*** is diesel fuel so $$$$

[chgofirefighter]

I used to remember when diesel was the cheapest fuel around, now $4.20 and up a gallon is freaking ridiculous!! Suburban pricing is much better at $3.99 sometimes less but damn... Diesel is not as processed as regular fuel, so why in the hell is diesel so pricey!? In terms of fuel economy diesel is better but I guess that supply in demand, demands more $$$ from consumer... What a scam!!

 

[danthemanohhyea]

Home heating oil plays into the price of diesel if I recall correctly. A cold, long winter probably has something to do with it if I'm correct, which I don't guarantee.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Slothbar]

Here in Connecticut we are taxed to death and diesel gets taxed much higher than regular unleaded. Yes, when demand for home heating oil is high the average price goes up the rest is higher taxes. At least this is true in CT and our roads are trashed.

Base price for diesel 3.55
Fed tax .244
CT State tax .512
Total per gallon 4.306

 

[JSWTDI09]

Several reasons:
1) Home heating oil (as stated above) is basically diesel fuel. Cold winters means more fuel oil sold, which diminishes supply (econ. 101).
2) diesel fuel is taxed differently than gasoline because most states assume that diesel fuel is used in big trucks.
3) US refiners have realized that they can make more money exporting diesel fuel to Europe than selling it here. America is now a net oil exporter - we export more refined oil products than we import crude oil.

There are probably more reasons too, but these are the big ones.

Have Fun!

Don

 

[Kenn JSW]

Isn't natural gas a lot cheaper to use as a home heating fuel than oil/diesel? (Where I live, electric is also competitive with natural gas and the most common way to heat). Assuming heating oil is about the most expensive choice, it seems like over time its use should drop to near zero. Then cold weather and home heating needs would have less effect on diesel fuel prices.

Oil for heat also seems very inconvenient, requiring a big tank in your house and periodic refills versus a fuel that comes to your house on demand through pipes/lines. Does anyone install new oil heating systems these days?

 

[DRbillZ]

$3.54 here . Be careful what you ask for (taxes), you might just get them.

 

[Darth_Furious]

Isn't natural gas a lot cheaper to use as a home heating fuel than oil/diesel? (Where I live, electric is also competitive with natural gas and the most common way to heat). Assuming heating oil is about the most expensive choice, it seems like over time its use should drop to near zero. Then cold weather and home heating needs would have less effect on diesel fuel prices.

Oil for heat also seems very inconvenient, requiring a big tank in your house and periodic refills versus a fuel that comes to your house on demand through pipes/lines. Does anyone install new oil heating systems these days?

Lots of old houses have old equipment that work perfectly fine. Nothing new to buy and people have built old habits that die hard. I would think in the long run usage should drop (especially as equipment breaks and is replaced) but it's probably slower than most of us would like

 

[ksing44]

I also read that the percentage of crude oil suitable for making diesel is lower in the crude that's available today. In the readings it also sounded like diesel isn't simply less refined. It actually comes from a different component in the crude than the more volatile component used in gasoline.

Of course the tax is also an issue. They just raised it again on gasoline and diesel, but they raised it more for the diesel. The idea is to target the trucks based on their heavy use of the roads, but they get us too.

 

[DieselRacer]

And some on here wonder why the DIESEL car hasn't taken to the USA market...

 

[kjclow]

Isn't natural gas a lot cheaper to use as a home heating fuel than oil/diesel? (Where I live, electric is also competitive with natural gas and the most common way to heat). Assuming heating oil is about the most expensive choice, it seems like over time its use should drop to near zero. Then cold weather and home heating needs would have less effect on diesel fuel prices.

Oil for heat also seems very inconvenient, requiring a big tank in your house and periodic refills versus a fuel that comes to your house on demand through pipes/lines. Does anyone install new oil heating systems these days?

There are many areas in the nation where it is not economical to run gas lines. Those homes either have to use all electric, heating oil, or natural sources, such as fire wood.

General comment: do a search either on here or on the internet for comparisons of the taxes charged between diesel and gasoline. IIRC, diesel runs from a few cents to over 30 cents per gallon higher states tax. Also if you compare the price of fuels around the world, you'll find that most people pay the same for the fuel, with a few exceptions. The differences are, again, all tax related.

