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Originally Posted by 4MoJoe
I cut my fuel bill by $150 a month with the diesel by selling my 2004 4.4i V8. Like others the diesel Eco-Credit made the purchase decision a no brainer. Even with the cost differential between premium and diesel I'm still saving money. Although there is no sense in why diesel is more than gas.
It's a shame that the process to federalize a diesel engine in the US is such a (political) process for manufacturers. So many great options are available across the pond that it's a shame.
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Interesting topic.
Diesel fuel contains 10% more energy than gasoline (by volume) so it should cost 10% more, just considering the energy value. We are just conditioned to think in terms of litres and gallons, not in terms of energy.
Beyond that, US refineries have been designed to produce a certain percentage of diesel compared to gasoline. We have had predictable consumption (relative to each other) for years. Now we have increased diesel demand, and so there will naturally be higher prices. Add to that the push for low sulphur fuels, and the investment required there, and I would say that not only are higher diesel prices justified (not liked, just justified) but that they will go higher in the medium term, relative to gasoline. I don't know if people buying diesel vehicles are budgeting for that or not.
I don't know that the process to federalize a diesel engine is any more political than a gasoline engine. Our respective government agencies have just targeted different pollutants than Europe does. EPA and Euro emissions regulations are both moving in the same direction, ie more strict, but they are alternately leapfrogging each other due to program timing differences. The limits to US introductions of diesels, and why manufacturers are going slow, is that there is still a limited market for diesels, and manufacturers need to recover their investments. You can only give away diesels with introductory credits for so long before it comes home to roost.
I would be interested in comments from others on this.
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2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White
Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver
2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue
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