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Biofuel Bug
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:19 pm
by Emo Kid
I am sure this topic has come up before, couldn't find anything while searching through previous topics though, so has anyone started or completed a biofuel conversion on their Beetle or other AC model? I know nothing about Biofuel but would like to play my part in saving the planet and all that tree hugger stuff:) would a 1600 Twin Port work with a Bio Fuel conversion?
Any advice or help will be appreciated

Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:36 pm
by Emo Kid
Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:52 pm
by Tony Z
buy a bicycle or take the bus
Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:36 pm
by YvaneS
buy a bicycle or take the bus

Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 10:53 pm
by hitlers revenge
Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 10:55 pm
by Blitzkrieg
Emo Kid wrote:I am sure this topic has come up before, couldn't find anything while searching through previous topics though, so has anyone started or completed a biofuel conversion on their Beetle or other AC model? I know nothing about Biofuel but would like to play my part in
saving the planet and all that tree hugger stuff:) would a 1600 Twin Port work with a Bio Fuel conversion?
Any advice or help will be appreciated

Don't believe everything that you may hear

Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:19 pm
by JamesD
While It may be possible it will be rather hard to implment. In order to run a bio fuel (ethanol based) one would have to have a readily available source of the fuel. The jetting of the carb + carb size would change drastically in order to cope with the significant increase in amount of fuel needed to obtain the correct combustion ratio, hence rendering the car unable to run on standard fuel. It just works out a touch too impracticle.
http://www.lotuscars.com/engineering/en ... 5e-biofuel
better to just plant a tree or two, personally I try save them out of storm drains so they dont get washed away. but you can buy some as well.
though i have once pondered the combining of higher octance fuel with bio diesel in order to run a beetle on. apparently beetles happily run on parrafin so long as you stop/start them on standard fuel. would Part bio diesel part petrol maybe not give a similar mixture? I'm not really willing to try. Personally i'm still happy paying my fuel addiction, gives me a bigger rush than any alcohol or drugs ever will...
Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:21 pm
by JamesD
Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:23 am
by Emo Kid
Thank you JamesD69 for the constructive comments!
@Tony: I have a bicycle which I use most days, and it costs me nothing and takes me all over the world to beautiful places so I can race the pony's out of it! how long do you think it's going to be before the petrol price is R15/lt? picture attached!

Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:55 pm
by Tony Z
nice bike... and you are worrying about petrol price

you'll just have to reduce your footprint further and cycle more.
Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 1:57 pm
by Ron&Gill
You know how many trees it cost to design and manufacture that bike, and how much fossil fuel was burnt to run the wind tunnel to test it? Or, heaven forbid, nuclear waste created?
Nice bike though... previous comment notwithstanding...
Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:10 pm
by Emo Kid
lol

we are creatures of contradictions! the biofuel is more to save money on fuel costs than anything else. but i see now that the capital outlay to do the conversion does not justify the amount saved / litre.
*where's that razor*

Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:15 pm
by Tony Z
and biofuel usually produces less kW per liter.... so you need more anyway
Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:35 pm
by Emo Kid
Tony Z wrote:and biofuel usually produces less kW per liter.... so you need more anyway
that's a good good point
I have abandoned the conversion for a more entertaining one

I more (kw) is less

Re: Biofuel Bug
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 5:49 pm
by Tony Z
I generally think tree huggers are a joke (Ron is with me on this one). General public is usually only told one part of the story, not even half.
In Brazil most cars can run either bio or normal petrol... most people run bio cause it is half the price of petrol. Wonderful. It has 1/3rd the power per liter, so you use 3 times as much.... do the maths.
Going green is good, but then you have to do it properly. Like getting a bicycle or using the bus. converting this, bio that.... wow, look at all this plastic.
I wont even get into the bullshit of governments taxing exhaust emissions when people with more than 2 children dont get taxed for the extra CO2 produced by the 3rd child.