Greener Fuels

WushuMaster

WushuMaster

WushuMaster

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7 Dec 2003
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Keele
Okay, so after a summer working for friends of the earth i'm making more effort to be more environmentally friendly. So, I was wondering about using BP ultimate more often. Supposedly it reduces CO2 emissions, and I was wondering is the same true of other brands of Super Unleaded variants? Looking at Shell's website they mention their V-power fuel as also having giving lower emissions but dont go much into detail about it. Sainsburys also have a bit on their website about a cleaner 'city unleaded' which also reduces emissions, but this is only available at a few stations in London at the moment.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Also do u think there is any chance of the extra expenditure on using more expensive fuel being offset by better fuel economy? And is using Super Unleaded really that much better for my engine etc?
 
there is lots of things you can do to be greener.
Fuel wise, keeping your car in good condition to ensure it's as efficient as possible, you can also use biofuel blended fuels. A large proportion of tesco's fuel outlets sell petrol/diesel with a % of bioethanol/biodiesel in the mix. YOu'll need to look on their website for your own location but i know most of the south of englands stores stock this.

Another thing you can do to improve mpg is your driving technique. Anticipation, planning (such as driving at off peak times on long trips etc etc ) and slowing down all improve your mpg. I'm a tightwad when it comes to money and since i realised i could drive about 50 miles more per a tank if i kept to 70 on the motorway instead of 80, i just can't bring myself to cruise at 80 anymore :D ( i do do 40k of driving a year out of my own pocket before the heavy footed brigade post about the time you save :p )

Of course, the best thing you can do is not drive at all ! use public transport, try and car share if possible and don't drive the car for short distances you can cycle or walk (cold engines are the most uneconomical).
 
hsp70 said:
there is lots of things you can do to be greener.
Fuel wise, keeping your car in good condition to ensure it's as efficient as possible, you can also use biofuel blended fuels. A large proportion of tesco's fuel outlets sell petrol/diesel with a % of bioethanol/biodiesel in the mix. YOu'll need to look on their website for your own location but i know most of the south of englands stores stock this.

Another thing you can do to improve mpg is your driving technique. Anticipation, planning (such as driving at off peak times on long trips etc etc ) and slowing down all improve your mpg. I'm a tightwad when it comes to money and since i realised i could drive about 50 miles more per a tank if i kept to 70 on the motorway instead of 80, i just can't bring myself to cruise at 80 anymore :D ( i do do 40k of driving a year out of my own pocket before the heavy footed brigade post about the time you save :p )

Of course, the best thing you can do is not drive at all ! use public transport, try and car share if possible and don't drive the car for short distances you can cycle or walk (cold engines are the most uneconomical).
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All very true. Using train more for long trips, pretty cheap with my young persons railcard and in most cases (what with torturous roadworks on the M1) quicker also.

Have to say this has been spurred by my experience at Friends of the Earth. I mean i knew there was a problem, but I dont think many people realise the scale of the problem. There needs to be changes at a much larger level, thats for sure and the points you mention are all great. Fuel does seem to be something that i'm consuming that I could change though, and thats why i'm considering changing it.
 
pinkaardvark said:
Trains have been comprehensively proven to be more damaging to the environment per seat than car usage. Just thought I'd let ya know :)
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I wouldn't use the term 'comprehensively' but under certain conditions cars can be better. Generally though trains are superior.
 
in terms or 'green' fuels 2nd hand veggie oil has to be hard to beat? All of the carbon comes from the atmosphere, so production (or growing) removed CO2 from the atmosphere burning it put's it back. energy comes from the sun, used by the plant to produce the complex hydrocarbons, released when you burn the fuel in your car.

My next car will be a oil burner with a pump powerful enough to pump veggie oil for this very reason.

Paul
 
In lots of ways including renewable energy and none polluting nuclear power

However it's all relative and you have to ask is it more polluting to run a power station than thousands of diesel trains

I would guess not by the time you factor in all the buildings a power station powers as well.
 
No it was diesel rolling stock which still makes up a significant proportion of the rolling stock in use in Britain. i will see if I can dig up the reports. But basically diesel train engines have changed very little in the last 50 years since their introduction and hence per passenger carried cars are actually less environmentally damaging.
 
Yes they have. The HST have all been re-engined for more efficient units, most dmu's have much more efficient engines than the original heritage units etc.
 
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