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Re: Federal tax is only 6 cents higher for diesel Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: Re: Federal tax is only 6 cents higher for diesel, pme ![]() ![]() |
I have had a diesel in the drive for ten years and there is no rhyme or reason to diesel prices. Sometimes they're higher than gasoline, sometimes lower. I am about as certain as I can be diesel prices are set by fuel companies to maximize profits and that's it. The taxes are clearly posted on the pump - it's the base price that varies wildly (*far* more than gasoline) and not the taxes. At the station I primarily use for diesel, I have seen pump prices vary by 50 cents up and back down again in a week. Doesn't make sense.
I don't do enough freeway driving to *really* get advantages from a diesel. As mentioned elsewhere, they excel are part-throttle cruising and aren't notably better when it comes to stop & go traffic. In my application, I do not notice bottom-line operating cost between my diesel Suburban and my gasoline Suburban. More expensive fuel pretty much negates any fuel economy savings.
In terms of maintenance, I think you may find gasoline engines cost less to maintain. Surely not true in every case, but I think the savings you win in bottom ends that never fail you might suck right back up in weirdo electrical doodads to keep emissions in check. Diesels still need cam timing equipment (belts, chains, guides, tensioners) just like gasoline cars. I guess they don't need spark plugs, but they do need glow plugs. Ask yourself when the last time you had a bottom end failure in an engine and figure out whether reducing the possibility of such a thing with a diesel is a good investment. And, don't forget about DEF, which adds *more* to your per-mile cost.
Don't think I am down in diesels - I just bought another one - but do look at all the costs involved. Don't get sucked in by +25% mpg and forget about the +10% fuel and around +$0.001 per mile in DEF. Look at the type of driving you do, and see if a diesel would excel.
posted by 12.195.130...
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