Well, this is what you expect when you buy a 21 year old car with 200,000 miles on it. When driving, it sounded as if someone was underneath the car, banging on it with a large wrench. Turns out the rear right axle needs replacing.

The bummer is that after dropping the car off at my mechanic one evening last week, the car got broken into. One side window smashed and the stereo taken. So much for removable faceplates. The really don’t do you any good when you leave them in the car. Duh.

One $250 deductible and the $400 axle repair later and the Benz should be back on the road. The only consolation is that I have already saved nearly $400 on fuel. It is distasteful now driving my Chevy S10 pickup, running on… on… uh… gasoline.

On Monday morning, President Bush called on all Americans to conserve gasoline by driving less. By Tuesday morning, he had come up with some specific advice for his White House staff:

During a trip to Texas and Louisiana, some cars were dropped from the presidential motorcade.

Of course the instructions to his staff also include pushing hard for expanded drilling in the Arctic, relaxed environmental laws and for more nuclear power.

From the NY Times:

Meanwhile, will Vice President Dick Cheney turn down the air-conditioning in his office? In 2001, Mr. Cheney said that “conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it cannot be the basis of a sound energy policy.”

On Tuesday, Mr. Cheney’s spokesman, Steve Schmidt, said “the vice president wholeheartedly supports administration policies,” and he “will certainly do his part.”

Oh, he’ll do his part alright.

Do I hear 70?

To Conserve Gas, President Calls for Less Driving

With fears mounting that high energy costs will crimp economic growth, President Bush called on Americans yesterday to conserve gasoline by driving less. He also issued a directive for all federal agencies to cut their own energy use and to encourage employees to use public transportation.
[...]
‘We can all pitch in,’ Mr. Bush said. ‘People just need to recognize that the storms ave caused disruption,’ he added, and that if Americans are able to avoid going ‘on a trip that’s not essential, that would be helpful.’”

It is hard to recognize this as the same Bush that has staunchly protected tax breaks and lax pollution standards for SUV’s. The article continues, summing up Bush’s energy philosophy nicely…

Mr. Bush’s comments… pushed gasoline prices sharply higher, were particularly notable because the administration has long emphasized new production over conservation. It has also opted not to impose higher mileage standards on automakers.

In 2001, Vice President Dick Cheney said, “Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it cannot be the basis of a sound energy policy.” Also that year, Ari Fleischer, then Mr. Bush’s press secretary, responded to a question about reducing American energy consumption by saying “that’s a big no.”

“The president believes that it’s an American way of life,” Mr. Fleischer said.

No one ever accused Bush of being a visionary. Imagine if a president issued an executive order that half of all new government vehicles be hybrids, get 45mpg, or better yet, that they run on biodiesel. That would be visionary.

Herr Diesel…

Und his engine…

Diesel 101 is a site with some excellent information. Especially useful is a description of the difference between direct and indirect injection diesel engines.

So many people who hear about running a diesel on used cooking oil say, “well, how much oil is there? Pretty soon it will all be spoken for.” This was a concern in the back of my mind too (though not a deal breaker). It turns out that Costco sells veggie oil (to those with a business membership) for around $2.50/gallon. While this might have been expensive a year ago, it is quite a bargain now. It is nearly $1/gallon cheaper than diesel in California.

I want to continue recycling, not only because it is free, but it is friendlier to the environment too. In any case, it is nice to know that should the supplies of used oil dry up, there is an affordable supply of new oil.

Dan

I added another decal to my car. In addition to the one on the rear windshield that says, “Runs on Used Cooking Oil”, I added a smaller one next to the license plate that says, “Cooking Oil, No War Required”.

I was hesitant at first to put this one on the car. I live in a very conservative area and was concerned about the response I’d get. It is ironic since it is people who are truly “conservative” who are most opposed to war, or who see it as a truly last resort. It is obvious that this war was not a last resort by any stretch of the imagination.

In fact, I have gotten thumbs ups, and “right-ons” from many people in the area. I truly believe that the current political climate (fostered intentionally by those on the far right) has intimidated many people from any kind of dissent. People believe the foolish premise that if you criticize the US Government you are unpatriotic! It is so preposterous, but has become entrenched in the psyche of the country.

So, I think that my decal has helped a few people open up and express their true feelings, just a little bit. I’ll post photos soon…

Dan

We put a strainer on the oil drum at our largest oil supplier and a week later the golden oil is flowing! What an improvement. It just required some simple signs instructing the kitchen staff to pour the oil through the strainer and then the solids and wash water into the other barrel. Voila. Last Saturday we collected around 30 gallons of clean oil.