Comments on: Back on the road! http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/ Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:16:01 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Ray http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6303 Ray Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:01:07 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6303 BoiDiesel is definitely the way that our nation should go. The problems with the scout have more to do with never having previously used biodiesel in it, and not having cleaned the tank and lines, and the years of petro diesel use. Frankly the first stop they made at the start the guy should have said something to them. Had the vehicle been properly prepared for the biodiesel, or had they been properly prepared to deal with the issue on the road (having lots of spare filters) it probably would have never made the blog. On the other hand not sure about comparing the scout to the Passat. I am pretty sure any attempt to actually camp in a Passat would have made for even more "interesting" blog entires than the fuel line problems. BoiDiesel is definitely the way that our nation should go.

The problems with the scout have more to do with never having previously used biodiesel in it, and not having cleaned the tank and lines, and the years of petro diesel use. Frankly the first stop they made at the start the guy should have said something to them. Had the vehicle been properly prepared for the biodiesel, or had they been properly prepared to deal with the issue on the road (having lots of spare filters) it probably would have never made the blog.

On the other hand not sure about comparing the scout to the Passat. I am pretty sure any attempt to actually camp in a Passat would have made for even more "interesting" blog entires than the fuel line problems.

]]> By: James R http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6150 James R Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:22:09 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6150 We flew to Ohio to purchase my 2005 VW Passat TDI in April of 2007... It's not 30 years old... We paid $18,000 for it... It get's 42-45mpg highway... We hate lattes, and live in a 15 yr old 3 bedroom/bath house... We drove 2300+ miles home in the Passat using BioDiesel the whole way, with exception of the 10 miles from the dealership to our first staion... BUT...we prepared in advance. We had a VW dealer do a pre-sales inspection...the Ford dealer we bought it from put all new tires on...we plotted out BioDiesel stations along the way, and called them to find out their days/times of operation (and to make sure they were open to the public)...we also plotted out VW dealers along the way, just in case we did have mechanical problems. We asked the dealership to make sure the tank was half full, so we could drive straight to a local station and fill with BioDiesel. We started out using B2-B5, then B20, then B50, and I believe we ended on B5. We didn't have a single problem, never even had to change the fuel filter. We like many others on here are happy Cody is doing this trip on BioDiesel, but we just wish the trip would of had better advanced planning, and a more reliable vehicle. You can see from the posts here, some people have been turned off on BioDiesel because of the problems...and technically now that the fuel tank is cleaned out, you then refilled on petrol diesel #2, the entire trip wasn't on BioDiesel :-( We like most people got into BioDiesel because we're tired of OPEC/Big Oils leash...BioDiesel is Biodegradeable, it's clean, renewable, domestic...and it's the future. We aren't rich, and don't live in a McMansion. Yes, we do like a video game ever so often :-) We wish you the best Cody, if your ever in California again, we would be happy to buy you a nice lunch...and fill up your vehicle for free with B99 BioDiesel (we buy it from a station in San Diego...RTC). Hopefully by then you'll be driving a 2009 VW Jetta TDI, and getting 55-60mpg...oh and they don't cost $40K either...just $23K. Good luck with the rest of your adventure, we hope you have seen the last of your mechanical problems... We flew to Ohio to purchase my 2005 VW Passat TDI in April of 2007...
It's not 30 years old...
We paid $18,000 for it...
It get's 42-45mpg highway...
We hate lattes, and live in a 15 yr old 3 bedroom/bath house...
We drove 2300+ miles home in the Passat using BioDiesel the whole way, with exception of the 10 miles from the dealership to our first staion...

BUT...we prepared in advance. We had a VW dealer do a pre-sales inspection...the Ford dealer we bought it from put all new tires on...we plotted out BioDiesel stations along the way, and called them to find out their days/times of operation (and to make sure they were open to the public)...we also plotted out VW dealers along the way, just in case we did have mechanical problems. We asked the dealership to make sure the tank was half full, so we could drive straight to a local station and fill with BioDiesel. We started out using B2-B5, then B20, then B50, and I believe we ended on B5. We didn't have a single problem, never even had to change the fuel filter.

