| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | John | The reason that diesel gas taxes are higher is simple. Clear diesel (as opposed to "red" diesel used for non-transportation uses) goes into trucks, big rigs, and RVs, vehicles that are more likely to spend time on highways and interstates. These vehicles are also responsible for causing the most damage to the roads due to their size. Therefore, the diesel tax is higher to compensate state and federal road funds which go toward repairing the roads for everyone.
It is not a government/corporate conspiracy, as some people on here assume it to be (and with no proof or logic to back it up). |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Hawkeye249 | I used to feel strongly that some with evil motives were behind diesel costing more than gas.
That's because I visited Germany, where this a higher proportion of diesel powered vehicles than gas. Despite the differential, in 2011 diesel was cheaper than gas there, although both cost more than in the US.
As an aside, I rented a Ford Galaxy, which is a minivan. Powered by a 2.0 liter VW turbodiesel it got a calculated 35 mpg overall for the trip. Driving included narrow streets in town where I didn't get past 3rd gear (6 speed manual) and autobahn driving where I mostly went about 70 mph but did hit 100 as Audi's and Mercedes' blew past me like I was a spectator.
I.E., on the mostly flat roads in the U.S. at a steady 55-65, I wouldn't be surprised if it got 40 mpg with two adults and luggage.
Here are the reasons I believe diesel costs more in the U.S.:
1. Demand. It's not just the vehicles. #2 Fuel oil to heat homes is the same stuff that makes those trucks go.
2. Crude oil cannot just be turned into whatever is needed. The standard breakdown of fuels derived from a barrel of crude are:
19.6 gallons of gasoline
10.0 gallons of diesel
4.1 gallons of jet fuel
Other various petroleum products.
Refineries can vary the breakdown, but ONLY by a little. Not enough to sway prices significantly.
3. Federal fuel tax is about 7 cents per gallon higher for diesel. Didn't check states, but they may also tax diesel more. Makes some sense because the tax supports road maintenance and heavy trucks wear roads more than lighter vehicles.
That's it - just three reasons.
Not applicable:
China. They're gobbling up all the oil they can, but that just drives up the cost per barrel, not individual derivatives.
It cannot cost more to refine crude into diesel than gas. And the lower sulphur content is just blah, blah, blah. A one-time cost to upgrade equipment. Germany requires lower parts per million than the US. (and sells it for less than gas)
So, a barrel's worth will fill most gasoline powered cars.
A barrel's worth will get a diesel started, but most big rigs take about 200 gallons to fill - or 20 barrels.
I miss that Ford Galaxy, but I don't see the price of diesel getting closer to gasoline for the forseeable future in the U.S.
|
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | PHC | I agree with an earlier post, half of the diesel manufactured in this country is being shipped overseas to "China". This ain't right. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | PHC | Have read all of your comments. Some peoples comments and ideas are very real.
Having seen our oil prices rise since 1960 would amaze most of you. As I grew up in the late 60's, gas was 12 cents a gallon and diesel 7 cents. During the 60's, and even before, our government had put controls, sanctions if you will, on the oil companies limiting how much the American public could be charged for fuel. However, in the late 60's, the government lifted those controls and let the oil companies start charging the consumer higher prices. Very soon up to 20, 30 cents a gallon and higher. Our diesel prices still remained for a long time at half the price of gas.
In the meantime, our government came to the realization that trucks consumed many more gallons than cars did. More gallons equal more tax revenues.
From what I personally know, our government has suppressed the technology on more efficient diesel engines, from your cars to semi trucks. If the technology had not been suppressed, our cars would be getting between 50-80 mpg. And our semi trucks 25-30 mpg. What this would amount to, for our government, would be a reduction of fuel tax revenues some where along the lines of 60-70% for trucks and around 50-60% for cars At the present time, there is a static electric engine for semi's that uses "no" diesel fuel. Another is natural gas engine being put produced and put into use in the good old USA as I speak. Once again, this will equal up to "no" diesel fuel. And, of course, no fuel tax revenues for our government. Does this possibly mean our government will have to live within theirs means? LOL! You better believe "NOT".
