Oregon Diesel and Gas Prices Continue to Soar

Rep. Dingel from Michigan is calling for another 50 cent a gallon tax. He must be in a really safe district.

Diesel isn't a by-product of gasoline production; it is just a later distillation, heavier and oilier than gasoline. The big hike in diesel prices last year was because of a requirement to make diesel a cleaner-burning fuel - they had to process it more to lower the sulfur content, so its price went up. Bio-diesel sounds good for the environment, but don't forget that it also has to be processed (causing pollution, just like petroleum) and it is often made from food-based crops (it's not always made from used restaurant oil, especially in the commercial market). It can, therefore, drive up the demand (and costs) for those food products. Even if it is made from products that aren’t for human consumption (like rape seed), that is a prime ingredient in hog food, and don’t forget, the land that grew your fuel could have grown food. (From a bio-diesel website): Do diesel engine manufacturers have any problem with you fueling your diesel rig with soybeans? ... Absolutely no problem. You do have to use an acceptable diesel blend and any damage caused by your fuel is not covered by your warranty ... but then fuel-caused damage never was covered by engine warranties. At this time B20 (20% biodiesel) is the maximum mix allowed by diesel manufacturer's warranties. (VW – and most other diesel engine manufacturers have OK’d B5 only). As far as ethanol in our gas, did anyone's mileage stay the same when we were switched to it last summer? With 100% petroleum, I got 39 mpg. That's about 25.6 gallons to go 1000 miles. With 10% ethanol, I use 30.3 gallons to go 1000 miles. If 90% of that is petroleum, I used 27.3 gallons of petrol. To coin an acronym my kids use, WTF? Ethanol appears to have degraded my performance so much I actually burn more fossil fuel than before. Is there a flaw in my math? I’m very diligent in checking my mileage and gas usage. Or is this just another con to line the pockets of oil producers? I’ve also read that ethanol (a solvent, not a lubricant), is very bad for older cars. We’ve got three older cars: a 1998, a 1996 and a 1984.

why diesel it is a by-product and it is going to effect food prices because it cost the trucker to move the food. I went bi-diesel against my dealers advise because it will void my warrentee who cares I can't afford the price of diesel today, and my car runs just as good Sorry VW it works regardless of what you say I have been using it for 5 months now.