[13x05] July 19th, 2009

[13x05] July 19th, 2009

  • Total voters
    481
I suppose the carbon in bio-fuels was plucked out of the atmosphere more recently than the more traditional fossil fuels. If untapped and unburnt, the fossil fuels would remain as they were in the earth's crust, in a big carbon sink. Thanks, flydiscovery, for making me sound like an eco-mentalist.

Anyway, gave the ep a 9/10. A traditional TG episode is always appreciated. Have to echo OldSkoolGP's comment about the Bathurst though, it was just 8 seconds of rubber burning porn and didn't do anything to deepen the character development of the 944/Caprice/300ZX.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Sienna Miller only appear in the GI Joe trailer shown before the Transformers 2 movie, and not in it?
 
flydiscovery said:
Explain this bit to me please. Biodiesel is still diesel and still undergoes a standard combustion reaction with CO2 as a byproduct. You still produce emissions, you just don't consume fossil fuels directly.
Click to expand...

Well, the eco-booster logic is that the CO2 released by the bio-fuel is re-absorbed by the plants from which the next batch of bio-fuel is made. "Cycle of life" and all that.
 
speedmeist3r said:
I suppose the carbon in bio-fuels was plucked out of the atmosphere more recently than the more traditional fossil fuels. If untapped and unburnt, the fossil fuels would remain as they were in the earth's crust, in a big carbon sink. Thanks, flydiscovery, for making me sound like an eco-mentalist.
Click to expand...

TopGearNorthAmerica said:
Well, the eco-booster logic is that the CO2 released by the bio-fuel is re-absorbed by the plants from which the next batch of bio-fuel is made. "Cycle of life" and all that.
Click to expand...

Errr, I actually DO consider myself an environmentalist. I turn off lights, recycle, reuse, conserve my driving, and all those things (although I do wander off on long day drives on the weekends, whoops), but I am a trained scientist. Those both sound like rubbish excuses to me! I don't buy it.
 
OK, ok. No internal combustion engine produces zero C02. BUT, biodiesel and waste vegetable oil produce a hell of a lot less than petroleum based diesel. I am not a scientist so I can't explain all the technical reasons why because I don't speak the language weel enough, but I know a lot of it comes down to the lubricity. Biodiesel and waste veggie oil have much higher lubricity than petroleum based diesel. The additive package they have to put in petroleum based diesel to give it enough lubricity to work in a modern engine is what contributes a lot to the C02 and NOx emissions.

Anyway, this is not the thread to have a deep discussion about this in. I'd be happy to talk about it in a more apppropriate section. Also, I was wrong about Siena. It was GI joe. I can't keep all the crappy comic book movies straight. :)
 
Last edited:
All biofuels definitely produce emissions of CO2 and other funky stuff. They can be considered carbon neutral or carbon positive if the amount of CO2 emitted in production of the fuel and its subsequent use is less than the CO2 absorbed by the plants/seeds/etc. during their growth. It can be done but you have to consider everything that goes into making the fuel... like if you harvest the source stock with a tractor running on petrodiesel, then transport it to the processor in a petrodiesel truck, then heat the processor using coal or gas derived electricity, you'll quickly go into carbon-negative territory.

Biodiesel has less sulphur than petrodiesel and produces less particulates (ie. smog and soot) but more nitrogen oxide. It also contains less power per given quantity than petrodiesel, so all things being equal you'd get worse fuel economy, but because it has a higher cetane rating (kinda like octane rating for diesel) you can use a higher compression ratio or more turbo boost to compensate and get more power out of a smaller engine. It's the same for ethanol.

I can't wait to get my Merc diesel on biodiesel and see it and ethanol as a bridging technology for the next 10-20 years. Unlike battery electrics and unlike H2 fuel cells converting an existing ICE car to ethanol or biodiesel is cost efficient (more so than LPG, for example). Eventually we'll see all manufacturers making biofuel ICE+plugin battery electric vehicles and dedicated battery electrics, initially shorter range vehicles for city use, then as full ICE replacements when the storage technology advances enough.