There is a lot our government can do, but won't do, because they might actually help you and me out.
As a response to an earlier post. diesel still only costs half of what gas costs to make. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | James | It seems it is always more expensive to buy your diesel from a big truckstop than a small station, this never used to be true. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | zach | Diesel is one of the least refined fuel which is a by-product of gas yet it cost more than gas at the pump but you never here about price petitions about diesel even though everything you are looking at right now has been on a diesel motor somewhere at some point in its life lets get our senators and congressman to do something about it and even your gas will go down because it travels on a diesel truck so lets start somewhere and get this country great again! |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | kdenny | This is just another way to raise taxes on the American people, if the price stays high then the prices of everything else goes up and so more money for taxes to the government that is draining us dry. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Cattleman | When the price of diesel fuel goes up, the cost is passed along to the stores. This makes the store prices go up. This makkes the fools think we are in an economic recovery because the stores report higher sales dollars. This isnot an indicater of increased sales. It is an indicater of increased prices. Yet, no one ever mantions this. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Bill | I believe a combination of effecs. the companies now find the diesel users have to pay whatever they charge and no way out
plus the bidding process on wall street makes the price go up so bidders can make more money. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Serf | Why is the Federal tax on Diesel higher? |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | kedtec | Diesel fuel takes about 1/3 the energy to refine than does gasoline. The only place that diesel fuel costs more than gasoline is in the USA. But if diesel fuel costs more than we can raise our prices on all consumer goods and produce since everything gets delivered by diesel powered truck. Moreover, the farmers need diesel to run their tractor. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | BUSTER | SATAN is the ruler of this world 2corth. 4:4 He has people as a puppet in the political,commeriacl world and religious system of this world that why it is corrupt . LOOK AT ALL THREE. RICH OIL PEOPLE WILL FIND IT DIFFICUT TO GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD (MOST GREEDY RICH PEOPLE) GREED IS SEEN IN THIS WORLD. IT SHOWS IT'S god who most people follow. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Weez-L | Why in the world would we let the new pipeline be installed and run by the greedy oil companies? We all waited for the Alaskan pipeline years ago thinking our gas & diesel prices would go down. But, what happened is the oil companies got greedy again and now sell all of it to China. You know they will do the same with the new pipeline. In the 1930's the government formed TVA, for electric generation and we still have cheaper electricity then the private sector companies. Maybe our government should take over the new pipeline and demand that all of the oil will stay here in this country only. If they did we could possibly have $.50 per gallon gas & diesel. This would not only put people to work, but really stimulate the economy. Down with all the oil companies and down with our worthless congress. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | two wheele | we need to have a nation wide strike till this asshole country frees up it own fuel instead of the oil people making big dollars |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Unhappy Diesel driver | Part of the problem could be: The gov gave you a rebate for buying more fuel efficient vehicles. Now they are getting their rebates back by taxing the fuel you have to use in your more efficient vehicle.
