BajaNomad - Diesel fuel prices .

Diesel fuel prices .

David A. - 5-22-2008 at 12:37 PM

I wish I was in Baja right now. I pulled away from the gas station 168 dollars less in my pocket :mad:

Paulina - 5-22-2008 at 12:41 PM

You and me both! $35. yesterday gave me less than 1/4 tank.

Diver - 5-22-2008 at 12:56 PM

F350 Deisel here - $4.10/gallon !!
I guess I could spend $24,000 on a Prius and drive with my knees in my chest ? :no:

Frank - 5-22-2008 at 01:04 PM

$4.69 a gallon in San Diego. Ill be saving money by going on vacation. Why am I still here? :light:

Ken Bondy - 5-22-2008 at 01:05 PM

Most of the stations in the west San Fernando Valley are selling diesel now at $4.99/gallon. A full fill for the Hummer (42 gallons) will be over $200. Aaaargh...
++Ken++

losfrailes - 5-22-2008 at 01:14 PM

Oh boy. Just filled off Villa Rapida Oriente in Tijuana.

5.76/liter = 2.07 gal at 10.8 exchange rate.

Took a whole 20 minutes wait at Otay Mesa.

Glad I am close enough to do that!

Capt. George - 5-22-2008 at 01:17 PM

well, look at it this way, we're helping George W pay for his daughters wedding....It's the least we can do for this poor oil family.

Vince - 5-22-2008 at 03:11 PM

The real reason are the chinese, they are closing down their older coal mines and now using diesel for electricity generation. They are the second largest users of electricity in the world so they can supply our walmarts, etc. Vicious cycle.

bobw - 5-22-2008 at 04:13 PM

I'm paying $1.30/litre here in Canada...about $5.25 US for a US Gallon....

Hook - 5-22-2008 at 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bobw
I'm paying $1.30/litre here in Canada...about $5.25 US for a US Gallon....

that's highway robbery as I am pretty sure that Canada is a net exporter of oil, isnt it? Ya'll got refineries up there? How much of that is taxes?

RockhouseTom - 5-22-2008 at 05:16 PM

Hey David A.

On this last trip I only had to buy 34 gallons in the U.S. filling up before crossing back and bringing 35 gallons in cans back so it was not to bad. I saw it today in Atascadero for $4.99 per gallon. I have been driving my wife's FJ for work to soften the blow. I crossed in Tecate and had no problem, but have heard they are stopping people with big containers of fuel.

Just one more good reason to be in Baja!

fulano - 5-22-2008 at 05:21 PM

If anybody is curious why diesel is so much more expensive in the US, there are a lot of reasons:

1)Diesel costs about 3 times as much per gallon to refine, mainly due to the new low-sulfur standards. These standards were passed in 2000, by the Clinton administration -- in case Capt. George wants to blame everything on Bush.

2) The federal tax on diesel is 6 cents per gallon higher than on gasoline. Most diesel is used by truckers and trucks tear up the federal highway system a lot faster than cars, so they are charged more.

3) Most of the increased world demand for oil is in the form of diesel. Half the cars in Europe now are diesel because they get such better mileage.

4) Diesel has about 15% more energy per gallon than gasoline. So a gallon of diesel does more work that a gallon of gas.

jodiego - 5-22-2008 at 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Bondy
A full fill for the Hummer (42 gallons) will be over $200. Aaaargh...
++Ken++

castaway$ - 5-22-2008 at 06:36 PM

Love my Powerstroke I just don't like getting bent over at the pump to the tune of $150 a whack, if I'm going to get screwed this isn't my fantasy, you gotta love the oil industry and their record profits!!!! :mad:

Russ - 5-22-2008 at 07:16 PM

Biodiesel sucks!

Pescador - 5-22-2008 at 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fulano
If anybody is curious why diesel is so much more expensive in the US, there are a lot of reasons:

1)Diesel costs about 3 times as much per gallon to refine, mainly due to the new low-sulfur standards. These standards were passed in 2000, by the Clinton administration -- in case Capt. George wants to blame everything on Bush.

2) The federal tax on diesel is 6 cents per gallon higher than on gasoline. Most diesel is used by truckers and trucks tear up the federal highway system a lot faster than cars, so they are charged more.

That is not correct about refining costs. It is still much cheaper to refine and develop than regular unleaded gasoline even with the new low sulfur levels. It is simply marketed with a higher cost because it is tolerated, for the most part. Large companies like municipalities and farmer's coops are buying bulk in a much lower price that we see at the pump.

