Solar means nothing to me. They want a sizeable amount of money to go that direction. For what it costs, and using the current utility bill average plus 20% to account for increases, it would take 37 years to pay for itself. Those proponents of solar will never tell you about that, nor will they tell you of the real costs. BTDT. Had solar on a rent house that I lived in. Yeah it was nice for 2 months out of the year (July/Aug) but the rest of the time it was of little use. I own now, in a bigger house than the rental was, and my utility costs are about 45% of what it was at the rental. There's always more to it, and I agree with that--but the numbers don't lie. Last month's electric bill was $37.45 (June 2022). Been hotter than usual this month so far so I expect the next bill to be probably closer to $70 or so. Gas bill in winter is typically about the same as electric in the summer.

So, in order for me to go solar, two things would have to happen. One, the cost of the solar panels and all the associated ancillaries will have to decrease and two the cost of current utilities will have to increase, proportional to each other. Until then it makes no sense for me. But I also don't live in a taj majal either--there's no sense in buying bigger/nicer/better than needed. My girlfriend calls me a minimalist. I'm ok with that.

same for ev. The costs of ev are going to have to come down, the charging rates are going to have to improve, and the cost of ic cars is going to have to increase along with the price of gas before "everyone" buys ev. We're seeing part of it happen before our own eyes and I wonder why more people can't understand it?

Be sure to check charging station cost per kwhr before heading out. Like some gas stations, some rapid charge EV stations are charging 25 cents per kwhr or more. Don’t give them your business

quote:

I’m glad it works for him. That’s not my idea of fun. Cutting it close. Planning your trip around charging stations.

I have a gas truck. I save a lot of money by planning my stops. I thought that was a normal thing to do. Sometimes I cut it close to do so. -=shrug=-

Bizarre thing, I just started running E-15 instead of Reg 87 in the truck and it's getting BETTER mileage. Last year, got 12.8 towing to Bristol. This year, was getting 13.6 on 87 on the way down. Same leg on the way home on E-15 was 14.7. Was up to 15.0 for my Quaker City round trip this weekend.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Beard:

quote:

I’m glad it works for him. That’s not my idea of fun. Cutting it close. Planning your trip around charging stations.

I have a gas truck. I save a lot of money by planning my stops. I thought that was a normal thing to do. Sometimes I cut it close to do so. -=shrug=-

Bizarre thing, I just started running E-15 instead of Reg 87 in the truck and it's getting BETTER mileage. Last year, got 12.8 towing to Bristol. This year, was getting 13.6 on 87 on the way down. Same leg on the way home on E-15 was 14.7. Was up to 15.0 for my Quaker City round trip this weekend.

That is odd. I thought Ethanol has less power per gallon vs Gasoline. Therefore more Ethanol has to be burned to create the same power per compression stroke?

quote:

Originally posted by Holytown:

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Beard:

quote:

I’m glad it works for him. That’s not my idea of fun. Cutting it close. Planning your trip around charging stations.

I have a gas truck. I save a lot of money by planning my stops. I thought that was a normal thing to do. Sometimes I cut it close to do so. -=shrug=-

Bizarre thing, I just started running E-15 instead of Reg 87 in the truck and it's getting BETTER mileage. Last year, got 12.8 towing to Bristol. This year, was getting 13.6 on 87 on the way down. Same leg on the way home on E-15 was 14.7. Was up to 15.0 for my Quaker City round trip this weekend.

That is odd. I thought Ethanol has less power per gallon vs Gasoline. Therefore more Ethanol has to be burned to create the same power per compression stroke?

What if the extra power of the Ethanol more than offset the timing that has to be pulled on hills using 87 octane? Just a thought.

Michael, is the 87 100% gas?

quote:

I thought Ethanol has less power per gallon vs Gasoline. Therefore more Ethanol has to be burned to create the same power per compression stroke?

It takes 147% of total gas jet area to run E-85 instead of gasoline in a carburetor.??
Yes, the BTU per pound is way off of gasoline values.

quote:

Originally posted by CURTIS REED:
Michael, is the 87 100% gas?

No, the standard E-10.

We used to really perk up Dodge truck 318's and 360's with bigger carburetor jets and a re-curve of the distributor advance.
Lean Burn eliminator kits were handy to have around for the passenger 400's.