On October 5 of last year, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed into law, AB1065. I just downloaded the Legislative Counsel’s Digest and read it. Let me first say, I am not an attorney, legal scholar or legislative expert. On first blush, it seems that the law requires any transporter of “interceptor grease” (used kitchen grease) to register with the state and that this registration reqires demonstration of, “the ability
to respond to specified damages by means of a policy of insurance or
surety bond of not less than $2,000,000…”

As in all laws, there are lot’s of references to other statutes and I just don’t have the time to follow all of these trails. If you have any knowledge of this law and how it is likely to affect vegcar drivers from collecting small amounts of oil, please let me know.

I have several friends who are waiting to see how my car does this winter. My 1984 Mercedes 300D is a “single-tank” conversion (meaning there is only one fuel tank)and therefore has to start in the morning with cold oil (100% WVO) in the injectors and engine. The temps have been in the low forties for the past several mornings, dipping into the thirties overnight, and so far, the car has started right up every day.

I will continue to post these results as the winter progresses. Where I live in the foothills of the Sierras, winter temperatures occasionally dip into the twenties and when they do, they seldom stay there for long. I anticipate that below 30 degrees, the car probably won’t start. I have delayed selling my Chevy Pickup for this reason.

I have also delayed installing a block heater in my car until I complete this experiment and identify the threshhold temperature. Another alternative is to mix in some (30%-60%?) Diesel or Biodiesel during the winter months. If anyone out there has actual experience starting a 300D (fueled with 100% WVO) in cold temps, please let me know.

Bush reserves the right to use torture as he signs anti-torture legislation. From thecarpetbaggerreport.com…

First, with respect to several provisions of the bill, the President signaled his intention to reserve his authority, as Commander in Chief, to ignore statutory mandates…. Most importantly, as to the McCain Amendment, which would categorically prohibit cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees by all U.S. personnel, anywhere in the world, the President wrote:

“The executive branch shall construe Title X in Division A of the Act, relating to detainees, in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as Commander in Chief and consistent with the constitutional limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving the shared objective of the Congress and the President, evidenced in Title X, of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks.”

Translation: I reserve the constitutional right to waterboard when it will “assist” in protecting the American people from terrorist attacks.

This follow up from three GOP Senators.

I wonder if the NSA is monitoring your web browsing right now…?

I am not a mechanic. I have done very little work on my 300D or on any car that I have ever owned. Last week I fixed my car and the feeling is wonderful.

Two weeks ago, my glowplug light didn’t come on when I turned the key in the ignition. With the ambient temperature in the 40s, the car didn’t start. The first thing I did right was NOT to try starting the car over and over. As I surmised and later learned, this is a sure fire way to burn out your starter.

I did some research on line and discovered that there is a little box under the hood that houses the glowplug relay. In this box, there is a strip fuse (nothing more than a 2 inch long thin metal strip – see image at right). It was broken. I went to the Benz dealer in Fresno and purchased a replacement strip for $3.70. I installed it (two phillips head screws hold it in place) and the car started!

Now, I neglected to mention that it took around 1.5 hours of web surfing to figure out that it might be the strip fuse, but in the process I found 2 excellent forums for Mercedes owners. I searched the forums and found great information. On another issue I created a post with my situation and within an hour someone posted a helpful response.

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/index.php3

http://www.mercedesforum.com

I recommend these fora strongly. NOTE: always do a search first, before posting, as your question may have been asked before.