Diesel versus gasoline prices?

[B.G. Smith]

I noticed the differences in fuel prices mentioned on another forum and had been wondering what is going on. Around here the price of gasoline has gone up from around $2.00 a gallon early in the year to around $2.55 now. Diesel was down to about $2.43 earlier and is now about $2.53. I see some stations where the diesel is only 1 or 2 cents more than gasoline and some where it is still over 30 cents more than gasoline. Not complaining, just curious. bg

 

[mfurrh55]

Up here in my area i paid .10 gal less for diesel than i did gas, saw the prices of diesel this morning in the Dallas area diesel was cheaper than gas too

 

[CRodi]

Up here diesel normally is slightly more in the winter and slightly less in the summer. The reasoning I heard is supply and demand. This fuel is also used as a heating fuel, therefore the colder and longer the winter the bigger the difference between gas and diesel prices.

 

[EGroeneveld]

Keizer, Oregon
Shell station, Diesel 2.95 and Regular Gas is 3.05

 

[JR]

Diesel prices always increase (at least locally) during the winter months due to higher demand compared to the warmer months. The summer months seem to be the cheapest time of the year for diesel and the most expensive time of the year for gasoline (also likely due to demand)

Locally diesel is with 5 to 10 cents per gallon of 87 octane.
Was just down in West Virginia and diesel was anywhere between 15 and 30 cents per gallon LESS than 87 octane gas...the way it should be IMO.

 

[jgillott]

$2.99 for 87 octane gas. $3.19 Diesel.

 

[MichaelOverfield]

Also, EPA/state mandates different blends of Gasoline for different areas, and at different times of the year.. for Diesel, same all year long... The changing demand is also a factor as already mentioned.

 

[mfurrh55]

2.39 diesel and 2.49 for gas

 

[JR]

Also, EPA/state mandates different blends of Gasoline for different areas, and at different times of the year.. for Diesel, same all year long... The changing demand is also a factor as already mentioned.

Don't forget about winterized fuel, I am pretty sure the additives they use to keep the fuel from gelling adds to a small portion of the increase in price.

 

[Killgore]

We're running $2.45 for gasoline and $2.79 for diesel. However, with a little searching I can buy quality diesel in Anniston for $2.59 per gallon. Can't figure the $.20 difference within 1/2 mile of the stations. And, the cheaper price is at an ultra modern station that dispenses a large volume.
- Ed

 

[MichaelOverfield]

JR,
I'll look into that, it was my understanding that when gelling becomes an issue, switching to #1 Diesel, vice #2 Diesel was the preferred method to avoid gelling. Where I live, it is temperate, I think they run standard #2 year round here, can't even find #1... not as if I'd need it anyway!

 

[MichaelOverfield]

Found this.. it varies I guess, but there are some winter additives in some regions, but there is not a set standard on this.. I have seen pumps in Montana with both #1 and #2 Diesel, and I guess some have pre added additives as well but it is far from predictable.

"United States[edit]

In the United States there is no legislation on a fixed time frame when winter diesel must meet a specific temperature characteristic. The ASTM D 975 standard does not specify the cold flow requirements of diesel fuel. Instead, it suggests that the cloud point be no more than 6°C higher than the 10th percentile minimum ambient temperature for the month the fuel will be used. The 10th percentile temperature corresponds to the minimum temperature that would be reached no more than 3 days out of 30 for the month (decile). The ASTM D 975 contains overview maps that show the expected tenth percentile temperature for every month for each state.[34]

Using these guidelines gas stations offer "winter ready diesel" for sale to the Motorist - there are two ways to achieve this:
winter blend - the gas station has blended the No.2 diesel with No.1(kerosene) by some percentage.
winterized diesel - the No.2 diesel has been treated with additives by the diesel supplier.

As the treatment with additives (1:40000[35]) is a cheaper way to enhance No.2 fuel in winter, most stations offer winterized diesel in cold weather conditions. In regions with colder weather, most gas stations offer No.1 fuel at the same pump allowing drivers to decide for themselves on a winter blend." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_diesel_fuel

 

[JR]

I believe #1 is still available in much of canada and alaska but fewer and fewer places carry straight #1 anymore in the lower 48. Primarily the northern states that see frigid weather. Even here where we see lows below zero pretty frequently 2- 3 months out of the winter and there is no #1 only winterized #2. They condition the fuel to the severity of the climate.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Was out carousing a little yesterday, went to Lake Charles. Fuel prices are still moving around, some up, some down. Saw gas for one cent more than diesel in one local station. Others are all over the spectrum, the big boys on the Interstate are still thirty or more cents higher than the small town areas. Prices right here are like $2.38 for gas an $2.46 for diesel. Loves at I-10 is $2.59 for gas and $2.89 for diesel, eighteen miles away. bg

 

[Jim W]

I do not know what has happen in IL. to lower the diesel fuel prices so much. Especially since there is an add an extra $0.10 a gallon fuel tax on diesel fuel that was added some time ago. But diesel fuel since Jan 15, has been between $2.75 to $2.37 a gallon changes daily/weekly. This is about $0.20 to $0.30 a gallon cheaper than gas for the same time period.

I do like the lower fuel cost now since it does not cost so much when towing my 5er to fill-up. I think back to the scary days of 2008 when fuel prices were between $4.05 and $4.75 a gallon.

Jim

 

[Mingoglia]

We're about $.10 cheaper per gallon for diesel than gas here in the metro Phoenix area. The pump on the corner has been rock solid at $2.56/gallon for at least the past few months. I know there's a station about 2 miles away which has been solid at $2.53 (according to Travel Link), but the $.03 difference isn't worth it to me since it's the opposite direction from the freeway I normally travel on. Over the past few months, I've seen gas fluctuate up and down to a high of about $2.89/gallon, while diesel hasn't moved.

In AZ fuel tends to stay a bit higher in summer due to "smog reducing" oxygenated fuel blends we use in the summer.

 

[cruisingram]

I live in the state with the highest fuel prices in the nation, and an area with very high prices. I live on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was 2.92 for gas, 3.12 for diesel. One of the reasons I want every one of my vehicles to be diesel is bio-diesel's cost. 2.25 a gallon and dropping! Make the fuel local-kine.

 

[JR]

That's almost a 30% difference, wow! What blend is used there? (B5,10, etc.)? I'm guessing at that much of a difference it must be blended on the island vs the regular #2 that is shipped in?

 

[Ram4Sam]

Here in the so cal barrio, diesel 2.43 and reg stinky stuff is 2.88 per.....

Sam

 

[The patriot]

Regular is as low as $1.79.9
Diesel is as low as $1.99.9 here. I'm sure it'll be going up real soon.