OMG, a bio-diesel Z car!

[doradox]

"The report found that the Tahoe averaged 14 mpg on gasoline, and only 10 mpg on ethanol"... based on what consumer report found and your prices... 0.27$/mi gas 0.30$/mi E85

Our Sub is flex fuel and it even states in the owners manual the reduced fuel mileage.

Steve

[Poindexter]

Well, the impetus for this whole adventure is getting 10-11mpg in my recently departed Lexus truck. Beautiful vehicle, but a jaunt to visit a friend would cost $25 or 430 bucks. Unacceptable. When you factor in over $2,200 a year for insurance for a few cars, I basically HAD to move to a package of higher-mileage fuels/vehicles. It's almost stepping backwards to use E85, with the serious performance hit it throws at you. It also doesn't appear to be heavily-marketed arounf the tristate area (NY, NJ, CT)

The various forms of diesel seem to be the best way to go- at least for the style and amount of my driving. The info here seems to confirm that I made the right choice. There is the most gorgeous Inca Red Mercedes 300turbo-diesel I'm on the way to look at, and it gets over 30mpg! What a wonder! And when I consider that I can actually have a diesel-powered Z car, wow!

Edited September 18, 2008 by Poindexter

[Mike B]

Now I'm watching for these LD28 engines on ebay and other places...

In case you didn't see this yet, there is a LD28 in Colorado on ebay now. I'm not sure what the shipping is like for an engine though. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissan-LD28-Diesel-Engine-Datsun-280z-240z-Conversion_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ39Q3a1Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a10Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem200258234684QQitemZ200258234684

-Mike

[Poindexter]

In case you didn't see this yet, there is a LD28 in Colorado on ebay now. I'm not sure what the shipping is like for an engine though. -Mike

Thanks Mike! Yes, I literally just saw it while doing my daily romp through all things Z on ebay. I noticed it didn't have the glow controls, so I wonder what's involved with that system? Then there's the turbo to be sourced too... I seem to recall shipping to be somewhere between $150 and $300.

I still have to find the rolling shell (CA or AZ) to put the diesel into also, and I'm still also trying to find the perfect Mercedes diesel too, to round out my ideal quiver of non-gas vehicles. So much on my plate for this winter! I'm psyched for the long, dark nights of work in the garage, and I'm adding onto the scope of work daily for this project and to complete the work on my current Z too.

And speaking of winter, it's almost time to put the Z up for the season. I actually got caught out in the rain all day yesterday and although I wiped her down with towels, I also set up a portable heater in the garage to take the humidity out of the air to help dry the undercarriage better.

Poor girl is not used to having her makeup and hair mussed!

Thanks again for letting me know.

Edited September 28, 2008 by Poindexter

[mikemerkury]

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/1194189954.html

[Z train]

All diesel injector pump/injector/fuel pump makers say no more than a 5% mix of bio-diesel in their products.