

| Subject: | Re: Diesel Subaru Conversions |
| From: | Mike Collum |
| Date: | Fri, 10 Mar 2006 22:15:51 -0500 |
oops .. that was supposed to read "91" RON octane is equivalent to 87 CLC octane. Mike Mike Collum wrote: > With this being an international list ... the octane discussion gets > confused. > > 1 RON octane is equivalent to 87 CLC octane. (RON + MON)/2 = CLC octane > number. This is the number that you will find printed on a yellow label > on gas pumps in the United States. > > The RON (Research Octane Number) is used outside the United States. > > Mike > > Dennis Haynes wrote: > >> Your Vanagon does not need 91 pump octane fuels. That sticker is for >> another, older rating system. 87 ROZ/RON is fine unless something is >> wrong or the ignition timing is over advanced. >> >> Dennis >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf >> Of Christopher Gronski >> Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 2:42 PM >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >> Subject: Re: Diesel Subaru Conversions >> >> I disagree with your calculation for two reasons: >> >> 1) A lot of people do conversions because they need a new engine >> anyway, so for many the calculation needs to be done on the "premium" >> charged for a diesel conversion over a rebuild of their 1.9 or 2.1 >> >> 2) My 2.1 syncro lists the gasoline requirement as 91 octane right >> next to the filler neck, so I have to burn premium gas. In Canada this >> generally means paying $0.07 to $0.10 MORE per litre for diesel. >> >> The math still probably works out against the diesel but when I do it, >> it will likely be for eco reasons and added (mostly flat) torque. >> >> Chris >> >> On 3/10/06, Pensioner <al_knoll@pacbell.net> wrote: >> >>> Musing over conversions, one of my many talents, brings me to consider >> >> >> the >> >>> cost-benefit scenarios. Let's postulate that we drive 10000 miles per >> >> >> year >> >>> just to use easy numbers. Discounting the normal maintenance for both >> >> >> a >> >>> converted vanagon and a non-converted vanagon, the costs of conversion >> >> >> seem >> >>> to range from ~$14000 (not a misprint) in my case to perhaps $3000 for >> >> >> an >> >>> average of $5000 (high but we have to start somewhere). >>> >>> If fuel costs over time are the principal reason for going to diesel >> >> >> (not >> >>> fuel availability, or the desire to side with Willie on the BioDiesel >>> concert) then it makes sense to look at the fuel savings one would >> >> >> enjoy >> >>> over that 10000 miles per year. Diesel currently costs about %10 more >> >> >> than >> >>> 87 Octane and is likely to stay that way. For $2.50/gallon 87 octane >> >> >> let's >> >>> say and vanagon average fuel efficiency of 17 miles per gallon. The >> >> >> gallons >> >>> per year is easily found to be ~588 gallons times $2.50 gives $1470 >> >> >> per year >> >>> fuel cost before conversion. If you go with diesel the fuel >> >> >> consumption >> >>> will probably be on the order of 25 miles per gallon. For the same >> >> >> 10000 >> >>> miles per year you'll pay $1100 in fuel costs including the %10 higher >> >> >> price >> >>> for diesel. You will get additional range between fuel stops but >> >> >> you'll >> >>> need it as not all fuel services feature diesel. >>> >>> In summary you'll save $370 per year in fuel costs for 10000 miles per >> >> >> year. >> >>> How many years to break even on the installation is left as an >> >> >> excercise for >> >>> the reader. >>> >>> Seems to be over ten years if your previously owned motor lasts that >> >> >> long. >> >>> FTSOE let's say it does. You will have saved $3700 towards the motor >>> replacement. >>> >>> The above example is to be considered a conservative estimate process, >> >> >> your >> >>> mileage, tolerance, costs, will no doubt be different. >>> >>> "If a man professes knowledge but cannot express that knowledge in >> >> >> numbers, >> >>> then that knowledge is of a meagre and insufficient kind" -- Lord >> >> >> Kelvin >> >>> Numbers rule! >>> >> >> >
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