22 - Friday, February 17, 1989 - North Shore News

Gaseous fuels are proven and reliable

NATURAL GAS and _ propane, known as the gaseous fuels, today account for a small proportion (about 1.5 per cent) of all the fuel used in Canadian vehicles.

Their potential, however, is almost limitless.

As the cost of gasoline continues to rise, matural gas and propane will become even more attractive in economic terms. Growing public awareness of the benefits of these clean, safe and reliable fuels will further contribute to significant expansion of this market over the next 10 to 20 years.

There are impressive advantages to filling the tank with natural gas, especially if you operate fleet vehi- cles or drive your personal automobile often. Canada has large reserves of natura! gas, which

Civic wagons versatile .

From page 21

pabilities. Both the DX and LX models are powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, 92-horsepower engine with dual-point fuel injection.

Distinctive and versatile describes the 1989 Civic Wagon line, which for the first time offers an available automatic transmis- sion featuring a super-low first gear and Sport-shift mode on the Real Time (R) four-Whee!-Drive version. Smooth and aerodynamic, both the 2WD and 4WD Wagons retain their distinctive Civic styling and engineering, while offering spacious cargo capacity and pas-

room.

The 2WD Wagon is powered by the 1.5-litre, 16-valve engine with dual-point fue} injection, which provides 92 horsepower. A five-

manue! transmission is stan- dard, with a four-speed automatic transmission also available with power-assisted steering.

Standard features on all of the

"1989 Civic Wagons include an ad-

justable steering column, a rear window wiper/washer, and ad- justable front and rear head restraints. Also featured as stan- dard equipment are adjustable up- per front seat belt anchors, reclin- ing front seatbacks, rear seat heat- er ducts and child-proof rear door locks.

The versatile 4WD Wagon is powered by a 1.6-litre, SOHC 16- valve engine with mu'ti-point fuel injection developing 108 horse- power. A six-speed manual transmission with extra-low (first gear is standard. New for 1989 is an automatic transmission featur- ing a low-hold and driver select Sport mode. The Sport or ‘'S” position directs the transiaission to upshift at higher rpm than when it is placed in the aormal ‘‘Drive”’ or “DP” position. All-season tires on 14inch painted wheels are stan- dard equipment on the 1989 Civic

is cheaper than gasoline, burns more cleanly and offers longer engine life.

Today, there are more than 18,000 vehicles in Canada operating on natural gas. The ma- jority of these received conversion assistance grants of $500 under a federal government program.

Some provincial governments and most natural gas utilities also offer conversion incentives.

The average cost of converting an automobile to natural gas with a single storage cylinder (with the capacity to hold the equivalent of 20L of gasoline) is about $2,300. Larger vehicies such as full-size cars, pick-up ¢rucks or vans, usual- ly require two cylinders at a con- version cost of abeut $3,000.

With the government and in-

dustry incentives currently available, the actual cost of con- verting a vehicle to use natural gas is often considerably less.

The end result of a wise conver- sion decision will be money in the pocket of the motorist. For exam- ple, a driver who spends $150 a month on gasoline would recover a $2,000 conversion cost in less than two years. Taxis and other high- usage fleet vehicles can realize a total payback in as little as three months.

Two main factors should in- fluence your decision to convert to natural gas. The most important one is the annual distance you drive the vehicle or vehicles in question; the greater the number of kilometres, the more economical it is.

The relative price difference be- tween your existing fuel and natu- ra} gas is the second factor. The spread varies across Canada (natu- ral gas is not available in the Mari- times because the pipeline ends near Quebec City) but averages a 40 per cent savings for natural gas.

Availability has been the main obsiacle to establishing natural gas as an automotive fuel. Today, however, there are more than 120 natural gas fueling stations from Quebec to British Columbia, mak- ing the fuel widely available in many urban areas,

This is due in part to federal government assistance providing a $50,000 taxable capital grant toward the estimated $250,000 to $300,000 cost of a natural gas fuel- ing station.

Propane, a fuel extracted from natural gas, is also ideal for high usage vehicles in urban areas. In Canada, approximately 140,000 vehicles currently run on propane, a fuel that has an impressive track record around the world,

Propane is widely available in Canada, with between 4,000 and 5,000 stations across the country. Propane fueling station facilities are relatively inexpensive to install, costing only about $35,000.

About 50 per cent of Canada’s propane powered vehicles operate in Ontario, which boasts an exten- Sive network of fueling stations. In fact, there are more propane sta- tions in Ontario than there are diesel refueling stations.

Seo Maintenance Page 23

Join us this weekend as we celebrate

THE NORTH Saturday, February 18 Sunday, February 19

Since 1969, we’ve been giving the North Shore the Best Deals anywhere on Chevrolets, Oldsmobiles and GM Trucks. Drop in this weekend and we'll show you why we're #4.

WE'LL BEAT ANY PRICE!

ON NEW CHEVS, OLDS & GM TRUCKS

PLUS

if you test drive or buy

ie a NEW or USED

car we will

LOCATION SATURDAY 10AM - 4PM

WITH

\ TERRY MOORE

NORTH VANCOUVER'S

FINEST SELECTIO

FOF USED o™

BAR-B-Q HOT DOGS

HAMBURGERS COLD DRINKS

ALL PROCEEDS TO

donate a duck or ducks in your nam

4WD Wagon. eeReal Time (R) 4-Wheei Drive delivers the benefits of four-wheel traction automatically, with no ac- tion required on the part of the driver, The front and rear dif- ferentials are connected by driveshafts and a viscous coupling. When greater traction is re- quired — in deep snow or mud, for example — this coupling automatically engages and delivers power to the rear wheels as well as to the front wheels. Under normal driving conditions, the 4WD Wagon runs in conventional - front-wheel drive, providing greater fuel economy.

All 1989 Honda automobiles feature Honda's new 5-year, 100,000 kilometre comprehensive warranty.

BE DONATED TO CHARITY COURTESY OF CARSON GRAHA SCHOOL

” GREAT CAPILANO RIVER DUCK RACES SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19