Diesel is on the road again making its way towards the U.S. captal for the Washington Auto Show. The mighty Audi A3 TDI powered by 100 percent synthetic RenDiesel is the perfect example of what we could all be driving in the very near future instead of puny electric vehicles and wimpy gas ones. Hopefully the mainstream media and masses will pick up on this diesel development like they latched on to the electric car (which will end up biting them in the butt because battery-electrics have unresolved issues diesel is the better option in 80 percent of situations).     

Day 4

OK, I got a late start today.  It snowed last night and I wanted to wait for the roads to clear some before I started.  Also, I wanted to take my family out for dinner and got home late.  So, with traffic in Aurora, and other issues, I got out on the road at 9:30 a.m.  It was 9 degrees F this morning, and the car was frozen to the point where the windshield wipers were iced over and nothing could clear them.  So I had to wait until a car wash was open and we could get the ice off.  Pointless effort to clean the car though as there was still salt and water on the road, so the car is a mess again.

I was cruising at 80 in Colorado and got about 41 MPG on level highway, and in Kansas, where the speed limit drops to 70, I was cruising at 75 and got around 43 MPG.  Cannot complain about the fuel economy.  But I had to watch it in Kansas as there were at least 4 radar traps that I saw, and maybe a few I didn’t.  It pays to not speed (too much) and let others be bait!

I have called Molle Audi in KC and they have the fuel that we sent in advance.  I will need all 15 gallons they have as it is 600 miles from Denver to KC.

It is 4:30 p.m. now and I am in Russell, KS, so I need to get on the road again as I have about 220 more miles to drive today.  I will be in a Holiday Inn Express tonight and refuel tomorrow for a slightly shorter drive to Louisville, KY.  Hope the weather tomorrow is as good as it was today.  Clear skies and dry roads.

More about the performance of the Audi when I stop.

Well, I made it to Overland Park, KS, just about out of Oz.  It was a very long drive, but we (the Audi and I) made it fine. I really pushed the fuel tank to the limit driving here.  I hit zero MPG outside of Topeka, and used 3 gallons of the fuel I am carrying for emergency.  I was really pushing it to go over 600 miles on one tank, and starting out in heavy traffic in a snow storm didn’t help fuel economy.
 
Since the start of the drive this morning, I averaged 37.9 MPG at an average speed of 66 MPH.  I was able to cruise at 80 in Colorado, but had to slow down for Kansas.  They patrol Hwy 70 very well!  For this tank, since filling up at our Commerce City Pilot Plant (Rentech Energy Technology Center!) I averaged 56 MPH (which shows how slow I was going the first 20 miles) and 37 MPG. 
 
Although I cheated a little, the driving range of the Audi TDi is outstanding.  With most of the driving at 75-80 MPH, the range is about 540 miles.  Plus, I was comfortable and not overly tired for being in the car for over 10 hours.  I missed the Oz Museum in Wamego, KS, but I did see a lot of Kansas oil wells!  And a few wind turbines, but they were stopped (no wind!).
 
So off to Molle Audi where Gregg Shull is going to help refuel the car tomorrow morning.  It should take all of the 15 gal of RenDiesel we sent them.  They are really great to help us with this effort.  Just like all the other Audi dealers that have been there when I needed them—Santa Monica Audi, Desert Audi in Las Vegas, and Blue Grass Audi in Louisville, KY. I will be there tomorrow!
 
So, RenDiesel and Audi deliver!  Can’t beat the mileage of the fuel or the vehicle. 
 
I will be off earlier tomorrow as the weather in KC, is nice, but really cold.
Dr. Bob in Oz