Commuting revisited- 2011

[Kyle241]

Out of your choices, the Toyota sounds like a good deal. Yes, you would have to put up with the noise but the cost of it and mileage is excellent.

The electric car thing is only for short commutes or city. They have a long way to go prior to being an accepted norm.

I like the VW TDI's, they are the best out there for mileage and longevity. The hybrids are decent on mileage but replacing those batteries are killer.

 

[IXLR8]

I like the VW TDI's, they are the best out there for mileage and longevity. The hybrids are decent on mileage but replacing those batteries are killer.

Replacing batteries on a hybrid is a killer... IF you have to change them. Our local taxi service uses nothing by Prius vehicles, they get traded in when they have between 250K-300K miles on them. From what I have read, they have traded in over 15 vehicles with that sort of mileage on them and none of them have needed batteries. Great around town cars, they just don't add up $$$ for commuters.

 

[Maxfli]

I have a VW Passat TDI at about 38 mpg (half highway). I could probably get it above 40mph is to drove easier. What really appeals to me is a friend of mine has 4 fast food restaurants in his family, and he goes around and picks up all the used deep fryer oil. He is making Bio Diesel in his dad's barn. I think he paid $3500 to $4000 for his setup but I think in his case it works well (he is driving an old Ford diesel pickup). He told me his cost was something like .80 to $1.20 per gallon to make it a few years ago. I am sure he just paid cash for the setup. Not sure the TDI would run well on the Bio Diesel, but I think everything here in Illinois is some form of blended Bio. Wish I had regular access to used oil.

 

[IXLR8]

Not sure the TDI would run well on the Bio Diesel, but I think everything here in Illinois is some form of blended Bio. Wish I had regular access to used oil.

Depends on what year/engine the TDI is. If it is a new Common Rail Diesel, it is risky, if it is high quality BD, the 04-07 PD engines will run on it. There is no issue running it in an older, 03 or earlier engine, it is actually good for them. In the older cars the biggest concern is the BD freeing up junk/sediment in the fuel system and washing it into the fuel filter. The issue is not will the newer engines run with BD, they will, the question is will the BD provide proper lubrication to the high pressure CR pump and injectors. I think VW limits BD to the PD engines to a 5% mixture. Last I heard, VW said no BD in the CR engines.

 

[irvingj]

Yep. 5% max on the BEW (PD) engines is what VW says.

 

[Pilot]

A friend was pulling a trailer from Wisconsin to Oregon with his Dodge Diesel and it failed on him in Montana--would barely pull a hill. Biodiesel ruined the injection pump. Any BD savings were eaten up by the cost of a new pump and renting a truck to get his load home.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

A friend was pulling a trailer from Wisconsin to Oregon with his Dodge Diesel and it failed on him in Montana--would barely pull a hill. Biodiesel ruined the injection pump. Any BD savings were eaten up by the cost of a new pump and renting a truck to get his load home.

More likely the pump was ruined by the new low sulfur fuel, which doesn't have the lubricating qualities of the old style diesel. I add 2-cycle motor oil 100:1 to the diesel I run in the tractor. If you could figure out how to do it at the service station pump, it wouldn't be a bad idea for a road vehicle.

Unless your buddy was hauling his own fuel, he was burning conventional diesel for most of the trip.

 

[two_bit_score]

It's too bad you can't get a CNG vehicle now. That would be great for you. Refuel overnight in your own garage. About 170 mile range per fill up.

 

[Pilot]

My friend was buying whatever diesel he could get on the trip. At home, he used biodiesel all the time; it was just luck that the pump went out on the trip.

 

[riptides]

It's too bad you can't get a CNG vehicle now. That would be great for you. Refuel overnight in your own garage. About 170 mile range per fill up.

My neighbor is CEO for his company that builds and operates CNG, LNG products. He has a car (last I checked) with over 250k miles on it and it is at least 20 years old. He is an ex-rocket scientist.

Guess where 99 percent of his business is?