 

[30_Yr_Dsl_Veteran]

It is called "Illinois taxes", in your case. Here in FL, is is well under $4.00 a gallon!!!

 

[South Coast Guy]

Isn't natural gas a lot cheaper to use as a home heating fuel than oil/diesel? (Where I live, electric is also competitive with natural gas and the most common way to heat). Assuming heating oil is about the most expensive choice, it seems like over time its use should drop to near zero. Then cold weather and home heating needs would have less effect on diesel fuel prices.

Oil for heat also seems very inconvenient, requiring a big tank in your house and periodic refills versus a fuel that comes to your house on demand through pipes/lines. Does anyone install new oil heating systems these days?

Dude, what if natural gas is not available where you live? Who is going to pay to run the pipes to your neighborhood and make the connection into your house? Who is going to pay to replace the furnace?

 

[ksing44]

^^Yep, no gas lines for me. It's oil tanks, propane tanks, or electric. I've got oil. I use less than 500 gallons per year in my very well insulated house.

 

[Adkhunter1590]

Natural gas isn't a good deal this winter either. At least not here in Ny. Natural gas and electric prices have skyrocketed because of the cold winter we have had. I have electric heat in my house (unfortunately). And my bills this winter were now less than $500 each month!!!! My usuage was only $175 each month the rest is all delivery fees!!! Total rip off!!!! People around me with natural gas are experiencing the same problems. Oil heat is still a VERY common way to heat here in the North East. Natural gas pipelines are expensive to build and really only exist inside town limits. For people residing outside city limits it's oil, electric, propane, wood, coal or wood pellets.

 

[03_01_TDI]

I'm going to use wood next winter. After a 300.00 electric bill. I can get two large loads of wood for less than 150.00

 

[dwpc]

Here in AZ, diesel is 20% more than regular, so that really undercuts the "economy". I don't see the far more complex new gen TDI engines going 300K-400K trouble-free mile like old Mercedes 300D smudge pots I had. If I had it to do again, I'd pass on a diesel unless I drove over 20K miles/yr.

 

[Throwback7r]

I just filled up in suburban Chicago last night for 3.67, you just have to find the right station I guess.

 

[MacBookemDanno]

I can get diesel for as low as $3.67 a gallon around here. But I filled up for $2.89 a gallon yesterday at Kroger.

Since I do just about all of my grocery store shopping at Kroger, I use their points system for $$$ off at the fuel pump. In addition to accumulating points on everything you purchase, they're currently running a 4x bonus on gift cards; so if you get a $25 gift card, you get 100 points instead of 25 points. 100 points = 10c off a gallon. 1000 points = $1.00 off a gallon.

Max discount at partner Shell fuel station: 10c/gallon
Max discount at Kroger fuel stations: $1.00/gallon

So I bought gift cards from places that I normally would shop at anyway: Home Depot, Starbucks, Petsmart, Mimi's Cafe. Not only do I get the Kroger rewards points, but I also get the 1.25 regular bonus points from my credit card company.

 

[Tekd85]

$1.47 per liter of Shell V-power and $1.38 for regular Diesel... Just out side Toronto. Very expensive..but still wouldn't trade my tdi for anything else...

 

[fastball]

Prices in NW Ontario have diesel at about $1.45 a liter - but that goes down at least 20 cents in the summer.
Costs about 65-70 dollars to fill the car up...and it lasts the better part of the month in normal city drying.

 

[TDIFred]

saw it at $3.85 a gallon today! that's a $1 a litre, SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than at home, Outer Banks, NC, YOU ROCK!

 

[Racerman27410]

$3.74 US per gallon in Archdale NC yesterday.......$3.85 is the average price locally.

 

[fowvey]

As the gasoline engines become even more efficient, you will see less and less diesel being offered, especially in entry level cars. Audis, BMWs, etc have you use Premium, so unless you strictly want them for performance, the only viable offering is Diesel.

The new 1.8T that VAG is introducing to the US is very nice. Also, Ford brought over the Focus 1.0L gasser 3 cylinder.

