When Used Cars Are More Ecofriendly Than New Cars

Older cars have advantages! I drive a 1984 mercedes 300 turbodiesel with 330000+ miles on it and have it running with a Greasecar cooking oil conversion kit. The exhaust characteristics are a little different from cars that run conventional fuel, and this gives funny readings to the sensors inputting the computer that controls things like fuel/air mixture, etc. This results in the computer trying to modify these parameters to get back to the expected readings, which lowers performance. Same thing with water electrolysis units. The exhaust mixture is way off from conventional fuel, and the computer dumps more gas into the mix to correct it and performance goes down. These alternative technologies require "out-smarting" the computer to enjoy the benefits in late -model cars. Older cars don't have all this computer stuff and more readily accept these green modifications. I guess they're (the old cars) too dumb to know the difference.

Besides At 315,000 miles I'm arguing with my Dad about rebuilding my Pickup. It will cost me about $30,000 to replace it, or about $15,000 to do it myself and get exactly what I want.

And the little sensor that cost $100. is just $15. with the old thread size

Granted it only gets 17 mpg but a car just can't haul my tools and materials etc.

Brad

I remember having a 1962 Chevy Impala with 283 V-8 and average 22 mpg without trying. I have 1996 dodge neon with 4-cyl and average 18 mpg without half the performance.

**Interesting the spell checker insisted upon a capital "C" in Chevy but nonplussed for dodge