Re: fuel mileage

[NEsota]

During my short stay in France a few years ago it seemed like the majority of the passenger cars were small and diesel powered. Their fuel taxes are much higher there than in the U.S. Maybe higher fuel taxes in the U.S. would increase the percentage of diesels, also get us better roads and bridges.

 

[Larry59]

I don't understand why diesel is so much higher here then gas? Did not seem to be that way a few years ago.
Yet the talk of cars will get 35 mph in the near future the Goverment says! Yet I have a 1999 Ford Escort that was bought new. I got 38 to 39 miles a gallon for years. Now getting still 33 to 35 at 170,000.
My dad had a 1954 full size Cad. in 1959 that got 18 to 21 on the road and was a far better built car back then then those now.
Just hard to understand why so much trouble these days on miles per gallon? As for the diesel engine. Takes less time to produce the diesel over gas yet, it cost more.
However I do think Diesel will and is making a comeback in some areas. Thanks

 

[IH2444]

Fuel prices now seemed linked to BTU content of the fuel.
Diesel has more BTU's than Gasoline, so a higher price.

 

[MN Scott]

I wouldn't bet on the increased taxs equaling better roads. The poltcians would just suck the money off for their pet progects. Here in MN a lot of our fuel taxes are spent on public transportation progects for the twin citys area on progects that no one uses like light rail.

 

[Walt Davies]

The biggest trouble with light rail is it goes from no-where to no-where. It all started in SF, CA where they built it to take people from across the bay to downtown SF, that was a good idea and it worked because its hard to get to downtown SF and there isn't anyplace to park when you get there.
Now take the one in Portland, OR its worthless because it goes from no-where to no-where and most people don't even pay to ride it, because its all run on a "Hey we trust you to be honest and pay" system.
Now we have a multi-million dollar Aerial Tram that goes from downtown to the the top of the hill where the Hospital is. Why would a sick person drive all the way downtown to ride back up the hill he just came down to get to where was already and on top of that pay $4.50 per person.
Doesn't make any sense.

Walt

 

[MN Scott]

Not much seems to make sense when the goverment is involved!

 

[Mathias NY]

Supply versus demand and production capabilites play a significant role here too.

As it was explained to me, diesel fuel is a byproduct of the refining process. So there is a maximum and a minimum amount of diesel produced for each barral of crude that is refined. There is some flexibility to that ratio, but it is not as variable as gasoline.

A good portion of homes heat with fuel oil, aka diesel fuel. The price for this explodes in the fall and winter months because the damand does too. In the spring and summer months where demand is lower, production is relatively unchanged and the price will drop.

 

[Larry59]

Interesting.. fuel oil is diesel.. hummm I never knew that. Makes sense! Thanks