$4.10 a gallon in Downtown SF WTF!!!

[Colin]

Let's put it into perspective:

In the UK, they're paying double what we pay. THAT SUCKS.

We can still get it.

Even if it does go up to $5.00/gal, that works out to like maybe an extra 10 bucks to fill up your 02. How bad is that, really?

The great thing about capitalism is that if you don't like a product, you can stop paying for it and purchase an alternative instead. But, like most of you, I'm sure you'll quickly realize that even at the higher price, filling up your own personal vehicle with gas still offers a better value than the alternatives.

[Guest Anonymous]

just pushing $10 a gallon in the uk and going up by the week !

you have it easy compared...

[bueller]

true, but euros rely more on available mass transit and i'd vengture to say have less miles to cover than the typical american. prices are very difficult to compare with so different transportation systems.

[jdarwin]

The main difference of fuel costs overseas is taxes. Our federal fuel taxes have not increased since around 1998. That's probably about to change.

[Pancake]

Last time prices went over $4 a gallon back in 07 or 08 it seemed like people actually did start to change driving habits around here. I was in a job as a roaming tech at the time, so driving wasn't optional for me, but I noticed a lot less traffic after that price range. Plus I was driving a Sentra that got an honest 31-35 mpg mixed mileage, so it wasn't all that painful. I could only imagine trying to feed my Range Rover if I was stuck still doing that job daily; it get's maybe 15mpg on a good day.

I don't think there are many 02's out there getting over 30mpg. With FI and a 5-speed it's definately possible, but the 02 was never really designed for gas mileage.

[beast02er]

UK might be paying $10 a gallon, but isn't nearly 50% of that price taxes??

We probably get stiffed with tax in other areas they don't!

[jmp88]

My 3 step solution:

1. Buy a BMW 2002 beater

2. Rebuild the engine

3. Build a HHO(Hydrogen) Generator

Now you car runs on Water!!!

You know that's a hoax right? It violates the second law of thermodynamics.

[jmp88]

The main difference of fuel costs overseas is taxes. Our federal fuel taxes have not increased since around 1998. That's probably about to change.

And they don't subsidize gas over there like they do here. Tax breaks for oil companies makes a biiiig difference.

[fiftytakedowns]

My 3 step solution:

1. Buy a BMW 2002 beater

2. Rebuild the engine

3. Build a HHO(Hydrogen) Generator

Now you car runs on Water!!!

You know that's a hoax right? It violates the second law of thermodynamics.

No it doesnt.

do your research, talked to the Physics dept at UCD.

electrolysis splits the H2 from the 0. thus the H2 has a bond which has energy(which can be released when bond is broken) , when used with a catalyst (such as gasoline) it creates a much more efficient burn. Doesn't add power or torque, it's merely a catalyst to the combustion.

If you still dont believe me get:

tub

Battery

jumper cables

Two stainless steel pieces of metal.

baking soda.

lighter

attach two pieces of metal in tub attached to corresponding jumpercables on battery. put in water with baking soda. and watch bubbles form from the water. some is oxygen some is H-H (covalent strong bonds). Take the lighter and ignite the bubbles they blow loud!. HAve fun with dangerous chemistry with your kids!

I have done this myself, and sick of hearing it as a hoax. it works.

[bluebmw]

It's not a hoax. My neighbor consistently got 35 mpg with his 97 4Runner running on gas and HHO. I meant to say make it a hybrid. If you'd like to explain how this doesn't work, my ears are open.

[jmp88]

I have done this myself, and sick of hearing it as a hoax. it works.

I know hydrolysis works. But you put energy in to separate the hydrogen - and conservation of energy says you can't get more energy back by putting the hydrogen back. Just sayin.

In any case, I don't want to get in to this, if you've done it then cool, congratulations!

[bluebmw]

In a way your right, but you could use energy from the brake friction or something like that to perform electrolysis too...

[SteveJ]

$5k for my Merckx may have been a very wise investment.

Just hope I can get the E30M3 back on the road before gas goes crazy. Maybe I'll just convert it to pedal M power.

[TobyB]

I have done this myself, and sick of hearing it as a hoax. it works.

_________________

see, it does work, but so does ethanol.

and pure hydrogen from other sources.

It's just that it takes a shitpot of electricity to

break water into h2 and o.

A shitpot. They love each other. You REALLY have to jolt them to get them apart.

So by the time you're done, the energy you get out of the 2h is

not so exciting, as you've spent a lot of energy splitting water.

Which, btw, really wants to stay being water.

Ethanol's the same BS. By the time you're done growing the

corn, pumping water, hauling it, fermenting it and then distilling it,

the energy cost's much higher than if you'd just spent the fookin' diesel

you burnt in the tractors as the motive fuel you want the ethanol for.

If you want a free lunch, put solar panels in New Mexico and windmills

in Wyoming.

Or ride your GD bike.

ooo, bad day at the shit factory today, I guess.

But as to your 2002, you CAN get pretty good mileage out of a 32/36.

First, scrap the CD jetting. It's fat.

Second, get your ignition in good shape- something better

than a pertronix- msd6 and hei coil, megajolt. whatever.

it's gonna have to light off lean mixtures.

Third, get a wideband o2 sensor and controller-

you'll hurt your motor if you lean it out in the wrong part of the curve.

now, take the main down on the primary barrel of the carb.

Air corrector- well, use that for stability control. It will probably go

down too.

The pump jet will need to go up, and the transition jet for the primary

might get to go down.

You're aiming to tune for a lean (15ish afr) mix at small throttle openings

The trick is to go far enough, but not too far. You'll also advance

timing a lot to get it to pop in time.

As soon as you add throttle above cruise, though, you have to add fuel,

and pull back the timing. Or you'll start to get into overheating trouble.

Yes, it's a lot of work.

But I suspect that mid 30's on the freeway at 65 is about the upper limit

(jenn's car can get 33 at 63, steady state.)

Me, I'm trying to get the landcruiser going.

It's supposed to get single digit economy in town.

I'm excited.

yes, it was a bad day here.

can you tell?

t

[02for2]

i was in downtown FRISCO this morning cant remember what street but saw a Chevron station serving $4.10 a gallon for premium. now i live 400 miles south in OC and like $3.67 for premium. im sure we are heading for $5.00 a gallon by summer with all the Stuff going on in the middle east...

Chalk it all up to the Audacity of Hope.

2012 is going to be an interesting year, well not so much for some.

Cheers!