low environmental impact things to do
 

I got asked this question on another thread and on Rennlist so...

First, is to minimize driving the car on high pollution days -- I have a ULEV SUV (Honda) and use that when it's real hot (hot air makes smog reactions go faster).

2nd - don't screw up existing pollution equipment

3rd - to lower pollution of most types for most cars - put in a stock 3.6 motor -- the Godzilla-like hp is "just another" benefit.



Should discuss Mitigation also...

I should have noted that CO2 emissions - a strong effector of global warming - will be increased by using a low mileage high hp motor or a low mileage SUV (my Honda Pilot gets about the same mpg as my 911 - due to the EFI on it).

The real way to cut out most air pollution is to walk or bike to work - this also helps the performance of the car by keeping the wt. of the driver lower than it might otherwise be...

re consumables - like oil, oil filters, air filters, brake fluid and the like

First - don't just waste your own time and oil, etc. by changing fluids every few hundred miles. You gain nothing.

2nd - Be sure to dispose of toxics carefully - that means brake fluid and used oil (not new oil), and oil filters, rags, etc. Here, they will pick up used oil curbside. Every city or town has a Haz. Waste disposal plan and many places that do oil changes will take your waste for free - call and ask.

This thread split off from the crazy K&N filter thread and that is likely the biggest adv. of K&N (oiled) filters over paper ones - it reduces the amt. of landfill space that is used up.

I always try to sell or give away used parts. If it is really worthless (somebody please take my V shaped oil cross-engine oil line form my 3.2L!!) then I take it to the county 'dump' (transfer station) where they will recycle all metals. For rubber you are SOL so just get as much used oil out as you can and landfill it (i.e. put it in the trash can).

Make friends with a shop that has a parts washer. This is a lot more fun than trying to clean cruddy stuff in your driveway and the solvent will get recycled.

I'll add a few if you don't mind Randy....

* Try to find acceptable work near to home. My wife and I both were commuters at one time. Now we both have jobs we love and are within minutes from home. Sure, it took us 5 years to get here, but here we are and the gas savings are huge (not to mention more time at home).

* Replace the SUV/big sedan/etc. with a motorcycle :-) My wife bought one on a whim after I bought my 911 and low and behold, I can't stay off the thing... Of course, now that it finally got down to 20 dgrees today :-(

* Ditch the fugly SUV and buy a sort-of fugly wagon...

Eric

Can you recycle used motor oil and brake fluid (or tranny fluid) in the same container (mix them)? Are they all considered the same "family" of petroleum products?

subscribed because I asked the question.

My biggest pet peeve is people removing cats from their car and adding low restriction muffler. Why not run no muffler and cats, net gain of flow is exactly the same or better, sound deadening is exactly the same or better but at least you aren't killing our air.

Replace your O2 sensor when the check OBDII system tells you to.

Don't forget this:
http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php

Buy and use biodegradable degreaser STOP using brake clean in large quantities

Also drive an aircooled car (slow the production of antifrezze)

good question

Mr 325I - try driving your three kids and their 3 friends to the high school or the football game or around town in anything less than an SUV.

ME, I like to get up close right next to a Prius and stomp on the loud pedal. The burst of mfi sound, hydrocarbons and speed is exhilerating!

I believe the Government itelf is a real obstacle - especially Calif govts. Basically, the laws that make the individual hotrodder (the guy they should be befriending) and instead alienate him with every imaginable criteria and guilt from smog referees. That is a$$ backwards to what should be going on.

They have now turned their greatest asset into their enemies - if you read some of the posts of guys upset about cats.
If the little guy was actually 'encouraged' to alter designs and 'encouraged' to experiment with a simpler and cleaner and lighter setup - much more progress would be achieved in a much
shorter time. For example, ENGINE SWAPS. Again, the attitude SHOULD be to encourage various swaps of all kinds WITHOUT all the bureaucratic nonsense and such that the little guy has to confront.

Apparently, you can't even register a new TDI in Ca. - even though they get fantastic mileage. Go figure... So you have these
agencies stifling creativity and putting thousands and thousands of new laws and restrictions on the books - instead of offering support to HELP someone with any conversion they desire. And if the laws offered a tax cut for any individual who kissed his orig motor goodbye and simplified the design - especially to an efficient higher milage motor - that would do much more than referees looking for "original cats in place" under the vehicles. In fact - it's THAT police state behavior which is actually a root cause to entrepreneurial design and innovation.

Think of the E A A. for a minute. (Experimental Aircraft) Do you think any of the individual innovations in aircraft would take place if they had lacked the freedom to experiment with multitudes of engineering ideas and innovation ?

Anyway, enough of the rant....since I guarantee you will NOT be hearing about the 'absence' of hotrodding in any of the coming elections. Can you ever imagine hearing Hillary or other politician speaking on behalf of that argument ? LOL.

_______________

'82 Targa - sold
'80 928

Repair oil leaks.

Drive a perfectly good car that is older than you.

If an electric car is being" plugged in" it consumes more energy and is worse on the environment then just a gas burner .....some may have to take a breath and step back from the key hole to fully understand the statement. Think about dams, energy to make these cars, the big picture etc.
They wont tell you this but the salmon shortage,(they really cant swim up a ladder too well -thats why the frantically have all these FED fish stocking hatcheries ) bear shortage and all kinds of bad things come from dams....but the masses will be brain washed into status Que thinking.
The electric car as is, is a night mare I.M.O.

Don't have kids. Having kids has a exponentially increasing impact on the environment. No kids and you can not only afford your Porsche, you can feel better about driving it.

So Randy you dumping your carbs now?

:)


Cheers

I'm sure you can put trans. oil and motor oil together. Not so sure re brake fluid, and it may depend on how the recycler in your area treats them. I would call the City or County Haz Waste Mgmt. Authority -- usually they are located at the 'dump' (transfer station) and ask.

Hint: Here they use people from the Mission/Salvation Army, so you might need to ask for a supervisor or the head of the place.