I personally think it will be a battery electric or ultracapacitor world in 30 years time, unless the oil companies get their way and force hydrogen on us. The good thing about ethanol and biodiesel is that we'll get a few more years of real engines that rev and make nice noises. And because biofuel works better with forced induction, all our cars will be turbo or supercharged! ;-)
 
i havent lol'd in a TG episode for a while...

couldnt stop every time they said "Jhaaaaaaghhh"

made it a 10 for me :lol:

excellent old-school challenge, plenty of cocking about, good reviews, funny news... TG dont get better than this i reckon
 
Last edited:
Jeremy Clarkson said:
No one believes anything they ever see on television any more. No one believes we were attacked by a gang of crazies in an Alabama petrol station.
Click to expand...

That's the thing, though. We never saw any such attack, on TV or otherwise.
 
shellygrrl said:
Hamster has worn the FG helmet on-camera. Twice (10x03 and 10x06). Now he uses it at home. (One of the members reported that he still uses it, and had used it while motorcycling.)
Click to expand...

I know he had it on the erlier seasons, just was wondering why doesn't he uses it now. But now You explaind it to me, thanks.

:)
 
wikkedsnaab said:
All biofuels definitely produce emissions of CO2 and other funky stuff. They can be considered carbon neutral or carbon positive if the amount of CO2 emitted in production of the fuel and its subsequent use is less than the CO2 absorbed by the plants/seeds/etc. during their growth. It can be done but you have to consider everything that goes into making the fuel... like if you harvest the source stock with a tractor running on petrodiesel, then transport it to the processor in a petrodiesel truck, then heat the processor using coal or gas derived electricity, you'll quickly go into carbon-negative territory.

Biodiesel has less sulphur than petrodiesel and produces less particulates (ie. smog and soot) but more nitrogen oxide. It also contains less power per given quantity than petrodiesel, so all things being equal you'd get worse fuel economy, but because it has a higher cetane rating (kinda like octane rating for diesel) you can use a higher compression ratio or more turbo boost to compensate and get more power out of a smaller engine. It's the same for ethanol.
Click to expand...

Now THIS is an explanation I will buy. +1 to you good sir.
 
/\ /\
Wow there are some clever persons on here :D
Plissken, are you pissed offthat wikkedsnaab got the latest marina gif before you? ;)
 
Overall the weakest episode of the season.
The cheap RWD car challenge didnt pick up until the 2 part - which were somewhat amusing.
I think they need to rethink those challenges, now its just same old same old.
SIRPC was the worst since they did the experiment of 2 SIRPC at the same time. A pretty face is not enough...

The Jag vs M5 was ok, but felt like it was put together in a rush (which it probably were - reading topgear.com)

Lets hope that this season pick up pace in the two last episodes, cause right now - its in my lower half of Top gear season history.
 
ozgirl said:
Plissken, are you pissed offthat wikkedsnaab got the latest marina gif before you? ;)
Click to expand...

Nah... I think that Careless Piano Removal Company need the advertising and wikkedsnaab is quite clearly another satisfied customer.
 
shellygrrl said:
As for the "shit box" thing...Brits, can you say "shit" before the watershed now? Or can it escape the censors if it's coupled with another word, ("shit box", "shit disturber"; but not "bullshit")?
Click to expand...
"Shit" is officially PG-level swearing in the UK - you need to go stronger if you want a gratuitous 12A/12 certificate in the cinema/on video.
 
8/10 for me.

I enjoy the cheap car challenges. It's nice to be reminded that you don't need to shell out thousands of dollars to have fun in a car. I think a lot of fun could be had with the 944 S2 before it was run into the ground.

I have a suspicion that they never showed Hammond doing a complete lap in his Datsun because it would have beaten the Stig's time, and that's simply not allowed.

I liked the comparison of the XFR to the M5. The nerd against the Jyaaaag.

Although I'm not sure on the looks of the new Jag they talked about in the news. It looked as if the tail lights ran straight up over the boot. Not sure about that. A bit too curvy in the wrong place, I think.

The second half of the challenge was great fun. I lost it when I saw Jeremy's "Les Bien Hat" on the door with a picture of a cat's head. I couldn't stop laughing at that. I'd liked to have seen a bit more footage of the boys working on their cars before the race. Maybe that's something they could put up on topgear.com.
 
oxi said:
stupid question, but isn't the bmw 1 series a rwd also?
Click to expand...

The Andros Trophy cars (those "hatchbacks") only share the bodyshell with the production models. Everything else is custom-built, new chassis, new drivetrains, new suspension and so on. They're all mid-engined, 4WD, 4-wheel-steer monsters, and they only have small top speeds due to short gear ratios and because there's no need for a higher top speed on an ice track.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top