel trucks than they produce!
...so much for that idea,of running my 6.2 on used fryolator oil...If I could make my diesel run on drain oil from engines,I'd be golden!(I can get tons of it free no sweat!)..My oil furnace would be converted too,IF I could find a way to make it work..but I hear from folks with waste oil heaters that synthetic motor oil gums them up--it wont burn like petroleum oil,and the garages dump ALL the oils in one waste tank!
..another blow for recycling,and free fuel.. Face Facts!--were are screwed!....the only way we can get good gas is to buy it--and pay whatever the rapists are getting for it!..its far too complicated for the average Joe to make fuel for his vehicles himself!--and any alternative fuels will quickly be raised in price until they can no longer compete with gasoline or diesel...its just the way it is,always has been,and always will be...just bend over,smear on some vaseline,and get used to it!...
I run propane its still pretty cheap last i paid was $1.33 a gal.
Leper
1/2 ton status
thfonz98 said:
Ditto! Twice as much consumption as gas. Back in my Mopar days I saw a street car that ran alcohol and ran no radiator. But if we went anywhere but in town he would have to have a truck carry a small drum of the stuff in case he ran out.
As far as burning the eyes, It depends on the alcohol. Ive been around cars that you kinda noticed the irritation and some that made it impossible to open your eyes.
My .02
I think the burning of the eyes has to do with how rich the mixture is and cam holding the exhaust valve open for a long time. I know when I fire up my drag car in the garage or in the car trailer you can hardly stand it if it runs more than a minute.
I'm driving a Honda accord...32-34 MPG..
Riding my bike...insted of cruising..
I'm spending less on gas than I did 2 years ago.
I wonder what would happen if we all got gas cards..
ran them-up...then just pay $1 every month...to protest high prices.
But with the cash the oil companies have...it probably wouldn't hurt them at all.
Riding my bike...insted of cruising..
I'm spending less on gas than I did 2 years ago.
I wonder what would happen if we all got gas cards..
ran them-up...then just pay $1 every month...to protest high prices.
But with the cash the oil companies have...it probably wouldn't hurt them at all.
81jimmyslt
1/2 ton status
you don't have to use used biofuels, just go to costco and get a case .
The burb I just bought it used to have the 6.2 diesel, I was planning on making it a biodiesel rig. Also up here on the North coast of california they sell biodiesel at the pump (only few stations). I'll check the current price and get back to you. I remember two years ago when biodiesel alternatives were around $4 a gallon, and gas was 1.60.
. The burb I just bought it used to have the 6.2 diesel, I was planning on making it a biodiesel rig. Also up here on the North coast of california they sell biodiesel at the pump (only few stations). I'll check the current price and get back to you. I remember two years ago when biodiesel alternatives were around $4 a gallon, and gas was 1.60.
74 chev
1/2 ton status
im runnig propane its been running me about $1.50 a gallon.
There is a difference between the fuel Methanol (used in race cars) and Ethanol (used in passenger cars). Methanol would be a difficult fuel to deal with on a daily basis. It is very corrosive, water absorbent, and burns very cold (you should see the frost build up on an injector hat from Methanol). I used to own a blown, injected alcohol funny car, and it took a lot of complicated maintenance to run that fuel. On the other hand Ethanol is a much easier fuel to deal with, and currently goes for a little over $2 a gallon right now here in the West Coast.
I would like to know where the $1.50 a gallon Propane is? Here in Las Vegas Propane is about $2.45 a gallon right now. Propane is not cheap enough here to justify conversion.
I would like to know where the $1.50 a gallon Propane is? Here in Las Vegas Propane is about $2.45 a gallon right now. Propane is not cheap enough here to justify conversion.
I say run propane here in AZ propane is 1.50 to 1.80 plus you can run cheaper license and registration. I just put a dual fuel conversion on my 74 blazer with a 350 for ZERO dollars but that is because my old man had stuff from way back in the day. Converting them over is a no brainer also, really simple. Thats my two cents
Where you actually able to register your truck in AZ with a few parts and pieces of an old propane kit? Here in Nevada the DMV requires that you bring your truck in to the DMV inspection station, after a propane conversion, and the only propane conversion they will declare, in order to register your truck, is a C.A.R.B certified kit. I called around, and found that one of these type Propane conversion kits cost about $1600 (without installation). The DMV said I could get up to 80% of the cost reimburst, but that is only if the truck is used for business purposes. It really sucks that the state of Nevada are such Nazi's about doing alternative fuel conversions.
AZ is all scewed up in their alternative fuel systems didn't you guys hear about the $70,000 Suburban you could buy for $5,000 on the States dime. I have two cars I want to buy a diesel Jetta and a S10 probally end of buying the S10 so if anybody wants a beater diesel rabbit let me know.
beater_k20
Banned
ya know... race gas is only 3.50/gal around here... and it hasnt moved in price... 
when gas went up in '00, a couple of guys at school actually considered building super high compression engines and running the stuff, as opposed to pump gas.
when gas went up in '00, a couple of guys at school actually considered building super high compression engines and running the stuff, as opposed to pump gas.R72K5
Banned
E85 is the new stuff only for a few certain new vehicles, read the pumps you will see it stated on them
wish it were 2.56 here,
gas prices are now 2.75 for the 87 octane cheap stuff, maybe more now, i havent looked since the other day, i dont really want to look,..
they are prepping us for 2.50 now, thatll last a coupel few months or less then theyll spike it to almost or at 3.00, then back down about a quarter again for a while, and so forth,
its just gonna keep climbing, and climbing, upwards trend and everyones still buying SUV's and buying gas
so get used to it i guess, neverending out of control
heh
buy a cheap car
thats about all we can do for time being,
blame it on those who repetitvely buy lots of gas and buy big vehicles
them buying up gas is telling the companies that hey they will stil buy it! evne when we keep jacking the prices! so they will continue it
ive found a little car myself, i picked up a nice lil '90 olds with 3800 for 50 bucks, one balancer later and ill have a whopping 110 in it
and its a good car and wont use alot of gas, good winter warm up car too
i guess not everyone can or will,.
so we will always have gold gas it looks like
diesel isnt really much cheaper either and its difficult to convert to propane, that takes $$ to do,
good luck
wish it were 2.56 here,
gas prices are now 2.75 for the 87 octane cheap stuff, maybe more now, i havent looked since the other day, i dont really want to look,..
they are prepping us for 2.50 now, thatll last a coupel few months or less then theyll spike it to almost or at 3.00, then back down about a quarter again for a while, and so forth,
its just gonna keep climbing, and climbing, upwards trend and everyones still buying SUV's and buying gas
so get used to it i guess, neverending out of control
heh
buy a cheap car
thats about all we can do for time being,
blame it on those who repetitvely buy lots of gas and buy big vehicles
them buying up gas is telling the companies that hey they will stil buy it! evne when we keep jacking the prices! so they will continue it
ive found a little car myself, i picked up a nice lil '90 olds with 3800 for 50 bucks, one balancer later and ill have a whopping 110 in it
and its a good car and wont use alot of gas, good winter warm up car too
i guess not everyone can or will,.
so we will always have gold gas it looks like
diesel isnt really much cheaper either and its difficult to convert to propane, that takes $$ to do,
good luck
DavidB
1/2 ton status
cost me $87.00 to fill up my diesel the other day.
