Not really. Diesel and gasoline are two separate things that are refined out of crude oil. Diesel isn't "what's left" after gasoline is made, it's just another fuel out of many that come from the crude. Diesel is made into gasoline by catalytic cracking which breaks up the longer diesel molecules into shorter gasoline molecules. If they didn't crack other fuels into gasoline, the production figures would be drastically different and gas would be much more expensive than it is now.

And yes, my XOM is not going anywhere! I can't remember when I first got that...I've at least doubled my money :cool:

$2500 doesnt go far to build a car here, but for a plant whose workers are making $0.40/hr, $2500 is a lot of car.

also, isnt all of the new low sulfur restrictions causing a lot of the recent spike along with the supply going to $100/barrel

Nope, I was 10-15 years old.

I was the same age in the early 70's. We both should have been beating the drum for them to get whatever breaks/credits they could get then so that they could have increased proven reserves and lessened our dependence on others now. Was a period of Stagflation; not unlike what we are moving toward currently although oil didnt increase in cost then for 20 years. We got a 20 year discount then China and India woke up and took that discount away. Not Big Oils doing, or really OPEC's as they are already pumping close to all they can. What would help most (other than a slowdown in China and India) is if Iraq could pump at capacity, and if Iran's and Venezuela's leadership didnt hate us so much and continualy threaten to reduce supply.

Lower sulfur content required
 

I don't have time to do the research but aren't we all aware that the US now requires a lower sulfur content diesel to be sold? That has to cost more to produce. I wonder if the other countries are still allowing a higher sulfur content and cheaper refining process?
Charles

Oh well get there... were allready at 4$ a gallon.. But the difference is.. well be at 7$ a gallon... with horrible roads..

keep in mind, germany has nice roads, but the entire country is smaller than Texas, their roads are mostly concentrated in cities with less raods between the cities instead of the urban sprawl we have and they pay some serious taxes. I think I prefer dodging the potholes

cost me $74.62 to fill up the e300d last night. Ouch.

Europe switched to lower sulfur diesel a long time ago, we are just doing that here in US, despite that their cleaner diesels were always priced less than their gasolines, and that was my main question, they are just as dependent as we are, same refining isuues apply to them, so why is diesel priced lower than gas in Europe and higher than gas in the US of A?

Vahe
240D 77

Diesel is NOT always cheaper in Europe
 

In the UK diesel has been consistently more expensive than gasoline for several years - due to the surging demand for the stuff......

I wish. It costs me about $140 to fill up my 65 litre tank although I can reduce that by buying veggie oil.

Diesel is more expensive in the UK, because its taxed at a higher rate. Duty is applied to a litre of fuel, and then VAT on top of that. The VAT is calculated on the price of the litre of fuel and the duty combined - so we are taxed on the tax!

Its not so bad though because I charge my clients for my mileage and I don't have to pay VAT so in reality it costs me nothing to drive the car (excepting running costs and depreciation).

Do you or do you not want companies to make profits? :confused: Do you want US companies to be unprofitable? :confused::confused:

I want as many companies - big and small - to make as much profit as possible! Profit is not a dirty word. Profitable companies hire people, thereby keeping out economy out of the "dumper."

Sorry i had a buddy that worked at a refinery and thats what he told me ...he also said they got crapp fuel for free...so either he just didnt know the full detail or what i dont know.

Tax is $0.14/gal in Wyoming, less than half of the average, we have our own wells and refineries, no imported oil, no transportation costs, but we pay about the same as the rest of the country. Opportunistic pricing, that is all it is, licensed to steal and not ashamed to feel around in the bottom of your pockets.

Have you actually seen their roads? They are flawless, everywhere. Its a pleasure to ride on them.

Germany has 140,700 miles of roads, the USA has 3.79 million miles of roads (insane)....but still.

There have been numerous reports of hour our country's infrastructure is crumbling. Buildings, pipes, sewers, bridges, roads, dams, everything is falling apart, and there's no money to fix it....we all know where that money is going.....and its not in the US. :rolleyes:

My city, Grand Rapids MI, has 640 miles of roads....they are alloted enough money every year to resurface FIVE miles....IF the winter is gentle. This year they spent almost all the budget already on salt, plowing, and filling potholes with junk. So they say they might not be able to do any resurfacing at all. The city engineer said that something like 80% of the cities roads are considered in "poor" shape, while only like 5-10% are "good". Insanity.

Also, in Florida your idea of bad roads is different from that of a Michigan person. I went to FL last year, and their roads are AMAZING compared to Michigan. Georgia too....all so smooth and nice. You don't have the freeze cycles that destroy the pavement like we do.

We have some roads around here in such bad shape that it WILL break things on your car unless you come to a crawl and gently *unimog* your way over it. I should make a video. The other day I was crusing along at 35mph when I saw a HOLE in the road that would have killed my car....I jammed on the brakes and managed to stop right before it....it was probably 2x2 feet in size...and over a foot deep. And those are allll over the place. It snarls traffic and breaks things.