Bugging Out / Survival

[John Smith]

I used to own and "operate"

some diesels that would run w/o any electrics involved...but if ur gonna go that route better be prepared to operate w/o modern computerized diesel technology...it's do-able but would take planning...choose your engines well and do your research about how they run...
and yes..they can run w/o "any" electrical influence if you have your ducks in line...but i wouldn't do it unless you had a fuel supply in mind...tween you and your friends..but definitely do-able...but it's a one trick pony..no diesel..no go...albeit it may run for a while with "less than usable fuel"..add a little atf if you do..and/or/a little used motor oil..

I think diesel is better, especially a simple mechanical injected diesel. While diesel fuel is not as common at inner city gas stations, if you're bugging out, you're sure to cross by many truck stops, farmers, and crops that could be turned into fuel just as easily as distilling to make ethanol.

 

[hoosier1104]

i'd be curious to know how many of you have tested your smoke detectors lately while you're piling up food and ammo for the apocalypse

I test mine once a month like clock work.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Bug Out Vehicle - Gas or Diesel? Which one would be easier to fuel later? I know you can find a heck of a lot more gas stations with gas than diesel. Of course, you'd need a pump & hose to get it out of the tanks.

A simple diesel would be ideal for a buggout, but once the batteries die it is a whole lotta dead weight.

I do wonder how long a person could keep a vehicle running without any outside support. No new oil, no new tires, no spark plugs or wires plain and simple no parts except what you planned for... and this would all likely be in very severe conditions. I know whatever broke would be some obscure thing that I would never thought of.

At first I thought instantly of my Allis C tractor. Carburated magneto, doesn't need a battery although I usually have one in it, not picky on fuel and very reliable. Slow, but 8mph road gear is still faster than trying to walk. It will pull like the little ox that it is and with a pto and belt pulley it would be an excellant powersource for something like a water pump. But even it would still need a set of plugs and fresh oil once in awhile. I would have to stage it where I wanted it beforehand though, it would be over 3 hours if I had to drive it where I would instictly want to be.

 

[John Smith]

whether gas or diesel...don't 4get...

to keep some "ether" (starting fluid)....it makes everything start well in all temps...from a gas generator to an 18 wheeler in below zero temps.."starting fluid".... a must have

 

[CHKNFKR]

to keep some "ether" (starting fluid)....it makes everything start well in all temps...from a gas generator to an 18 wheeler in below zero temps.."starting fluid".... a must have

Not on an engine you want to keep though, ether has a way of destroying rings and valves. If you use it on a diesel long enough, it won't have the compression to start without ether. An engine that won't start without ether is commonly refered to as an "ether baby" or as being "adicted to ether"

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Not on an engine you want to keep though, ether has a way of destroying rings and valves. If you use it on a diesel long enough, it won't have the compression to start without ether. An engine that won't start without ether is commonly refered to as an "ether baby" or as being "adicted to ether"

There are a lot of diesels that rolled out with an ether aid from the factory. Early John Deere diesels (10 and 20 series) had a thing in the dash you would push the can into and would feed the engine, later ones (and later Cases) had a thing mounted on the engine that would inject it remotely. Older Cases can crack the "power cells" with ether.

In my little book, a diesel that won't start in normal weather without ether is "shot". In winter... big deal (as long as it doesn't have glow plugs) Use it sparingly and you will be fine. People often use it as a bandaid for weak batteries and get into trouble that way.

We have a IH 656 (glowplug D282) in the shop right now somebody obviously hosed down with ether but nobody will admit to. Two injection pre-cups went through the engine and the other four are cracked.

 

[John Smith]

I get what you are saying about constant use but..

I thought what we were talking about were useful survival items and in that context I would include some starting fluid for general use myself. I have some now and i have actually used it in sub-zero temps to un-thaw a frozen "landing gear" on a remote trailer. All I had to do was spray some ether, ignite it with a lighter..and keep feeding it..to make quite a hot fire..to un-thaw a a frozen piece of ice-bound landing gear. .It reminds me of another useful tool not to be left out...the road flare. FUZEE. will make for a great fire source in an emergency...If you need to mount a tire in subzero conditions..a load of ether in a wheel..add flowing air..and a match.."poof"..the tire will seal to the rim making for possible inflation...a trick used daily by tire men in the frozen north..no, don't leave out the ether..and take a few extra cans...it is VERY useful....I have been very vocal..I should not post anymore for now...
Bless everyone in their personal survival planning...please find yourself prepared for the environment you find yourself in...

God Speed...

Not on an engine you want to keep though, ether has a way of destroying rings and valves. If you use it on a diesel long enough, it won't have the compression to start without ether. An engine that won't start without ether is commonly refered to as an "ether baby" or as being "adicted to ether"

 

[88_Eddie]

diesel lasts longer (untreated) as well. unleaded gas will start to break down after a year of sitting.

 

[CHKNFKR]

I just know as a diesel mechanic in the army, its not good stuff for diesel engines. 90% of the trucks i worked on for uncle same came from the factory with ether cans, you delivered the shot with the push of a button from the cab. We (the mechanics) removed every bottle from every truck we ever saw that still had one in it. When the drivers complained they couldn't start their truck, we'd send out the new guy to start them. Most of the time it was battery issues, sometimes it was iced over intakes, sometimes it was birds nests in the turbo, rarely was it anything fixable with ether.

That said, i have used it in a jam, but only in a jam, and very sparingly. Most of the manuals recomend no more than a three second shot, usually one second will do, if not its not the cold keeping it from starting.

 

[Hahnsb2]

I'll just blow my head off when the time comes and save myself a lot of trouble.

 

[snoranger]

That said, i have used it in a jam, but only in a jam, and very sparingly. Most of the manuals recomend no more than a three second shot, usually one second will do, if not its not the cold keeping it from starting.

Thats the key right there. If used in any engine SPARINGLY and only when needed, it wont cause engine damage or noticeably accelerated wear.

It does have other uses, and should be part of your supplies.

 

[CHKNFKR]

I'll just blow my head off when the time comes and save myself a lot of trouble.

I think many (particularly city folk) will take this route. It's not entirely a bad thing though. If people have the option to take the belongings of the dead, they won't be mugging those who are stil alive. I suppose that only holds true in the first few months, weeks maybe, but in that time while people haven't turned criminal yet those who will not turn criminal can safely bug out.

The already criminal are already out raiding and killing, be on the lookout for them!

 

[cody93]

i would stock up on synthetic oil and lots of filters.. eventually, i would try to dissasemble old filters and "clean" them out and reuse them.. yea, batteries only last so long, 10 years max if not maintained. only way to start them would be a dynamo out of an old car and a push start... if i were in such a situation, id raid the fried laptops for the lithium ion cells and run them in parallel. hopefully by 10 A.A. (after apacalypse), we as humans rediscover manufacturing and start reproducing basic things, like batteries, chemicals, cast iron parts, etc...

 

[CHKNFKR]

Learning to use everyday waste is key too. The example above of spraying down frozen landing gear with ether and lighting it on fire got me thinking "if it were lubed properly it wouldn't have frozen up" but in this post apocalyptic age everyday things like grease won't be everyday anymore. Then again maybe they will. If you raise your own meat, and make bacon a regular part of your diet (lets face it, everyone reading this would make bacon a part of their diet at any cost) you could use the grease for all sorts of wonderfull things!

 

[det107]

my grandparents can all sorts of stuff. they've shown me how to do it.

How about a thread on this 'canning' subject ?
BTW, Lucky Me that i wear leather boondockers & leather belt... I can eat that if survival becomes necessary-