Diesel prices

[deSanford]

The Chevron GAS station on the corner by my house was $4.25 last Sunday, and during the week it went up each day to now it is $4.49 9/10. deSanford PS my retirement didn't go up. With less money for the average person to spend on other things we could end up in another "great recession". I'm not really sure we are out of the one we were "in". deSanford

[rpasetto]

Without getting into politics and political statements it's hard to discuss this issue. The more crude we produce from wells here, the faster pipelines other mechanisms can deliver crude here and the more coal and natural gas is used as an energy source the less inflation we'll have. Perhaps, even the so called "speculation" will taper off as oil/energy futures prices will be affected by increased availability.

To those that say that more drilling will not drop the price of fuel... well... sure... immediately that is. However the better we can extract, deliver and refine our fuel the better off we'll be. Fossil fuels need to be around until realistic, cost effective "green" solutions are developed. Meanwhile, clean diesel can be produced from our abundant coal sources... but someone has to invest in the technology and do it.

[RVNeophytes2]

Originally Posted by deSanford

The Chevron GAS station on the corner by my house was $4.25 last Sunday, and during the week it went up each day to now it is $4.49 9/10. deSanford PS my retirement didn't go up. With less money for the average person to spend on other things we could end up in another "great recession". I'm not really sure we are out of the one we were "in". deSanford

Howdy from Tokyo, free spirits!

Wanna talk price of gas? Come look at THESE pumps. Holy cow...

There was some predictable snark on the other gas prices thread, I set out to see what the truth is, using inflation-adjusted dollars, then labor-at-minimum wage as measures.

It was a fun exercise, albeit one that pales to burning a little diesel with DW and the puppies.

In the nutshell, Americans have always paid $2.85 a gallon for gas, since cars started to clog our dirt streets (not much infrastructure back then).

Price spikes were in 1981 and Summer 2008, the latter between $4 and $5 per gallon in today's bucks.

One of the lowest-ever prices came in January 2009, believe it or not.

Here's the whopper: minimum wage workers (since the 1938 law took effect) have consistently been able to buy a gallon of gas with 30 minutes' labor.

In the Lone Star state, minimum wage is $7.25. Gas is $3.46 this week in my little hamlet.

So, even at that inflated price, we're right on track.

Now, comes the REAL fun: our cars get TWICE the mileage, on the average, as those in the 1960s. So, even at high prices due to tension in the Mideast and seasonal swings, an hour at minimum wage today gets more miles than ever before.

Small consolation for those of us who choose to burn dead dinosaurs at the rate of a 1970s muscle car; but, that is our choice

[IMDSailor]

Diesel in Nova Scotia, Canada 1.38 Cdn/ltr or $5.22/ US Gal or $6.27/ Imp Gal. The US and Canadian dollar at par. Gas is a couple of cents/ltr cheaper than diesel.

[Coma]

Originally Posted by RVNeophytes2

Howdy from Tokyo, free spirits!

Wanna talk price of gas? Come look at THESE pumps. Holy cow...

There was some predictable snark on the other gas prices thread, I set out to see what the truth is, using inflation-adjusted dollars, then labor-at-minimum wage as measures.

It was a fun exercise, albeit one that pales to burning a little diesel with DW and the puppies.

In the nutshell, Americans have always paid $2.85 a gallon for gas, since cars started to clog our dirt streets (not much infrastructure back then).

Price spikes were in 1981 and Summer 2008, the latter between $4 and $5 per gallon in today's bucks.

One of the lowest-ever prices came in January 2009, believe it or not.

Here's the whopper: minimum wage workers (since the 1938 law took effect) have consistently been able to buy a gallon of gas with 30 minutes' labor.

In the Lone Star state, minimum wage is $7.25. Gas is $3.46 this week in my little hamlet.

So, even at that inflated price, we're right on track.

Now, comes the REAL fun: our cars get TWICE the mileage, on the average, as those in the 1960s. So, even at high prices due to tension in the Mideast and seasonal swings, an hour at minimum wage today gets more miles than ever before.

