off-road diesel

[knute_m]

When I was driving home tonight, off-road diesel had dropped to $2.07 per gallon at the Gas-Mart on US 50 West, near the WV/VA state line. (Between Hayfield and Gore, VA, just west of Winchester, VA).

 

[MikePA]

'The point' is simple, actually three points.

1. Diesel fuel costs more
2. The diesel engine option costs more.
3. The diesel mpg advantage over gasoline is almost gone

If it's not a good financial decision to buy one, then it's not a good financial decision to build them.

 

[dirtworksequip]

MikePA, there has to be a $1.50 difference per gallon between diesel and gasoline for it to be the same cost per mile for me to drive the same model gas vehicle. I'll just keep driving my diesels.

Not to mention, if 1/3 of US light duty vehicles were diesel it would save 1.4 million barrels of oil a day. Or the equivlant of what the US imports from Saudia Arabia everyday.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[MikePA]

MikePA, there has to be a $1.50 difference per gallon between diesel and gasoline for it to be the same cost per mile for me to drive the same model gas vehicle. I'll just keep driving my diesels.

Which vehicle? What year? Does this include the premium for the diesel engine and the increased cost of maintenance? Addl details are needed before others can decide if your experience matches theirs.

Not to mention, if 1/3 of US light duty vehicles were diesel it would save 1.4 million barrels of oil a day. Or the equivlant of what the US imports from Saudia Arabia everyday.

Does 'light duty' mean trucks? Does the 1.4 million barrels savings include the additional oil required to maintain the engine?

Typically, the payback period for a diesel, when taking all costs into account, is on the order of hundreds of thousands of miles. That's what manufacturers look at as well as buyers. The potential market for diesel trucks is not the same market as diesel cars. Many of the diesel cars were originally developed in and for countries which had fuel prices artificially inflated by taxes, either the standard revenue generating taxes or taxes designed specifically to encourage people to buy diesel cars.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Mike, diesel vehicles are never going to come into favor here in the US, simply because of pump price. Everyone only looks at pump price and not the cost per mile. If diesel fuel was .50 cents a gallon cheaper than gasoline, there would be a demand for diesel vehicles. There is no use me going into a long discussion about the benifits of diesel vehicles. The 1.4 million barrels saved figure came from an article about Mercedes diesels. I don't know what their "light vehicles" included.The extra up front cost of a diesel vehicle is negated by a Federal Tax break on clean diesels and diesels retain a higher resale value. We could argue the point forever.............................but its pointless. You drive what you want and I'll drive what I want. Sort of like R1's vs R4's. What works for me doesn't work for you.


Since you are so down on diesels.....................is your tractor a gasser? If not, why did you get a diesel?
Sincerely, Dirt

 

[MikePA]

I am not 'down on diesels'. What I am down on are people (not you) who seem to have an almost knee jerk reaction that US automakers are idiots for not making diesel cars. I believe each manufacturer makes logical financial decisions based upon their primary markets.

While US automakers have their issues, European automakers aren't all geniuses either.

 

[Doc_Bob]

I am not 'down on diesels'. What I am down on are people (not you) who seem to have an almost knee jerk reaction that US automakers are idiots for not making diesel cars. I believe each manufacturer makes logical financial decisions based upon their primary markets.

Diesel costs 2.69 here in SE Wisconsin and gasoline is around 1.69. So about a dollar more or about 59% more per gallon of diesel when compared to gas. If a diesel car gets 30% better mileage, than I don't see any advantage. This assumes that the diesel car does not cost more (it does cost more) than the gas equivalent. Mike, I agree with you, I see no reason to go diesel at this time. And I like diesel.

If someone wants bragging rights (my diesel VW gets 42 mpg) versus my gas VW gets 33 mpg, then by all means, go diesel. But is makes no sense financially. Why pay more per MPG just to have bragging rights?

I will stick with gas for now.

Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

Asked MikePA

is your tractor a gasser? If not, why did you get a diesel?
Sincerely, Dirt

My tractor came with diesel. I don't think I had an option?

Diesel is perfect for what my tractor does, generate a lot of torque.
If it came in gas, I would have considered gas, but that was never an option.
Bob

 

[Doc_Bob]

'The point' is simple, actually three points.

1. Diesel fuel costs more
2. The diesel engine option costs more.
3. The diesel mpg advantage over gasoline is almost gone

If it's not a good financial decision to buy one, then it's not a good financial decision to build them.

Mike, you remain a very smart man. Well said and so concisely. And no emotional attachment to gas versus diesel.

Just the facts.
Bob

 

[blueriver]

When you buy a $35-40K truck ... do you really care about a few MPG and a few Cents per gallon ....