2. In Arizona they have actually split the cost up and if you fill up your diesel rig at the semi-truck pump you end up paying a little more than 8 cents a gallon more than car and pickup diesel. What a sensible way to do things. Isn't that the state that produced the sherrif that makes the inmates live in a tent city and has a senator that is running for president.

fulano - 5-22-2008 at 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pescador

That is not correct about refining costs. It is still much cheaper to refine and develop than regular unleaded gasoline even with the new low sulfur levels. It is simply marketed with a higher cost because it is tolerated, for the most part. Large companies like municipalities and farmer's coops are buying bulk in a much lower price that we see at the pump.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp

Cost to refine a gallon of gas is about 1/2 the cost to refine a gallon of diesel. Just because diesel comes off lower in the refraction column does not make it cheaper anymore. The new federal sulfur standards, which kicked in in 2006, are only 15 PPM. That is only 5% of the old standards. That takes some extra processing.

ElFaro - 5-22-2008 at 10:10 PM

FYI...

I know some folks who purchased a nice chrome diamond plated 200 gal. tank that fits like a truck box in the back of their diesel truck right behind the cab. He goes down to Tecate one a week and fills up on diesel. As long as its for personal consumption it's OK.

If truckers were to try that with big-rig truck tractors they are slapped with a tax upon entering back into the U.S....this I'm told by some Mexican truckers working up here in U.S.

ElFaro - 5-22-2008 at 10:17 PM

Oh...I forgrot to add...

A few years back this guy decided to go all diesel for the family (Dodge Ram 2500 w/ Cummins (Dad) and a Ford Excursion (Mom) - diesel). So basically he's committed to the Tecate weekly fuel run. He has a pump on the tank to dispense fuel. They live out in the backcountry along Hwy. 94.

George, Can you blame this on Bush ??

beercan - 5-22-2008 at 11:52 PM

Quote:

By canuck resident
I'm paying $1.30/litre here in Canada...about $5.25 US for a US Gallon....

Do you dream at night ? Where do you get your "facts" ??

beercan - 5-22-2008 at 11:59 PM

My farmer friend says you're full of it !! He doesn't have to pay the "road use tax" of $.18--.26 /gallon --big savings --huh ?

My Brother-in -law who is the Manager of a fuel and oil distributor in Colorado says ditto !!

Quote:

by pescador
Large companies like municipalities and farmer's coops are buying bulk in a much lower price that we see at the pump.

805gregg - 5-23-2008 at 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diver
F350 Deisel here - $4.10/gallon !!
I guess I could spend $24,000 on a Prius and drive with my knees in my chest ? :no:

Nope buy a Honda Civic Hybrid, plenty of room. $ 23,500 with nav.

Frank - 5-23-2008 at 07:15 AM

Ive heard people with transfer tanks full of deisel are being turned back at the border.

Can anyone confirm this? Im on the edge of getting a transfer tank.

mtgoat666 - 5-23-2008 at 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 805gregg

Quote:

Originally posted by Diver
F350 Deisel here - $4.10/gallon !!
I guess I could spend $24,000 on a Prius and drive with my knees in my chest ? :no:

Nope buy a Honda Civic Hybrid, plenty of room. $ 23,500 with nav.

the prius is quite roomy for my 6'2" frame. lose the beer gut and you will fit :lol:

>$4 gas is here to stay, deal with it

rts551 - 5-23-2008 at 07:27 AM

Quote:

As I understand it, the increased cost to refine diesel is because the cost of retrofitting the refineries for low sulfur processing is being amortized over a very few number of years.

Quote:

[Edited on 5-23-2008 by rts551]

Bajafun777 - 5-23-2008 at 09:19 AM

I have checked with the Customs regulations on this diesel fuel tank thing and as best as I can see if you are not driving back into the United States with the ability of more than 125 gallons of fuel you are ok. My friend's buddy works at Customs and gave him the Customs ruling. Now, if you have a pump device attached to your tank then they do come at you with the thought that you are bringing it back into the United States to sale it. I have the ability to bring a total of 60 gallons back and go down about once a month to get it, unless I do the San Diego and Baja thing which causes me to refuel. Hope this helps and if someone knows or has some different ruling let me know. I have not had any problems on this but I have talked with people that did have problems due to the tank being too big and the pump device that is like a "red light" flashing to the Customs inspectors. Later---------- bajafun777

Ouch!

stimbo - 5-23-2008 at 09:25 AM

This was taken 2 weeks ago in Bridgeport, California. The price has gone up even further...

:mad:

tripledigitken - 5-23-2008 at 09:50 AM

Diesel went over $5 gal in the City of San Diego today.

BMG - 5-23-2008 at 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo

HR 6 would have rolled back some of the freebies we generous tax-payers give to the oil companies so they can get even richer.

