A little late but my comments on the cost of fuel.

According to my brother in law, in the oil refining business for about 50
years now, it costs about  five cents a gallon more to refine premium over
the cost of regular. Mid grade is a blend 60%regular to 40% premium. So the
cost of refining isn't the driving factor.

Actually neither is the cost of crude. What drives gas prices, at least in
the USA is the profit to the oil companies.  That's it.

Look at the profits of the majors oil companies in the USA over the last
year for proof.

JMHO,

Mike

On 4/24/05 9:35 PM, "David Marshall" <mailinglist@FASTFORWARD.CA> wrote:

> Well, there are several reasons why Diesel is better than Gasoline - at
> least for the Vanagon...
>
>
> Economy.
> My 2.1L takes about 13L to 14L per 100km - my TDI takes about 9L to 10L per
> 100km.  Here Diesel is $0.919 per liter and Premium gasoline (required for
> the DJ and the clean running of a MV) is $1.099 per liter.  To drive 100km
> in my DJ is about $15.50.  To drive 100km in my TDI is about $9.50.  More
> than 33% farther per dollar.  In the US I am noticing that Diesel is about
> he same price as Premium for some reason - Premium is very refined and
> Diesel is a few step above crude oil... strange... anyhow you still get more
> distance per dollar.  And let's not even get started with how inexpensive
> running straight veggie oil is!  Sorry... can't beat the petroleum companies
> with the gasoline engines.