Wasteland Survivalist: A Scientific Guide to Post-Apocalyptic Survival

Gu Lang had watched the science program "MythBusters" and knew that bullets couldn't actually detonate fuel tanks like in the movies.

So he immediately opened the weapon cabinet next to him and took out several flame signal flare launchers.

Climb up to the top deck of the yacht and unscrew the cover marked "Launch Terminal".

Hold the signal flare launcher firmly with your left hand and pull out the bottom ring with your right hand.

After a quick aim, I pulled the trigger cable at the bottom sharply.

According to the instructions on the launch tube, there will be a delay of 1 to 2 seconds in the actual launch.

Taking advantage of this time difference, Gu Lang switched to gripping the launch tube tightly with both hands to increase the accuracy of the launch.

"call out--!"

A signal flare, trailing a dazzling light, flew straight out.

It landed 5 meters away from the car, turning the surrounding area a blood red.

Just then, the few berserkers at the forefront began to show themselves.

They almost crawled out through the gap between the car and the guardrail.

Gu Lang remained calm and quickly picked up the second launcher, adjusted the angle, and fired again.

"call out--!"

This time, the burning signal flare drew a precise parabola.

Like a shooting star, it struck the gasoline-soaked truck squarely.

"boom!!!"

A huge fireball suddenly rose up and instantly engulfed the entrance to the pier.

The raging fire, mixed with thick black smoke, formed a scorching defensive line.

The flames not only blocked the raging beasts' path but also ignited the open fuel tanks.

The large amount of remaining gasoline inside caused a deflagration.

The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the police car and most of the pier.

The narrow passage leading to the dock was perfectly sealed off.

Upon seeing this, Gu Lang immediately returned to the driver's cab and confirmed that the engine speed and temperature had reached their optimal operating conditions.

He decisively shifted into drive and pushed the accelerator lever.

With a turn of the steering wheel, the yacht deftly traced an arc and sailed away from the berth.

"Bang! Bang bang!"

A few sporadic gunshots rang out behind me, bullets whistling as they struck the nearby water, creating tiny jets of water.

The fire and thick smoke clearly greatly hampered the berserkers' shooting accuracy.

Upon discovering he was being shot at, he didn't hesitate to push the accelerator pedal all the way down.

The two diesel engines unleashed their full power, propelling the bow high into the air.

The yacht began to glide at high speed on the water at 32 knots.

Without hesitation, they rushed towards the darkened sea not far away.

Just as the yacht burst through the channel next to the breakwater and plunged into the vast ocean.

An even more violent explosion came from behind.

That was the final roar of the light truck's lithium battery pack being ignited by the raging fire.

Looking back, the towering flames illuminated the dock area, making it resemble hell.

It became the last and most intense imprint of this car on Gu Lang's retina.

"Good brother, thank you, farewell."

Gu Lang muttered a few words to himself, then turned the rudder to the right and headed southwest.

All the fear, weariness, and past, along with that burning flame.

They were left behind in the ever-deepening twilight.

After leaving the port and confirming it was safe, Gu Lang reluctantly pushed the accelerator lever down two notches.

The yacht's speed was adjusted to 15 knots, and fuel consumption finally decreased.

"Sailing at sea is really exhilarating, but the fuel costs are really high."

Gu Lang glanced at the fuel gauge with a pained expression.

After sailing more than 70 kilometers, he arrived at the outer waters of Changhai County.

It was completely dark, and the yacht's lights could only illuminate an area of ​​a few dozen meters in front of them.

Because there is no satellite positioning signal, the flight path cannot be determined.

The nautical charts on the screen should only be used as a reference.

Driving at night makes it very easy to run aground.

Gu Lang then turned off the engine and stopped at the nearest uninhabited island.

Then, the winch was turned on, and the fishing net that had been lowered ten minutes earlier was pulled up.

He figured that since the voyage would consume fuel anyway, if he could catch some fish on the open sea, he could have fresh fish for dinner.

Unfortunately, there were only a few small goby fish in the net, and the rest were just a few mantis shrimp.

Fortunately, the Geiger counter showed that the radiation levels of these fish and shrimp were normal.

After reaching the bow and confirming that no other ships were visible around, he lowered the anchor.

Climb to the open flybridge at the top of the yacht and look out; twenty kilometers away lies the only island county in Northeast China.

In the pitch black of night, it was impossible to see any details at all.

The absence of lights means that either the area is deserted or the situation is so dire that strict blackout measures are necessary.

In any case, approaching an area with unknown conditions in the dark is tantamount to suicide.

He decided to rest there and use the drone to conduct reconnaissance again at dawn the next day.

Back on the main deck, the last wisps of exhaust from the yacht still lingered in the air.

Besides the pungent smell of normal diesel compression ignition, there is also a pleasant aroma.

It tastes a bit like French fries, which is obviously due to the biodiesel.

Most diesel engines do not support pure biodiesel B100 and require a blend of petrochemical diesel to function properly.

B5 biodiesel with a content of 5% is safe for all diesel engines and is virtually imperceptible to the user.

The most widely used biodiesel is B20, which is supported by most mainstream diesel engines and strikes a balance between environmental benefits and compatibility.

The yacht's fuel tank now contains a mixture of 270 liters of petrochemical diesel and 350 liters of biodiesel.

It is proportionally close to B60 biodiesel.

Biodiesel has an energy density that is about 10% lower than that of petroleum diesel.

This means that power will decrease to some extent, and fuel consumption will increase.

However, there are also advantages.

Biodiesel has excellent lubricating properties, which is very beneficial for newer diesel engines.

It can protect precision components such as high-pressure fuel pumps and injectors.

However, if it's an old engine with a long service life, Gu Lang wouldn't dare add that much biodiesel to the fuel tank.

Older machines accumulate large amounts of gum and sludge formed from petrochemical diesel fuel in their fuel tanks and fuel lines.

When a high proportion of biodiesel is used for the first time, these deposits will be flushed off.

This can cause the fuel filter to become clogged quickly, resulting in reduced power or even engine stalling.

This is particularly dangerous when there is no new fuel filter available to replace it.

The fuel line seals, gaskets, and flexible hoses of older diesel engines may also be made of materials such as natural rubber and nitrile rubber.

Prolonged exposure to biodiesel can cause these materials to soften, swell, degrade, or even crack, leading to fuel leaks.

Fortunately, diesel engines manufactured after 2000 have switched to using more durable fluororubber and polytetrafluoroethylene.

For this new yacht, which is less than two years old, there is no need to worry too much about the high concentration of biodiesel in the short term.

Just find some petrochemical diesel to add and reduce the proportion.

In addition, biodiesel has two fatal drawbacks that make it unsuitable for large-scale storage.

Firstly, in low-temperature environments, biodiesel will begin to solidify and wax earlier than petrochemical diesel.

This can lead to poor fuel flow, making the engine difficult to start.

When used in cold regions, more pour point depressants are required.

Secondly, it has poor storage stability and a shelf life of only 6 months, which is only half that of ordinary petrochemical diesel.

As an organic product, it is prone to oxidation and deterioration upon contact with air, moisture, and microorganisms.

It forms sediment and acidic substances, damaging the fuel tank and engine.