I'm curious as to where these roll backs are cited in HR 6? Wading through a bill like this is about an enjoyable as reading the phone book, but the only reference I can find to the oil companies is: "Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend: (1) through calendar year 2008 the 0.2% Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) surtax payable by employers; and (2) from five to seven years the amortization period for geological and geophysical expenditures by certain major integrated oil companies."

woody with a view - 5-23-2008 at 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by beercan
My farmer friend says you're full of it !! He doesn't have to pay the "road use tax" of $.18--.26 /gallon --big savings --huh ?

My Brother-in -law who is the Manager of a fuel and oil distributor in Colorado says ditto !!

Quote:

by pescador
Large companies like municipalities and farmer's coops are buying bulk in a much lower price that we see at the pump.

the diesel fuel is dyed red and labeled for non hiway use. we get it by the barrel for our pettibone and generators on the jobsite.

woody with a view - 5-23-2008 at 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
You can thank our mealy-mouthed, do-nothing, lying, scum-bag congressman WALLY HERGER (R) since he is on record as being part of the problem. When HR 6 came up for the vote in January he said, like a burro, NAAAAAAAAAAAY.

HR 6 would have rolled back some of the freebies we generous tax-payers give to the oil companies so they can get even richer. It would also have budgeted about the cost of a week of his favorite war
(Operation Iraqi Liberation O. I. L.) to promote the development and use of alternative energy in the USA. Thanks Wally...what a big surprise you punk.

Keep in mind, he's up for re-election again after sucking at the public teat for 22 years.

i just sent in my absentee ballot today and i hope there will be some changes in this part of the state as well.

Frank - 5-23-2008 at 12:47 PM

Thanks Bajafun777, thats the type of info I was looking for.

Cypress - 5-23-2008 at 01:14 PM

Hope all those "anti-drill-for-oil-in-the-USA" idiots have deep pockets, they're gonna need 'em. :yes:

How many miles does a Polar Bear get per gallon? :yes:

Pescador - 5-23-2008 at 02:55 PM

Quote:

Cost to refine a gallon of gas is about 1/2 the cost to refine a gallon of diesel. Just because diesel comes off lower in the refraction column does not make it cheaper anymore. The new federal sulfur standards, which kicked in in 2006, are only 15 PPM. That is only 5% of the old standards. That takes some extra processing.

Well, this is fun and I spent a couple of hours reading everything I could find on the net and the real answer is that it is still cheaper to refine diesel than it is gasoline and they can use heavier crude to get jet fuel, diesel, and kerosene, but the real issue is how they have set the distribution load at the refinery and where they decide to crack the crude being refined. The demand for diesel in other parts of the world has really thrown the balance out of whack and therefore production is keyed to supply and demand.
Europe, Mexico, South America as well as the Middle East are all producing diesel at a significantly lower price than gasoline so the marketing and distribution seems to be a key factor in final pricing.
Since there is a dire shortage of refinery capacity and the political climate has not tolerated or allowed any new refineries to be built in the last 10 years, this skewing of diesel prices will probably get even worse in the future. In Europe where the diesel automobile and light truck usage overshadows the gasoline usage, the price for diesel (yes it is low sulfur) is lower.
So it seems to be more related to marketing than actual production costs.

Here's the Oil Company spin on HR 6

vgabndo - 5-23-2008 at 03:02 PM

It appears that if their tax breaks were rolled back the sky would fall in. :?:

http://www.api.org/Newsroom/hr-6-step-backward.cfm

Paulina - 5-24-2008 at 08:31 PM

When I watch a gory/scary movie on t.v. I squint my eyes to make the scene less horrendous. I'm going to try that trick tomorrow when I pull up to the diesel pump.

This afternoon the low fuel light flashed on so I thought I'd stop on my way home from the barn, but I couldn't force myself to pull into the station when I saw the price had gone up to $5.25 a gal.

I remember asking my dad what he was going to do once the price of gasoline went to one dollar. He said, "I'll pay it." I wondered how he could just give in and do that, and now I know.

I'd like to get a transfer tank on our truck, but I'd also like to have a copy of the customs rules in my hand when I cross back into the U.S. with the extra fuel.

I'm also wondering how many grocery bags I can hang off of the horn on my saddle.

P<x)))><

Diesel prices

stimbo - 5-26-2008 at 06:37 PM

Here's the Chevron station in Lee Vining, California over the Memorial weekend. It seems with the "captive" audience of travelers coming down Tioga Pass from Yosemite, the service stations feel they can ream the public and charge whatever they please. Can anybody out there top these prices?! The average cost for diesel fuel in the eastern Sierra is roughly $5.39/gallon. Welcome...