I drive 130 miles a week and will be going 220 starting June with 95% highway. That is where diesel comes in, but unless the price difference comes down, a slightly less efficient petrol engine will probably be next for me.

 

[Jake Brake]

I can remember several years ago paying 79 cents a gallon in GA and TN, when I was an owner operator. My International Eagle had two 150 gallon tanks. I would hate to be filling those today! That was back in the late 80's maybe into early 90's and the cheapest I can remember paying. These prices today are just terrible! Diesel in my area $3.95 gallon

 

[halfast3]

Here's a list of US fuel taxes on a state by state basis:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_taxes_in_the_United_States
and Canada:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_fuel_taxes_in_Canada
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_tax#United_Kingdom
"From 23 March 2011 the UK duty rate for the road fuels unleaded petrol, diesel, biodiesel and bioethanol is GB£0.5795 per litre (£2.63 per imperial gallon or £2.19 per U.S. gallon)"
Looks like we get off pretty cheaply here in the US...

 

[Analogeezer]

People rarely do the actual math....

I can't believe people HERE are not doing the math.

So let's say gas is $3.50 a gallon for REGULAR, people see 70 cents a gallon more for diesel and go OMIGOD THAT'S SEVENTY CENTS MORE.

70 cents a gallon is 20 percent more.

My TDI wagon, based on a year of hand calc'ing gets 38 percent better mileage than the car it replaced, and that car was not a gas hog (Matrix XRS).

Here's another factor, draw up a list of "interesting and fun cars" - then check and see how many run premium....my Mazdaspeed Miata requires it, the wife's MINI Cooper (based not an S) requires it.

For the year I have owned my TDI, premium has been from 50 cents less than diesel to 20 cents more, right now they are priced comparably.

So AGAIN DO THE ACTUAL MATH before you freak out.

Now if you are soley buying a diesel just for the mileage, you have to figure out the amortization costs of the diesel version.

In the case of JSW's, comparing apples to apples, if you buy a SE gasser vs. a base TDI w/DSG (so both have autos), the cost difference is $2,780 more than a SE.

So depending on how much you drive it might take you 5 - 10 years to amortize that additional cost but that does not take into account crazy high TDI resale values so I bet it's 5 years or less.

Bottom line for me:

1. The economy is just part of the picture with a TDI, you have to like the way it drives, the extra range, etc.

2. Diesel is more expensive in this country due to extra taxes levied on the fact most diesel use is commercial trucks.

Some of the "coal pourer" redneck truck types like to blame low sulfur diesel but it only adds about 8 cents a gallon to the refining costs....

Analogeezer

 

[Slothbar]

When folks hear I have a TDI they ask '"doesn't the fuel cost more?"
My reply, it cost me less than $50 to drive 500 miles. So then I ask them how much does it cost you to run your car the same distance? The answer is always the same. Way more then $50.

 

[eddjmemg]

Plus,

Real men drive diesels...

I met this really good looking girl a few years back, during our conversation we talked about cars. I told her I drove a Jetta. She was like, OMG! Jettas are a right of passage for women. Then I mentioned, well it's a TDI diesel and she said, oh cool then you're fine. Real men drive diesels.

I stand by my point. Diesel or gas? I do diesels only now...

 

[nikhsub1]

When folks hear I have a TDI they ask '"doesn't the fuel cost more?"
My reply, it cost me less than $50 to drive 500 miles. So then I ask them how much does it cost you to run your car the same distance? The answer is always the same. Way more then $50.

Here in lala land, the above is not true... I just paid $4.09 a gallon (CA of course has the highest taxes in the countryTYVM), If i do all city driving, i barely get 350 out of a tank... stop and go is killer

 

[Anonymous911]

When folks hear I have a TDI they ask '"doesn't the fuel cost more?"
My reply, it cost me less than $50 to drive 500 miles. So then I ask them how much does it cost you to run your car the same distance? The answer is always the same. Way more then $50.

Yup, been there.. Even my girlfriend's mother doesnt understand and think I made financial mistake by getting TDI because Diesel fuel cost more than regular. So I let the monthly fuel cost prove it and she ate her own words.