We like many others on here are happy Cody is doing this trip on BioDiesel, but we just wish the trip would of had better advanced planning, and a more reliable vehicle. You can see from the posts here, some people have been turned off on BioDiesel because of the problems...and technically now that the fuel tank is cleaned out, you then refilled on petrol diesel #2, the entire trip wasn't on BioDiesel :-(

We like most people got into BioDiesel because we're tired of OPEC/Big Oils leash...BioDiesel is Biodegradeable, it's clean, renewable, domestic...and it's the future. We aren't rich, and don't live in a McMansion. Yes, we do like a video game ever so often :-)

We wish you the best Cody, if your ever in California again, we would be happy to buy you a nice lunch...and fill up your vehicle for free with B99 BioDiesel (we buy it from a station in San Diego...RTC). Hopefully by then you'll be driving a 2009 VW Jetta TDI, and getting 55-60mpg...oh and they don't cost $40K either...just $23K.

Good luck with the rest of your adventure, we hope you have seen the last of your mechanical problems...

]]> By: Miles Mulloy http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6149 Miles Mulloy Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:59:53 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6149 Hey Cody-- if you're in Winslow long enough to work on your gas tank problem check out www.yankeflyer.com I'm just south of the tracks at the La Pasada and East of Southside - bigshop lots of tools everything you need Miles Hey Cody– if you're in Winslow long enough to work on your gas tank problem check out http://www.yankeflyer.com I'm just south of the tracks at the La Pasada and East of Southside – bigshop lots of tools everything you need Miles

]]> By: Dieselscout http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6148 Dieselscout Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:14:13 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6148 As you may have guessed by now, I'm the one with the "Last Scout". You may have seen it at the "Centennial" last year. Here's what it looks like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSkWVem5618 Enjoy. Mike As you may have guessed by now, I'm the one with the "Last Scout".
You may have seen it at the "Centennial" last year.
Here's what it looks like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSkWVem5618

Enjoy.

Mike

]]> By: tpw http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6147 tpw Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:53:19 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6147 It sounds like you're having a great adventure. I like the the idea of using biofuels in a classic vehicle. It has the feel of a grass roots movement. But If you had a new electric (or partially electric) vehicle with a solar charger and plug in you'd probably be home by now! An electric vehicle would be much cleaner than any biofluel vehicle and the emissions from producing the electricity could be treated more easily at centralized locations (energy plants). It doesn't have to be this difficult to drive alternative fuel vehicles. People do it all the time. This reminds me of the american car manufacturers who have fallen behind the times. Clean electric or possibly natural gas vehicles with long distance capability - that's where its going. Get on board with the future of transportation or prepared to get run over. It sounds like you're having a great adventure. I like the the idea of using biofuels in a classic vehicle. It has the feel of a grass roots movement. But If you had a new electric (or partially electric) vehicle with a solar charger and plug in you'd probably be home by now! An electric vehicle would be much cleaner than any biofluel vehicle and the emissions from producing the electricity could be treated more easily at centralized locations (energy plants). It doesn't have to be this difficult to drive alternative fuel vehicles. People do it all the time. This reminds me of the american car manufacturers who have fallen behind the times. Clean electric or possibly natural gas vehicles with long distance capability – that's where its going. Get on board with the future of transportation or prepared to get run over.

]]> By: Nic "Scoutman" Hawker http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6144 Nic "Scoutman" Hawker Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:59:20 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6144 Good story Mike. I helped a friend build a 392 powered Scout to go from Florida to Alaska where his new job was going to be. On the road trip, the 392 over torqued the Dana 44 rear end and he had to leave the truck in Idaho. He had it towed to an International dealer that hadn't seen a Scout in 15 years. Some of the guys there were previous Scout owners and worked with him on the parts, basically gave him the labor to build him a tougher rear end and he was able to get her to Alaska a short time later. Scout owners are friendly, and so are the other folks that have helped Cody and Brian in Arizona. Middle-America people are the best. Do you think folks would have done the same thing had his problem happened in California or somewhere on the East coast? I'm thinking about meeting up with Cody and Brian when they head through Texas. That's about as close as they'll be getting to me here in Oklahoma. If you want to come down, mike, I'll put you up on the farm. Happy Scoutin' Nic Good story Mike.
I helped a friend build a 392 powered Scout to go from Florida to Alaska where his new job was going to be. On the road trip, the 392 over torqued the Dana 44 rear end and he had to leave the truck in Idaho. He had it towed to an International dealer that hadn't seen a Scout in 15 years.
Some of the guys there were previous Scout owners and worked with him on the parts, basically gave him the labor to build him a tougher rear end and he was able to get her to Alaska a short time later.
Scout owners are friendly, and so are the other folks that have helped Cody and Brian in Arizona. Middle-America people are the best. Do you think folks would have done the same thing had his problem happened in California or somewhere on the East coast?
I'm thinking about meeting up with Cody and Brian when they head through Texas. That's about as close as they'll be getting to me here in Oklahoma. If you want to come down, mike, I'll put you up on the farm.
Happy Scoutin'
Nic