Small consolation for those of us who choose to burn dead dinosaurs at the rate of a 1970s muscle car; but, that is our choice

Nice Post! Although, injecting facts into and emotional discussion can have unintended consequences.

Seriously, I plan 50 cents a mile for fuel. If fuel goes from $4.00 to $5.00 I have to plan 62.5 cents per mile. On a 3000 mile trip the difference is $375.00. If you spend 10k a year on ownership costs, then 3 trips a year is a 10% change. While I don't like, it I'm not going to let it ruin the the joy of RVing.

[rpasetto]

Originally Posted by RVNeophytes2

Howdy from Tokyo, free spirits!

Wanna talk price of gas? Come look at THESE pumps. Holy cow...

There was some predictable snark on the other gas prices thread, I set out to see what the truth is, using inflation-adjusted dollars, then labor-at-minimum wage as measures.

It was a fun exercise, albeit one that pales to burning a little diesel with DW and the puppies.

In the nutshell, Americans have always paid $2.85 a gallon for gas, since cars started to clog our dirt streets (not much infrastructure back then).

Price spikes were in 1981 and Summer 2008, the latter between $4 and $5 per gallon in today's bucks.

One of the lowest-ever prices came in January 2009, believe it or not.

Here's the whopper: minimum wage workers (since the 1938 law took effect) have consistently been able to buy a gallon of gas with 30 minutes' labor.

In the Lone Star state, minimum wage is $7.25. Gas is $3.46 this week in my little hamlet.

So, even at that inflated price, we're right on track.

Now, comes the REAL fun: our cars get TWICE the mileage, on the average, as those in the 1960s. So, even at high prices due to tension in the Mideast and seasonal swings, an hour at minimum wage today gets more miles than ever before.

Small consolation for those of us who choose to burn dead dinosaurs at the rate of a 1970s muscle car; but, that is our choice

The 1950 Chevrolet 4door sedan I remember got around 24mpg. My dad's 1050 Chrysler got about 18-20 mpg on the highway trips we took to/from Long Island. a Buick about 20mpg. That's a full size car weighing in at around 4000# +. I don't know any such cars getting 40mpg these days... perhaps a Fiat 500 or a Prius but that's comparing oranges to grapes.
1950 Chrysler (U.S.) Windsor Sedan specs, performance, photo & data
1950 Buick 50 (Super) Sedan specs, performance, photo & data

[Gary RVRoamer]

Those vintage of cars were more like 14-16 mpg as I remember it. My 48 Dodge 6 cylinder coupe was 16 mpg, but that had a fluid clutch and wasn't the most efficient. My 56 Olds rarely saw 16 on a good day, and my 62 Pontiac Bonnevile ragtop ran pretty much at 14 mpg whether town or country. Ditto for a 66 Firebird. I had a '74 Datsun 260Z stick shift that got 24 mpg pretty consistently, though. And an 60's vintage Fiat 850 Spyder that ran 38-42 mpg!
My 2007 Acadia gets 14 mpg in town and 19 mph highway, so not a lot of improvement over the 60's (though it is a 4900 lb vehicle).

[RVNeophytes2]

Originally Posted by rpasetto

The 1950 Chevrolet 4door sedan I remember got around 24mpg. My dad's 1050 Chrysler got about 18-20 mpg on the highway trips we took to/from Long Island. a Buick about 20mpg. That's a full size car weighing in at around 4000# +. I don't know any such cars getting 40mpg these days... perhaps a Fiat 500 or a Prius but that's comparing oranges to grapes.

That's some great mileage. Of course, we need to look at averages, and not individual cars. 'Remember VW bugs in the 1960s? High mileage, but there weren't many out there. My little 600D was so rare in 1974 that virtually all my friends had never even heard of the car 'til they saw mine.

So, it's the average. HERE is a good place to start, you'll see the steep upswing in mileage, just in the last 5 decades. And, as the publishers point out, better attained mileage due to better roads, as America developed a more efficient infrastructure.