We in america are our own worst enemies. We have to have big powerful engines in our big cars and trucks. My Americanized VW has a 2.0L diesel engine, whereas in Europe the same car would have a 1.4L engine, hence greater fuel savings. But after all is said and done, it really does'nt matter what the amount of fuel is used, you will still pay the same. If you use less, the price will increase, because the fuel companies and the gov. have their budgets and if you use less, it cuts into their budgets. You cannot win over big business and Government. PARK YOUR BIG GAS AND DIESEL BURNERS AND WATCH THE PRICES COME DOWN!!! It may be a little painful, but we as Americans have had to fight for our freedom and our liberties in the past, so why do we let the oil companies and our ruling fathers dictate to us high prices for energy??? |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | No Illusions | Simple fact is that the Electric Co. , Water and other utilities prices are regulated because they are monopolies with no competitors. Big oil is a monopoly without any over site so they can charge whatever they want to. The Government is in bed with them and they are all getting rich off the backs of working class Americans. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Dale in Virginia | I'm tired of hearing "global" when questioning fuel prices here in the US. I could care less what anyone anywhere else in the world is paying for fuel/gas. I'm tired of the left wing environmental idiots putting a stop to building more refineries. There is no reason why we can be totally self-reliant on our own oil instead of bowing to OPEC. People spent extra money to purchase diesel engine cars and trucks to take advantage of lower diesel prices and better fuel mileage. All food prices have risen because of the extra cost in delivering the goods because of the high fuel costs. They are very simply ensuring fuel prices remain high in an attempt to make the high cost of alternative fuels more reasonable. They are the same people that for years have told us to purchase more fuel efficient automobiles to “save the environment”. The current administration is so enslaved to these whackos that he won’t approve the Keystone Pipeline project when the country is hurting for jobs. We need to use our resources and become completely energy self sufficient. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Barbqdude | It used to be that diesel was 40 cents a gallon higher, then 50, then 60, and now in Phoenix it has jumped to 70 and 80 cents a gallon higher. Something needs to be done, this is called GOUGING! |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | d cabral | ok Mr OBAMA the time has come to get off your ass and do something about these diesel costs. the fuel cost a fraction of that of gas to refine, the american people need a break the high cost of diesel has driven up the price of everything from the cost of food to live, to the cost of fuel to get to work soon there there will be no middle class for you to suck dry |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | smokie | What I want to know is why diesel is more than a dollar a gallon than gas. People, it dos not matter if you drive a gas vehicle or not. We are all paying for it through are commodities. Wake up!! Every body should be outraged. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Salmon | The reason the bigger trucking Co. don't care about fuel prices is that they now just add a surcharge and charge the extra cost of fuel to the coustomer. That why they don't protest like they did 30 years ago, blocking freeways and pumping fuel on the ground at Truck Stops, there are only small group of independent trucker who are not able to add surcharge and do care about fuel costs.
The reasion our prosest are not herd is there not enough of US protesting without the trucking Co. prostesting too. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | devin | there area a dozen reasons why diesel is more expensive. I hate it but I have no choice. the real question should be. WHAT ARE WE AS THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY WILLING TO DO ABOUT IT? |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | PAPAKRAKA | I live in Tulsa,formerly known as "OUL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD".My Grandfather,Father,Uncle,and many friends retired from Texaco,Sinclair,etc.Deisel costs 60% less than gas to manufacture.Yhe only reason the price is higher is GOUGING!!My dad was called to Washington in the 70's to testify about the fake gas shortage back then.Remember 10 years ago when truckers blocked D.C.?Price went down PRETTY QUICK!THEY SHOULD DO IT AGAIN!By the way,I drive an 81 chevy deisel van. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | chainsaw | BULLSHT, BULLSHT, BULLSHT, BULLSHT, BULLSHT, BULLSHT.....i AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE BULLSHT. WHAT DOES ONE HAVE TO DO TO GET THESE A-HOLES ATTENTION????
i AM NOT ONE TO ACT ON IT NOR WILL I DO ANYTHING STOOOOOOOOPID HOWEVER, WHY IS IT WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE SHOOT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE OR BLOW SOMETHING UP WE SAY "OH HE WAS SUCH A QUIET GUY, KEPT TO HIMSELF DIDN'T EVER BOTHER ANYONE"!!! WELL GUESS WHAT WAKE UP YOU POLITICAL IDIOTS!!! PEOPLE ARE GOIN NUTS CAUSE YOU A-HOLE HAVE YOUR HEADS UP YOUR ASSES SO FAR YOU NEED A WINDSHIELD FROM A 76 PACER TO SEE OUT OF YOUR ABDOMIN!!! I bought a diesel pick up cause fuel was cheaper AND I get 17-19 MPG. NOW I'M SCREWED!!!! |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Danstar | They say demand is up, but excuse the hell out of me. This country lost close to if not over 2 million class 8 trucks during this recession, and then another nearly 300,000 drivers that did not comply with the new FMCSA 2010 regs and had more then 300 points on their licenses. I don't know about your math, but this is 345 million gallons of diesel not being bought every few days (on the big truck scale of use) that is over 35 BILLION gallons of diesel not being purchased and though it would not be fair to calculate at actual pump prices as most companies get up to .15/gal discount on fuel programs they have, your still talking over an estimated $130 BILLION dollars lost in annual diesel fuel consumption and those are very rought #'s based on discounts down to $3.65/gal which not everyone would receive if they have a small fleet vs a larger fleet, but however you figure it, that has to put a hurting on some oil conglomerate bastards pocket book!!! Sad part is, Exxon still claims to have made over $400 B in profits last quarter... |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | philip martin | we are a mechanized society. this is causing the economy to suffer.