]]> By: dieselscout http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6143 dieselscout Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:41:30 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6143 Your ongoing adventure reminds me of a similar expedition I had in the year 2000. I was picking up an "Ebay" Scout body tub with my Diesel Scout pulling a flatbed car trailer. I'm from Iowa, and the Scout body was near Las Vegas. I-70 through Colorado, scenic though it was, was not the route for a loaded trip back. I opted for I-40 through AZ and NM, then northeasterly after that. The Scout started overheating while coming through Albuquerque, and I pulled over at a filling station. The upper radiator hose had blown, and there were no parts stores open. I contacted someone who knew someone, who was online with someone else, etc, etc, and there was a Scout owner living close to where I had broken down. He removed the upper hose from his driver Scout in his garage and brought it to me. This took place in about 1 hour's time. After returning home successfully, I bought new hoses for my rig, and shipped a new hose to the lender of my "emergency" hose. The helpfulness of Scout owners is something unusual in this day and age. I'm happy to say that I'm a member of that group. As always, good luck and happy travels. Mike Your ongoing adventure reminds me of a similar expedition I had in the year 2000. I was picking up an "Ebay" Scout body tub with my Diesel Scout pulling a flatbed car trailer. I'm from Iowa, and the Scout body was near Las Vegas. I-70 through Colorado, scenic though it was, was not the route for a loaded trip back. I opted for I-40 through AZ and NM, then northeasterly after that.
The Scout started overheating while coming through Albuquerque, and I pulled over at a filling station. The upper radiator hose had blown, and there were no parts stores open. I contacted someone who knew someone, who was online with someone else, etc, etc, and there was a Scout owner living close to where I had broken down. He removed the upper hose from his driver Scout in his garage and brought it to me. This took place in about 1 hour's time.
After returning home successfully, I bought new hoses for my rig, and shipped a new hose to the lender of my "emergency" hose.

The helpfulness of Scout owners is something unusual in this day and age. I'm happy to say that I'm a member of that group.

As always, good luck and happy travels.

Mike

]]> By: Jeff Larson http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6142 Jeff Larson Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:06:30 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6142 Love to see the focus on alternate fuels. Have you investigated Valcent's green-house produced algae as biofuel? http://www.valcent.net/s/Ecotech.asp?ReportID=182039 And, I understand a utility company in Arizona or New Mexico is developing a green house like the valcent's. Love to see the focus on alternate fuels. Have you investigated Valcent's green-house produced algae as biofuel?
http://www.valcent.net/s/Ecotech.asp?ReportID=182039

And, I understand a utility company in Arizona or New Mexico is developing a green house like the valcent's.

]]> By: S Callahan http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6140 S Callahan Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:27:32 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6140 An afterthought, since your in AZ perhaps a visit to Mr. Smith at the University would be elightening........ An afterthought, since your in AZ perhaps a visit to Mr. Smith at the University would be elightening........

]]> By: S Callahan http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/04/back-on-the-road/#comment-6139 S Callahan Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:24:00 +0000 http://cnnscitech.wordpress.com/?p=650#comment-6139 Cody, I can almost feel your sigh of relief! What a blessing to have people along the way to give a helping hand, and blessings for them too..to have their buisness recoginzed. It's a Win Win for all. I am watching closely, your role modeling is a great destressor for those of us that are considering converting over to diesel. It helps to have all the info. Have a fun journey today.... Cody, I can almost feel your sigh of relief! What a blessing to have people along the way to give a helping hand, and blessings for them too..to have their buisness recoginzed. It's a Win Win for all.

I am watching closely, your role modeling is a great destressor for those of us that are considering converting over to diesel. It helps to have all the info.

Have a fun journey today....

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