Hunting for work

[Gary Richardson]

I've never had to budget for the price of gas.

Whereas we've had to allow for it for quite some time.

You've been lucky so far I guess. I know the first time I ever filled a hire car in the States, I was stunned by just how cheap gas was. The high cost of UK gas is entirely down to the high rate of tax on it.

You know I sometimes forget that this forum is international.

As a fairly frequent visitor to the States (I come here on ski vacations most years), I've got used to the introspective view of many Americans. I once got stopped at Denver airport and told "Hey you've got a really cute accent, where are you from?" I replied England, and her next question floored me. "Is that anywhere near Australia?" she asked. "Sure I answered, just next door, hop on a plane and its only a 24 hour flight."

[chrishoggy]

All I will say is "biodiesel".
I've tested my Vectra on home made biodiesel, and it runs fine. I'm now looking at making it in bigger volume. Very simple to do, and works out at around 60p a litre using new cooking oil (and paying 20p a litre tax). If I could find a used oil supply, it would work out even cheaper .

http://www.tasmanenergy.com.au/biodiesel.htm

[NancyJ]

do you get the same fuel efficiency?

[chrishoggy]

Yes, runs exactly the same as standard Diesel. The only difference is the exhaust gasses smell of fresh dough-nuts (They really do too)

Not all cars will run on it alone, so mixing it 50-50 is the best way to try it. Then go to 75-25 mix and see how it runs. Even at a 50-50 mix with standard diesel, you are saving quite a bit of money. It is also good for the environment

[Frank Lopes]

Go visit your local "fish & chips" restaurants.

Originally Posted by chrishoggy

All I will say is "biodiesel".
... If I could find a used oil supply, it would work out even cheaper ...

[Gary Richardson]

How long before they start taxing it higher Chris?

Used to be that diesel was the cost effective fuel of choice, but its now taxed worse than petrol. Can't see the tax vultures letting bio-diesel escape for long.

[chrishoggy]

Yeah I know what ya mean Gary. I'm just going to cash in while the tax is low.
The other way is to go LPG, but the conversion costs are stupid at the moment

[NancyJ]

In theory the point of the stupidly high tax on petrol is for environmental reasons. Its to discourage car usage. In practice it doesnt work but they couldnt claim those reasons for taxing bio-fuel.

[goose443]

There have been murmurs here about a tax on distance instead of gasoline. It seems to me though that it would only encourage lower efficiency cars as opposed to a gas tax which hits larger, less efficient cars harder.

[Gary Richardson]

Hi Chris,

If I had a diesel, I think I'd join you and run bio while it's still cheap, but both my cars are petrol driven so I'm stuck. Agree about the conversion costs on LPG, and availability is still an issue.

Nancy J,

In theory the point of the stupidly high tax on petrol is for environmental reasons.

That's the fairy tale they spin us to justify the high cost of gas, real reason is that the government knows we don't want to lose the convenience of our cars, so it can use the "environmental good" lie to screw us out of more money. I agree with you that it'll be hard to use that argument with Bio-diesel, but they're an inventive lot, and I'm sure they'll soon find a reason why "for our good" they have to put the price up.

[goose443]

Originally Posted by Gary Richardson

Hi Chris,

If I had a diesel, I think I'd join you and run bio while it's still cheap, but both my cars are petrol driven so I'm stuck.

I heard photoshop CS3 is supposed to have a "convert to diesel" filter.

[Gary Richardson]

I heard photoshop CS3 is supposed to have a "convert to diesel" filter.

Shame I use PS7.