Reminder - Cost of Ownership of Gas vs Diesel

[buickanddeere]

The past 14 years include the pre particulate filter and pre urea injection diesels back when diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline. Light highway Diesel sales since 2011 in particular have taken a dive. There will be some rebound with GM and Ram 1/2 ton diesels $10-15 thousand less than the 3/4 tons diesels. For those people who "want" to drive a diesel. The price of diesel fuel above gasoline . And the concerns over maintenance of complex and expensive emissions equipment will continue to hamper diesel sales.

 

[Capricious]

Topped-off the gasoline again today (When prices are dropping I keep tanks full. Then the price will jump 20 to 30 cents overnight, and I will run them down close to empty as prices slowly recede).

Gasoline @ $2.439, diesel @ $3.479 where I stopped.

Down the road gas was $2.459 and diesel $3.519

 

[wawajake]

Filled up my GMC yesterday with gas here in Sault Ste Marie Canada...........gas was 122.9 cents per litre and diesel was same price . In US gallons that would be both gas and diesel priced at $4.65 per gallon.

And at those prices the advantages of diesel for a vehicle you will be able to keep much much longer than normal it would be a very good choice. I don't rack up the miles or else I would of went with the Ram Ecodiesel. (not all of us need to haul 10,000 lbs......5000 is more typical. )

 

[buickanddeere]

The light highway gasoline engine of today will outlast today's light highway diesel. They are not a Cummins 6BT or ISB anymore burning fuel only 3/4 the price of gasoline.
The initial cost of the particulate filter, common rail injection an urea injection is high. Then these systems with a life span of just past warranty must be replaced at the owners cost. Today's gasoline engines will outlast the diesels and provide lower cost per mile.
The Tier II diesel was actually sensible but the Tier IV's high cost with little difference in stack emissions has gone beyond common sense. Injecting diesel fuel into the particulate filter to burn the soot to reduce emissions? Where is the sense there?

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here is what I'm talking about. 87 octane is $2.69 and diesel is $3.88. So it's $1.19 more per gallon, or 31% more. So even if the diesel got the 20% better economy it's a loss.

Now for the other issue. I went to get diesel in my F350. Gas Buddy showed it at $3.659 and it had been updated 3 minutes prior to me pulling up to the pump. As you can clearly see its $3.889, so it's $0.24 more per gallon. I went in and asked the clerk what's up and just as I suspected that is the "Cash Exempt" price. A common practice in our area. This is the case more often than not with diesel while gas is always priced right.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here is what I'm talking about. 87 octane is $2.69 and diesel is $3.88. So it's $1.19 more per gallon, or 31% more. So even if the diesel got the 20% better economy it's a loss.

Now for the other issue. I went to get diesel in my F350. Gas Buddy showed it at $3.659 and it had been updated 3 minutes prior to me pulling up to the pump. As you can clearly see its $3.889, so it's $0.24 more per gallon. I went in and asked the clerk what's up and just as I suspected that is the "Cash Exempt" price. A common practice in our area. This is the case more often than not with diesel while gas is always priced right.

Chris

The pic did not post.

Chris

 

[Capricious]

This morning I bought gasoline @ $2.299; Diesel at the same station was $3.479; Diesel at another station 2 miles down the road was $3.539

This is the first time I have ever seen diesel at the pump cost > 50% more than gasoline. Now, this is the time of year when the difference is the greatest, but the long term trend is for diesel to cost more, relative to the cost of gasoline. It is simply a matter of supply and demand.

As I said before, If I had big loads to haul all the time, then I would go with diesel, which is the engine for that kind of job. But for occasional towing, and certainly for a commuter vehicle, my choice is gasoline.

 

[HHR]

I filled up at this station yesterday and was glad I wasn't driving a diesel ($2.49 vs. $4.15).

 

[MossRoad]

So what's the consensus? Diesel pickup trucks for daily drivers are silly, a waste of money and generally just status symbols, but this is America, so go for it if you feel like it. :laughing:

On the other hand, when is a diesel powered pickup truck really necessary? Does the added cost of purchase, operation and general ownership add up on paper compared to a gas powered pickup truck in your individual application? A spreadsheet and some number crunching would be in order to justify such a purchase.

 

[dodge man]

So what's the consensus? Diesel pickup trucks for daily drivers are silly, a waste of money and generally just status symbols, but this is America, so go for it if you feel like it. :laughing:

On the other hand, when is a diesel powered pickup truck really necessary? Does the added cost of purchase, operation and general ownership add up on paper compared to a gas powered pickup truck in your individual application? A spreadsheet and some number crunching would be in order to justify such a purchase.

This entire thread started out with a link comparing cost of ownership. Of course you can probably throw the fuel costs out the window with the crazy cost of diesel right now.