Monday, January 11, 2010
Racing to the Green Flag
When it comes to passions, cars are top on my list. Racing is the pure extension of that passion, and for a car enthusiast, is one of the best experiences you can have. When you think of nationally recognized racing, NASCAR is probably the first name that would come to mind. Forty plus cars going around a track at speeds of up to 200 mph for the pure thrill of thousands of fans on the edge of their seat, waiting for that ultimate finish. Ok, the real thrill is the crashes, and we all know that's why we watch.
Regardless of if you like NASCAR as much as I do or not, we all know that they use a ton of fuel and create a bunch of waste. What are they going to do to make up for their carbon footprint? The NASCAR organization has actually stepped up and started to install solar panels at their grand stands to help with the electricity used from the air conditioners, they are planting 10 trees for every caution flag during 11 races, they've installed an idle air system at many locations to prevent the car haulers from idling, and are
maximizing the recycling programs throughout the stands. Goodyear and Safety-Kleen stepped up by recycling their tires and oil.
We all understand that there are more issues in the racing industry to address, however this is a great first step in the process of going green. It shows that the companies are actually trying to make an impact on the foot print they are leaving behind. This is better than turning off the lights for 30 seconds for a marketing gimmick. I believe that we will find a way to make a race exciting, and have it become more eco friendly in the near future. I don't believe that they will be electric cars, because I just don't see the grand stands filling the way they do now, but would bet that the race cars will become much more fuel efficient in the next few years.
Winter Diesel Fuel?, that is the question. What are the answers? By Dusty Wright
I recently sampled nine refineries to test their fuel's performance this winter. The base fuel performance for CFPP and cloud point were all over. The worst performer was +10F and the best was -9F. Reactivity with cold-flow improvers were inconsistent as well. One type of polymer worked with one fuel but not with another. Treat rates varied as well, resulting in different treat cost. A couple samples showed no improvement without the addition of #1. So the question the end user has, "What is my fuel's winter performance?" Not an easy answer without reliable testing.
What are the pro/cons of adding #1 to #2 for winter performance?
Pros
- consistent winter performance, typically lowers #2 CFPP 10-15F
- easily available
- blended at the rack
- lowered BTU, lower fuel economy
- drier fuel, even less lubricity than #2 (more pump/injector wear)
- cost-typically adds 15-30 cents per gallon to fuel cost
What are the pro/cons of using an anti-gel winter additive?
Pros
- Treat cost is less than adding #1
- Does the additive emulsify water in fuel & tank
- Some additives increase the lubricity of the fuel
- Other benefits-cetane, moisture control, & detergents to keep your fuel systems clean
- Increase fuel economy
- Have to add it yourself or order from fuel provider
- Is it at the correct treat rate for the performance you need
- Does the additive demulsify water in fuel & tank
- Does the additive lower the lubricity of the fuel (more pump/injector wear)
- Supply, can you get it when you need it
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