Chevron_569.jpg - 28kB

Paulina - 5-26-2008 at 06:48 PM

:wow:

vandenberg - 5-26-2008 at 07:00 PM

I remember in some European countries diesel being way cheaper for commercial use ( farm use and trucks ) then for personal use. A color is added and you better not get caught using it in your personal vehicle. Fine is hefty, and I mean hefty, if you get caught and a second offense will cost you your vehicle.
I thought that this would be worth looking into in the States before commercial fuel cost has all prices spiralling out of control. A far better way for our government to help the economy then Dubya's gift packkage.

Udo - 5-26-2008 at 07:01 PM

I don't know if this is the law set by US Customs, Congress or king George, but when I crossed into the US at Tecate a couple of weeks ago, I asked the customs officer how much extra fuel I was allowed to bring back.
I was emphatically told all I could bring back was my fuel tank plus 5 extra gallons. Not worth the extra room the can would take up in my Prius.
I suppose a pick up with an extra tank in the bed (because one drives very long distances at a stretch) would qualify as an on-board secondary gas tank.

Russ - 5-26-2008 at 07:02 PM

Why is it always 9/10s?

fulano - 5-26-2008 at 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stimbo
Here's the Chevron station in Lee Vining, California over the Memorial weekend.

The "8's" are upside down. Is that a sign of the Devil?

:lol:

bancoduo - 5-26-2008 at 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fulano

Quote:

Originally posted by stimbo
Here's the Chevron station in Lee Vining, California over the Memorial weekend.

The "8's" are upside down. Is that a sign of the Devil?

:lol:

That's the India version, taught to the illegal Mexican on the ladder.

[Edited on 5-27-2008 by bancoduo]

stimbo - 5-26-2008 at 08:03 PM

The 8's are floating away.... soon to be replaced by 9's!

Ken Cooke - 5-26-2008 at 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by udowinkler
I was emphatically told all I could bring back was my fuel tank plus 5 extra gallons. Not worth the extra room the can would take up in my Prius.

I'm hoping to set up a 4WD trip to Tecate late in June, and I'll remind everyone about this. I can 4 wheel for about the same price all day in Tecate as I can in the San Bernardino Natl. Forest - and I live in Riverside!!

BMG - 5-26-2008 at 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fulano

Quote:

Originally posted by stimbo
Here's the Chevron station in Lee Vining, California over the Memorial weekend.

The "8's" are upside down. Is that a sign of the Devil?

:lol:

Soon to be $6.66 :wow:

Oh, and 9/10

stimbo - 5-26-2008 at 08:32 PM

oooh.... too funny. $6.66 a couple of months ago seemed ludicrous and unthinkable. Now however, we could be there for the 4th of July weekend. Apparently, Satan is living high on the hog in Lee Vining.

stimbo - 5-26-2008 at 08:33 PM

..... and Washington.

Pompano - 5-26-2008 at 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
I remember in some European countries diesel being way cheaper for commercial use ( farm use and trucks ) then for personal use. A color is added and you better not get caught using it in your personal vehicle. Fine is hefty, and I mean hefty, if you get caught and a second offense will cost you your vehicle.
I thought that this would be worth looking into in the States before commercial fuel cost has all prices spiralling out of control. A far better way for our government to help the economy then Dubya's gift packkage.

Vandenberg... Colored, or dyed, lower cost diesel has been around in the States for many years now. Since 2001 in an area I am familiar with, and since 1994 in other sections of our country. This colored diesel caused quite a bit of confusion originally. It is lower in cost by about 35 cents a gallon because there is no road tax imposed on it. First, it was colored blue-green, and lately red-marroon. It is strictly for off-road use, as the pumps clearly state. It is enforced and checked regulary. The fines for getting caught using it for highway use are high...$1000 immediately plus $100 a gallon for our area. Restrictions and rules vary slightly around the nation. Some areas in Texas require a sticker on the vehicle window, limited mileage from one's residence, etc.

edit nationality

[Edited on 5-27-2008 by Pompano]

Bob and Susan - 5-27-2008 at 06:10 AM

who checks the usage???

in california i know of now "diesel tank" check points

how would any one know what you use???

what about the trucks burning mcdonalds waste oil???

gpm414 - 5-27-2008 at 06:57 AM

My wife and I just return from a trip to Europe where the average gas price is over $9 per gallon after converting to from liters and euros...got our attention. Diesel was just a few pennies less than gas. People are driving small cars along with countless scooters. Not that it makes it any easier to accept our prices, but makes us think about where our prices are headed. For now, living in Baja half the year gives us some relief, but the days of "cheap" fuel are gone...I think we just need to accept it.