lets call it what it is unbridled greed.goverment is incompetent. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Tim | When I bought my 2001 F-250 4x4 7.3 diesel new the price per gallon was $1.41. In ten years I can barely afford to drive it since the price and almost tripled! Somebody is feeding us a line of garbage and making a heck of a lot $. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | rabbit | rt if you think pick get 12 mpg your i have a 7.3 f 250 crue cab 18.5 mpg in city and 24.8 on hwy the fuel cost is so they can rob people that heat homes with fuel oil and the people who make a living depending on this fuel
|
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | sonny | it all boils down to the all mighty dollar....the rich stay rich and the less than rich people will never get ahead....the average working man pays more in taxes than the rich ...who find loop holes and politicans who are on the rich band wagon....to keep ya down |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | FRED WILLIAMS | DIESEL FUEL PRICE IS SO HIGH BECAUSE BIG TRUCK FILL UP IS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS,THEY NEED THE FUEL AND WE NEED TRUCKS TO HAUL STUFF THAT WE NEED. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | 7.3 | i have worked in refinery's in Il., Ky.and In. They all refine crude the same way. Every time you make a gal.of gas there is almost 1.50gals of deisel made. the refining process hasn't changed. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | kathy | As long as this country keeps the price up, they are getting a tax that is hidden. The higher the prices of products go the more the states and feds get in taxes. This is not right, bring the price DOWN!!!! |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Datapanic | Diesel was cheaper than gas until Katrina hit and supposedly wiped out the main diesel processing plants for most of the US. Of course that was 6 years ago. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | RT | What a bunch of clowns. The price of fuel in the U.S. is very low. You pay more for soda than you do for fuel. The price of fuel has been too low in the U.S., allowing you clowns to drive horribly inefficient vehicles and waste crude oil as fat as possible. You complain about the price of fuel but YOU ARE TO BLAME! We need gas gussler taxes now. If these clowns can afford to commute in a pickup truck getting 12 mpg than surely they can afford idiot tax as well. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Mad at Greedy Oil companies | I agree, it costs a lot less to produce diesel than gasoline. As an owner of a Diesel truck I am appalled at our goverment allowing the oil companies to gouge us this way. Record sales(and profits) every quarter by the oil companies should be a wakeup call. We the consumers are struggling to make ends meet and the greedy oil companies are riding high on our backs.
When the truckers boycott these prices and the shelves are empty in our stores someone at the oil company may not get their record profits see if we really give a da*%m.
WAKE UP MR PRESIDENT Americans need help not more profits for the oil companies. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Tom | I think this is all Bull$$it. A by product of Gas and we pay more! Maybe your new President might do something, i doubt it. We need a plan we need to study it, he says! That man is a joke along with most in DC who don't have a freaking clue!!! Why the working man/woman maxs out their credit cards just to drive to work. It's bad when a government empolyee who makes about $40k a year, makes Ketchup packet soup just to feed her 2 kids becuase she has to fill up her car and make a mortage payment that she she have never been approved for in the first place. Like everyone else she wanted the American Dream like everyone else. she suffers, sometimes goes hungry becuase she doesn't want to lose her home. This will only worsen the economy. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Johnny | Ever wonder were the Mafia went? They moved up into politics and business and they choose to exploit the products that are the hinge points of our society. Diesel moves everything in your life you depend on and they "the mob" thinks you need to pay more for that service |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Guy Jones | To the idiots that keep talking about using the US "Strategic Petroleum Reserve", or US SPR:
1. The capacity of the SPR is 724 million barrels, or about 30 days of US Consumption. Not nearly enough to effect any meaningful long-term price reduction.
