Does it frustrate you too?

[cfguy2000]

Originally Posted by d0sitmatr

your talking two very different time periods.
let me 1 up you in that comparison
my ranger, in the 6 yrs I owned it, received 1 tuneup, 2 oil changes and 1 trans flush.
that is all I ever did in maintenance over the course of 6 yrs. it drove me everywhere I needed to go, reliably.

Isn't the Ford Ranger just a rebadged Mazda B series?

[ecofreak]

Originally Posted by cleanspeed1

Diesel fuel is the dregs from producing gasoline, and in proportion is not "limited" per se. Besides, diesel fuel can be produced from other sources aside from petroleum.

As far as the batteries are concerned, there are other chemistries and styles out there that could get the job done, but as long as there is a high demand/short supply situation that can be exploited, the other things will not be pursued.

I look at the satellites that orbit our earth for years on end. They have batteries don't they? What kind of batteries do they have?

Satellites also have access to sunlight unabated by ozone or any sort of atmosphere. Besides, batteries and electronics associated with them will always be disposable, have manufactured obsolescence, and putrefy the earth.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by cleanspeed1

Diesel fuel is the dregs from producing gasoline, and in proportion is not "limited" per se.

Not true. Or at best half true, 'cause it'd be just as accurate to say that gasoline is the dregs of producing diesel fuel.

As far as the batteries are concerned, there are other chemistries and styles out there that could get the job done, but as long as there is a high demand/short supply situation that can be exploited, the other things will not be pursued.

Except that there's no shortage of lithium. It's one of the more common elements, and there are minable deposits in many places (including some near me). Nor do the batteries use up their lithium: if you put 10 gallons of gas (about 65 pounds) in your car, you have to replace it after you've driven a few hundred miles. Put the same 65 pounds of lithium in batteries, and they'll last for many years, plus you can recycle the batteries and get back the same 65 lbs of lithium you started with.

[mnmarcus]

James said "Not true. Or at best half true, 'cause it'd be just as accurate to say that gasoline is the dregs of producing diesel fuel."

I've always wondered if a certain percent of crude must be used for diesel and a certain percent for gas, or can they refine whatever (ratio) they want. I haven't been able to find it anywhere. I read it takes more crude to make diesel (hence the higher energy density of diesel).

[cfg83]

mnmarcus -

Here you go :

EIA Energy Kids - Oil (petroleum)

A 42-U.S. gallon barrel of crude oil provides about 45 gallons of petroleum products. This gain from processing the crude oil is similar to what happens to popcorn, which gets bigger after it's popped. The gain from processing is more than 6%.

One barrel of crude oil, when refined, produces about 19 gallons of finished motor gasoline, and 10 gallons of diesel, as well as other petroleum products. Most petroleum products are used to produce energy. For instance, many people across the United States use propane to heat their homes.

CarloSW2

[cfg83]

mnmarcus -

Here's another :

WHAT A BARREL OF CRUDE OIL MAKES

Product                   Gallons per barrel 
gasoline                  19.5
distillate fuel oil        9.2
(Includes both home heating oil and diesel fuel)
kerosene-type jet fuel     4.1
residual fuel oil          2.3
(Heavy oils used as fuels in industry, 
marine transportation and for electric  power generation)
liquefied refinery gasses  1.9
still gas                  1.9
coke                       1.8
asphalt and road oil       1.3
petrochemical feedstocks   1.2
lubricants                 0.5
kerosene                   0.2
other                      0.3

CarloSW2

[Arragonis]

But when people want Diesel vs Petrol, everyone partakes.

AROnline » Gallery : Honda Concerto TD

[gone-ot]

cfg83 -- this is an interesting chart:

[cfg83]

Old Tele man -

I'm trying to extrapolate reasonable conclusions from the graph :

- Iran's output is falling *before* the Shah is toppled in 1979
- in 1980 Saudi Arabian output falls, maybe because of OPEC quotas.
- in 1988 Saudi Arabian output picks up to replace(?) falling Soviet output.
- USA slow and steady decrease
- China slow and steady increase

CarloSW2

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by mnmarcus

I've always wondered if a certain percent of crude must be used for diesel and a certain percent for gas, or can they refine whatever (ratio) they want.

I'm no expert but if I'm remembering correctly, there's a good bit of flexibility in the gas/diesel ration, so the refinery can be adjusted to produce more gasoline or more diesel, depending on which is more profitable.