Community Forums

PandS · 12-19-2018, 03:37 PM

Fuel prices are based on a very simple premise;

"ALL THE TRAFFIC WILL BEAR!"

-Paul

dezolen · 12-19-2018, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandS

Fuel prices are based on a very simple premise;

"ALL THE TRAFFIC WILL BEAR!"

-Paul

Just travelled from Michigan to Tucson
Diesel was anywhere from 75 to 1.25 more than gas.

RiverBurt · 12-19-2018, 05:49 PM

Is it really fair to always be comparing Diesel to the lowest-octane petrol available? I think not. I have four petrol vehicles, and they all prefer high-test. Sure, they’ll run on crap gasoline, but only because the ECU adjusts the timing to prevent knocking, losing torque and efficiency.

Around here, Diesel is the same price as 91-octane petrol, usually significantly less.

Bob_C · 12-19-2018, 05:53 PM

Diesel in Yuma today is $2.99

dezolen · 12-19-2018, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverBurt

Is it really fair to always be comparing Diesel to the lowest-octane petrol available? I think not. I have four petrol vehicles, and they all prefer high-test. Sure, they’ll run on crap gasoline, but only because the ECU adjusts the timing to prevent knocking, losing torque and efficiency.

Around here, Diesel is the same price as 91-octane petrol, usually significantly less.

Seriously grade of gas? Only vehicles I put premium in is BMW and Audi. The is nothing crap in regular grade gas. Believe what you want.

Beau388 · 12-19-2018, 06:10 PM

As of 12/19/18 the spot price for RBOB (reformulated gasoline is $1.38 and $1.79 for home heating oil (usually the same as diesel). Gotta add fed, state and local tax to the cost

EdInArk · 12-19-2018, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverBurt

Is it really fair to always be comparing Diesel to the lowest-octane petrol available? I think not. I have four petrol vehicles, and they all prefer high-test. Sure, they’ll run on crap gasoline, but only because the ECU adjusts the timing to prevent knocking, losing torque and efficiency.

Around here, Diesel is the same price as 91-octane petrol, usually significantly less.

We're comparing the V-10 Ford to diesel. The V-10 Ford runs just fine on 87 octane. My other five gasoline vehicles run fine on it too. I've got a motorcycle that generates 140 hp from a 1.3 liter engine on 87 octane. Now, if I could get that kind of performance per cubic inch out of 6.8 liters

RiverBurt · 12-19-2018, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezolen

Seriously grade of gas? Only vehicles I put premium in is BMW and Audi. The is nothing crap in regular grade gas. Believe what you want.

Then why do you put premium in them?

Not a matter of “belief”, matter of compression ratio, turbo boost, etc.

No, nothing “crap” in low-octane petrol. Poor choice of word on my part.

But low-octane fuel might as well be crap when used in an engine that can’t run as designed on anything less than 91.

I repeat my question: is it fair to always compare Diesel prices to low-octane prices?

It’s a question. I’m not familiar with the octane requirements of RV gassers, only turbocharged Subarus and high-compression V-twins.

If the RVs run their best on low-octane fuel, then the comparisons are fair. If not, they’re not.

dezolen · 12-19-2018, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverBurt

Then why do you put premium in them?

Not a matter of “belief”, matter of compression ratio, turbo boost, etc.

No, nothing “crap” in low-octane petrol. Poor choice of word on my part.

But low-octane fuel might as well be crap when used in an engine that can’t run as designed on anything less than 91.

I repeat my question: is it fair to always compare Diesel prices to low-octane prices?

It’s a question. I’m not familiar with the octane requirements of RV gassers, only turbocharged Subarus and high-compression V-twins.

If the RVs run their best on low-octane fuel, then the comparisons are fair. If not, they’re not.

Yes because every single late model gasser is a Ford V10 including the F250 I used to own only require 87 octane fuel and run absolutely fine. When I compare fuel cost it is diesel versus reg grade gas. I certainly don't know how they justify diesel fuel price these days.[emoji4]

PandS · 12-19-2018, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverBurt

Is it really fair to always be comparing Diesel to the lowest-octane petrol available? I think not. I have four petrol vehicles, and they all prefer high-test. Sure, they’ll run on crap gasoline, but only because the ECU adjusts the timing to prevent knocking, losing torque and efficiency.

Around here, Diesel is the same price as 91-octane petrol, usually significantly less.

I remember when diesel was cheaper than 87 octane gasoline. I'm sure I'm not the only one.... -Paul

TLGPE · 12-19-2018, 09:13 PM

Yep, two big factors kicked the price of diesel up. In the mid seventies during the gas crisis, the Fed added more taxes on diesel fuel to pay for...............whatever they wanted to.

Later on, the switch to ULSD requires much more refining costs. The result is higher diesel price. (And they can get it......)

One thing to note in Florida is that state law prohibits stations from selling fuel for less than distributor cost. That means that when wholesale costs go down, the pump price can't fall until the supplies are used up. The state claims that this prevents local gas price wars.

Around here in Florida, diesel is about $2.70 and regular gas is just over $2.00

That's all I know about that.......or much of anything, I guess.

Tom

powderman · 12-20-2018, 08:02 AM

A better way to compare gas to diesel is by btu per gallon. 120,000 for gas and 137,000 for diesel. Energy is what your buying.

grindstone01 · 12-20-2018, 08:46 AM

Higher diesel prices are more related to higher consumer demand. There are more commercial trucks on the road then ever before and personal diesel cars/trucks are also common now. Even most corner gas stations now sell diesel whereas 30 years ago the only place to get diesel was at truck stops.

Aggie97 · 12-20-2018, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindstone01

Higher diesel prices are more related to higher consumer demand. There are more commercial trucks on the road then ever before and personal diesel cars/trucks are also common now. Even most corner gas stations now sell diesel whereas 30 years ago the only place to get diesel was at truck stops.

As another poster mentioned, the federal tax on diesel is higher than gas (by $.06/gal.) so that is another factor contributing to the discrepancy. Plus, the vast majority of diesel vehicles are used in businesses (whether they be large trucks or pickups) so there aren't millions of cries of protest when diesel prices go up. Business either absorb the costs or, as we've seen in years past, they start adding fuel surcharges.