2. It's there for an emergency. We are not currently experiencing an emergency right now. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | GOD | Everybody's think's and thought's, but you all need to know that money is the root of all evil, tax this and tax that, work your butt off just to pay more tax. So really were does most of our money go to the government the true root of all evil. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Barko | I think we should start thinking about america. Then working on helping other countries. If we don't fix america with the unforgiving politicans. What's left for our kids to pay $6.00 per gallon for gas. We need to fight the goverment, because to produce 80% or of crude oil then any other countries in the world. Let's fight for america to come back. Stop sending our oil to Japan and china, So we don't have make a discission whether we eat or put gas in our car or truck. I think we should start are own We love America website. Thanks, Barko |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | GregK | There is no reason, accept they can get away with charging what they want. It cost a lot less to make a gallon of Diesel than it does a gallon of Gas. |
| Re: Oil prices - possible solution | h2000 | whats the point in having an oil reserve if we dont use it when there is a problem? |
| Re: RV fuel and fuel costs | ken | People like RVs, they'll keep on using them and buying them. Maybe they just will not travel so much, stay in one place longer. |
| Re: Oil prices - possible solution | Greg U | What's the point of having a reserve if we don't use it in an emergency - and this IS an emergency! |
| Re: Oil prices may drop | Jeff P | I think it will get a lot worse before it gets better. I hope I'm wrong but I think the oil company CFO is wrong. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | Tony S | The real reason is the FUEL SURCHARGE on motor, rail freight and packages. This eliminated the political back lash from the trucking industry ( speak teamsters, remember the strikes?) and decoupled the one volatile variable form the cost of doing business. Always paid by the customer at an average price per Gallon of Diesel PLUS 50 US cents!! Software from UPS can be adjusted daily if need to be so there you go ... who cares how much diesel they use or waist idling for hours ... the suckers pay and the general public are blatantly told that higher diesel price increased the price of goods services etc! OIL barons still rule this country ! No I am not a treehugger, but hate to be screwed by politicians, who have reduced their positions to money laundering operations for their biggest campaign contributors. |
| Re:RV sales up | Doghouse | I have already cancelled my long trip this summer because of the fuel prices going up. I bet the RV sales come to a stop like a couple of years ago when they were over $4.00/gal. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | server | We are looking to a world source to fix these issues and it is not going to happen. All of our leaders and controllers cannot make the changes and it is not because they can't? They just do not know how to do it. The majority of the officials' will never admit that they are running for gain and not for their integrity. The bible says that food is going to be more expensive and it looks that we are heading that way. Officials in the government will only tell you what is good for your ears. Read the chapter Job in the Bible and then do some research about Job. Only the Lord will change you and He will call you. |
| Re: Why diesel costs more than gas | older one | we all complain' the best we all need to do is call or email our senators let the goverment know we are fed up'have you noticed you dont see anything on the news anymore,wonder why? how much tax money is being spent to keep shipping lanes open and the oil fields open, how much is it costing the oil cos? whos paying for the oil spill in the gulf? guess what the good old taxpayers. what happened to the hydrogen cars, i seen them driving them on the news 8 years ago, i guess we can all build us a moonshine still and burn it! |
| Re: The first hybrid-electric Class A motorhome chassis | ZAP!! | I would like to see an RV engine that could be all diesel, all electric, or both. Then load up on solar panels and batteries. My goal would be an RV that could possibly run only on solar electricity stored in the batteries so there would be minimal or no need for any combustible fuels at all. I'm sure there is a catch. Maybe the weight of that many batteries is too much. I just like the idea of not having to refuel if I don't have to. |
|