Keith,
You are not the only one. I have just been waiting for this to
happen and quite frankly I am suprised it has taken as long as this to
arise. I believe this is always going to be a problem with small scale
production but at the same time I am most definitely for small scale
production as I see this area being of most help to the initial producer and
being able to quickly feed back the benefits to those it can most benfit. I
do not wish to see the industry concentrated into the hands or as an adjunct
of the big oil companies whose record over the last 100 years speaks for
itself showing a history of exploitation, abuse, and denial of the rights of
the individual and minor countries. At the same time I believe anyone who
is manufacturing and onselling for profit should have a moral and legal
responsibility to produce and provide biodiesel to an acceptable standard.
This is why I would like to see any manufacturer anywhere bound by minimum
legal standards which can be upheld and enforced.
B.r., David
----- Original Message -----
From: Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 6:56 PM
Subject: [biofuel] Coco-diesel - Engine repair claims turned down
> I've been expecting something like this. I've had doubts that this
> SVO mixture that's being misnamed "biodiesel" would escape the need
> for a dual-fuel system. This could do a lot of harm. Not cleaning the
> filters either. Mess. :-(
>
> Keith Addison
> Journey to Forever
> Handmade Projects
> Tokyo
> http://journeytoforever.org/
>
>
>
>
> Engine repair claims turned down
>
> Bangkok Post 28 May 2001
> Carmakers, insurers want fuel regulated
> Walailak Keeratipipatpong
> Santan Santivimolnat
>
> Motorists keen to use biodiesel as fuel are thinking twice as
> carmakers and insurance companies are refusing to take responsibility
> for engine damage.
>
> Repair guarantees and insurance will not cover the damage until
> specifications of alternative fuels are set by regulators, the
> companies say.
>
> A Nakhon Pathom motorist, Praphan Morakotchinda, 26, is a test case.
> The employee of a private company filled the tank of his Ford Ranger
> pickup with 16 litres of biodiesel, which cost him 200 baht from a
> filling station in Sampran district.
>
> When he turned on the ignition, the engine started working but the
> car did not move. He added more diesel oil to the tank, but to no
> avail.
>
> A technician inspected the engine and told him to replace the filter,
> which was full of dirt and grease. However, the pickup would not
> budge until all the fuel had been pumped out and replaced by
> undiluted diesel oil.
>
> The owner of the service station told Mr Praphan that he had bought
> the biodiesel from Samut Sakhon. The mixture contained 30% diesel oil
> and 70% coconut oil.
>
> As the pickup was still covered by a sales warranty, Mr Praphan asked
> whether his car dealer would replace the filter at no charge. The
> dealer refused. As well, Mr Praphan's insurance company declined to
> pay the cost of replacing the filter.
>
> Insurance industry spokesmen say they are worried there will be a
> rash of claims resulting from the increasing use of many types of
> blended fuels, none of which are covered by regulations.
>
> Nopadol Santipakorn, vice-chairman of the auto insurance group of the
> General Insurance Association, said engine damage caused by the use
> of non-regulated petroleum products would not be covered by insurance.
>
> "Insurance covers damage to the bodywork and engine in an accident,
> not the use of fuels other than those specified in the driver's
> manual."
>
> If a motorist wanted additional coverage for alternative fuels, it
> could be obtained through buying a special insurance policy against
> damage by innovations and inventions. New types of drugs, tyres and
> fuel would fall in this category, he said.
>
> Noravat Suwan, head of the Insurance Department, said that under
> current regulations "vehicle-friendly" biodiesel must be at least 90%
> diesel oil, the other ingredient being purified palm or coconut oil,
> as stated by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand.
>
> An employee of Tri Petch Isuzu Sales Co, the country's biggest seller
> of light trucks, said the company would accept claims only if the
> vehicle had been used according to the conditions specified in the
> warranty.
>
> He said that no industry organisation or state agency had yet
> certified biofuels, especially biodiesel, as suitable for auto
> engines. Therefore, it was difficult to accept repair claims.
> However, the company would check whether the breakdown was due to
> biofuels or defective engine parts.
>
> A mechanic at Toyota Mahanakhorn Co, a major Toyota dealer in
> Bangkok, said he could not confirm whether the warranty was
> invalidated if Toyota trucks were powered by biofuels.
>
> "For any claim that is outside the warranty conditions, the dealers
> have to consult the carmakers," he said. The warranty terms for
> Toyota pickups stated that only diesel fuel with a cetane value of 45
> or higher could be used. Cetane improves combustion efficiency to
> increase power in diesel engines.
>
> Mingkwan Saengsuwan, spokesman for Toyota Motor Thailand Co, said he
> could not confirm the company's position on the issue as it was for
> senior policy makers to decide.
>
> A senior staff member at MMC Sittipol Co, the Mitsubishi distributor,
> said that the company could not accept claims for breakdowns caused
> by alternative fuels until the industry was properly regulated.
>
> Komkrit Nongswadi, spokesman for Ford Sales Thailand Co, said that in
> general, if motorists breached warranties that stipulated only fossil
> fuels could be used, claims would be refused.
>
> Many car companies have upgraded their warranties to three years or
> 100,000 kilometres.
>
>
>
> Biofuel at Journey to Forever:
> http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html
> Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address.
> To unsubscribe, send an email to:
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
Biofuel at Journey to Forever:
http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html
Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address.
To unsubscribe, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
