Diesel fuel penalty

[Redsky]

I knew when I bought my diesel truck that the cost for the truck was going to be $9,000 more and that I would be paying twice as much for maintenance and repairs, but I did not expect to be paying more for diesel than for premium gas.

I have been checking prices and locations for a trip planned through California, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada this year. I was surprised in checking Pilot truck stop prices how much more they are charging for diesel over premium gas.

In California the difference is on average 8 cents.
In Oregon the difference on average is 22 cents.
In Idaho the difference on average is 55 cents.
In Montana the difference on average is 60 cents.
In Nevada the difference on average is 25 cents.

That difference in cost is twice as great when comparing diesel to the regular gas that a truck would be using. In Montana diesel is 90 cents more per gallon than diesel or 29% more expensive. That pretty much wipes out any gain in fuel economy from having a diesel engine.

[Me_Again]

2oldman wrote:

Redsky wrote:
. That pretty much wipes out any gain in fuel economy from having a diesel engine.

I think you may have fallen victim to a couple diesel myths, one, that you get better mileage with it, and, that it costs less.

Just a cursory observation.

So can you point me to a gas TV that will tow my 12,400 pound trailer and equal the 12-12.5 MPG I get towing and get 19-20 on road trip empty and around 15 around town.

Oh, and I want one that will come down 6% grades at a reasonable speed with the trailer without using the service brakes.

Chris

[N-Trouble]

2oldman wrote:

Redsky wrote:
. That pretty much wipes out any gain in fuel economy from having a diesel engine.

I think you may have fallen victim to a couple diesel myths, one, that you get better mileage with it, and, that it costs less.

Just a cursory observation.

Well you do get better milesage with the diesel, but whether that equates to $$ savings is not always the case.

[N-Trouble]

You don't buy a diesel to save money... You buy a diesel because you want/need the pulling power.

[GordonThree]

Premium is more than diesel around here (NW Mich), been that way for a few months. The two take turns being most expensive. My little station wagon runs on premium, luckily the tiny tank only costs a small fortune to fill compared to a huge diesel tank.

[2oldman]

Redsky wrote:
. That pretty much wipes out any gain in fuel economy from having a diesel engine.

I think you may have fallen victim to a couple diesel myths, one, that you get better mileage with it, and, that it costs less.

Just a cursory observation.

[longrider1100]

Agree, it seems the price is such that it negates the savings from increased fuel mileage.

I'm guessing that as more diesels are offered as passenger vehicles the price will stay high or go higher.

What can we do?....take shorter trips.

[Me_Again]

Check the price difference in the summer months!
Chris

[downtheroad]

Gosh, diesel fuel has been higher that premium (gas) for a very long time now...nothing new.
Shouldn't be a surprise??

[LittleBill]

uh yea. its been like that for years? your just noticing this now?