So, the charts steep rise is multiplied by more efficient usage: if we could poll Americans' average gas consumption on the basis of miles driven, it would exagerate the difference even more.

(Many cars now get 40 mpg or better. Article is here. Lots that aren't listed do, when driven carefully (hypermiling techniques excluded).)

[rpasetto]

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

Those vintage of cars were more like 14-16 mpg as I remember it. My 48 Dodge 6 cylinder coupe was 16 mpg, but that had a fluid clutch and wasn't the most efficient. My 56 Olds rarely saw 16 on a good day, and my 62 Pontiac Bonnevile ragtop ran pretty much at 14 mpg whether town or country. Ditto for a 66 Firebird. I had a '74 Datsun 260Z stick shift that got 24 mpg pretty consistently, though. And an 60's vintage Fiat 850 Spyder that ran 38-42 mpg!
My 2007 Acadia gets 14 mpg in town and 19 mph highway, so not a lot of improvement over the 60's (though it is a 4900 lb vehicle).

Ditto here, but I am talking about pure highway driving, not a mix... e.g out of the city to the highway then back in thru another city.

My Buick Enclave gets 20-22 on a pure highway trip; 14-16 in local trips, unless traffic drives that figure even lower.

My point is, not to split hairs about 16, 18 or 20 mpg but rather that the cars of today are marginally better, if at all. And the 10% alcohol in most gasoline only makes things worse. It's nothing less than exaggeration to say that today's cars get twice the mpg of those of yesteryear.

[rpasetto]

Originally Posted by RVNeophytes2

That's some great mileage. Of course, we need to look at averages, and not individual cars. 'Remember VW bugs in the 1960s? High mileage, but there weren't many out there. My little 600D was so rare in 1974 that virtually all my friends had never even heard of the car 'til they saw mine.

So, it's the average. HERE is a good place to start, you'll see the steep upswing in mileage, just in the last 5 decades. And, as the publishers point out, better attained mileage due to better roads, as America developed a more efficient infrastructure.

So, the charts steep rise is multiplied by more efficient usage: if we could poll Americans' average gas consumption on the basis of miles driven, it would exagerate the difference even more.

(Many cars now get 40 mpg or better. Article is here. Lots that aren't listed do, when driven carefully (hypermiling techniques excluded).)

Your reference... " HERE " is an activist political group... I thought we weren't going to get into politics ...

[rpasetto]

Originally Posted by RVNeophytes2

That's some great mileage. Of course, we need to look at averages, and not individual cars. 'Remember VW bugs in the 1960s? High mileage, but there weren't many out there. My little 600D was so rare in 1974 that virtually all my friends had never even heard of the car 'til they saw mine.

So, it's the average. HERE is a good place to start, you'll see the steep upswing in mileage, just in the last 5 decades. And, as the publishers point out, better attained mileage due to better roads, as America developed a more efficient infrastructure.

So, the charts steep rise is multiplied by more efficient usage: if we could poll Americans' average gas consumption on the basis of miles driven, it would exagerate the difference even more.

(Many cars now get 40 mpg or better. Article is here. Lots that aren't listed do, when driven carefully (hypermiling techniques excluded).)

Your reference... " HERE " is the PEW Environment Group an activist political organization... I thought we weren't going to get into politics ...

[deSanford]

Went out for a drive with the wife and looking at the "signs" of the time (gas station prices) it looks like a horse race with diesel in the lead today......$4.79 9/10s. deSanford it's a good thing I got a new motorhome with only a 100 gallon tank compared with my old one that had a 150 gallon diesel tank.

[rpasetto]

Diesel Here in Canyon Lk TX area up from the $3,70's to the $3.80's. I recall a few months ago when we were in the San Diego area diesel was not much higher than that... around $4 if I recall.

[Ramblin]

Originally Posted by jmr12

I everyone quit buying from Exxon Mobile,, would the price go down?

No.