vandenberg - 5-27-2008 at 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano

Quote:

Vandenburg... Colored, or dyed, lower cost diesel has been around in the States for many years now. Since 2001 in an area I am familiar with, and since 1994 in other sections of our country. This colored diesel caused quite a bit of confusion originally. It is lower in cost by about 35 cents a gallon because there is no road tax imposed on it. First, it was colored blue-green, and lately red-marroon. It is strictly for off-road use, as the pumps clearly state. It is enforced and checked regulary. The fines for getting caught using it for highway use are high...$1000 immediately plus $100 a gallon for our area. Restrictions and rules vary slightly around the nation. Some areas in Texas require a sticker on the vehicle window, limited mileage from one's residence, etc.

[Edited on 5-27-2008 by Pompano]

Pompano,
I do know about the fuel for off road being cheaper. Was that way around Sacramento for farm use, if I remember right.
But I was thinking more along the line of our trucking industry, which could use some help with federal subsidies. Seems to me they need it more then the farmers, some of which are getting very wealthy because of this situation.

Pompano - 5-27-2008 at 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
who checks the usage???

in california i know of now "diesel tank" check points

how would any one know what you use???

what about the trucks burning mcdonalds waste oil???

Here ya go, Bob.

In Montana and ND, the fuel tax bureau (read the US govt, DOT, IRS, etc) will test for more than just red dye diesel. Crooks are cheaters, naturally, and will always try to beat the system. If the checkers find anything that doesn't match a specific color chart, they will send the evidence into their fuels lab for further analysis.

So, as of today, DOT, or any law enforcement officer or govt branch, will check your tank for the "Red Colored" fuel which is "farm use" and if you have it, they will arrest you on the spot. But as far as veggie or used oil, I don't think they have developed a law on this as of this time, since it is still in development stage. Lots of VW rabbits on bio-fuel already, I see.

Last fall, I checked into running virgin veg oil as a harvest truck fuel, and found information on the Internet stating that for a Cat 3406B, there were three major problems.
1. The injector pump failure rate was very high, about 3 months..running heavily.
2. Coking of the upper piston ring area
3. Coking of the exhaust valves

Maybe other diesel engines do better? Who knows? I don't think I am going to trust my Cummins on it until all the facts are in.

On using the MacDonald's fry oil: Up North, I know a couple of hi-tech brothers who have been using used fryer oil to make fuel for a couple of cars, a truck and a tractor. The process is pretty involved and requires the use of a water heater, a couple of process tanks, a pump, a bunch of filters and some methanol. So far the only operational down side has been that they had to replace the fuel filters a couple of times early in the use, but after a while everything got cleaned out and seemed okay for use in last season's sugar beet harvest. They also manufacture a fuel additive that is getting pretty popular.

Used-motor oils are another fuel source, but I don't know any particulars.

Fuel additives: With the price of diesel continuing to climb, its no wonder additives/alternatives are popping up. I have heard of using a half and half mixture of ATF and regular fuel in an older Ford Power stroke. Some are running pure ATF with no issues. I dont know the first thing about this..but it makes interesting reading.

All of this research, additives, recycling, etc. will become increasingly popular with the skyrocketing diesel prices.

Barry A. - 5-27-2008 at 08:53 AM

The Farm Subsidies are a disgrace and an embarrassment, IMO-----------they should be abolished-------

vandenberg - 5-27-2008 at 08:56 AM

Quote:

Right you are, Vandenburg.

Vandenberg with an 'E' Roger. Different breed :biggrin:

Pompano - 5-27-2008 at 09:41 AM

Dutch, right?

BMG - 5-27-2008 at 10:30 AM

According to Goldman Sach's, oil may reach $200 a barrel sooner rather than later. When/if it does, the cost of crude would be about $4.75 a gallon. Now you can add on refining, distribution, taxes, making retail in the $6 - $7 range.

This should make some alternative fuels profitable to research and market.

Pompano - 5-27-2008 at 11:04 AM

Don Jorge, we need some of that 'subsidized' fuel for our wild-goose chases and rooster-runs. Wish I could bring a few tankerloads of US-Baja diesel back north.

Perhaps the cranking up of crude oil prices by OPEC, right in the middle of the USA's election process, telegraph's their intent to deal with a easily-influenced admininstration? Of course, the oil sheiks say it's the weakening American dollar that is causing them to raise prices. I suspect the price at our US pumps will continue to climb as high as England's outrageous $9/gal.

Maybe I will look into raising and releasing pheasants in the Mulege Valley. Viva cazadores!