Why is diesel so expensive all of a sudden?

[question everything]

We started considering a diesel vehicle for next year, or so, to replace the 1993 Volvo Wagon. One reason was that there seems to be some kind of a tax incentive and, I am told, diesel vehicles are easier to maintain.

But all of a sudden diesel is $3.00 a gallon, while the BP next door sells regular at $2.17. (This is MN, with whatever taxes are added. I know that it is cheaper in the south)

[kikiek]

1. I think they have to make a profit on one of the other. They're still

getting rich. When diesel is down regular is up. Occasionally they are the same.

[skids]

2. Heating oil.

Diesel and heating oil are basically identical. People up here are stocking up on it. Low supply causes high prices.

[HereSince1628]

10. Exactly, and all us folks up in the north would rather pay more

for everything than FREEZE.

[corbett]

13. Exactly Right (more)

Diesel is refined in a way similar to heating oil. However, because * is allowing Exxon to continue to make obscene profits while it blocks payment of its total obligation for the Valdez spill (details at http://www.exposeexxon.com), people who will burn heating oil this winter to stay alive are looking at a rise of at least 50% on their heating bill. They know prices are bad now but only will worsen so they're stocking up early. Soon, many of them will have to decide between food and medicine and the weekly delivery of oil.

[question everything]

15. Bastards. Seems that even the Republicans are starting to feel

a bit of shame at the obscene profits of the oil companies. I've heard on NPR that one of them - ExxonMobile? - reported profit that could pay for all the Katrina damage.

And, I suppose, only Blue states use heating oil so why bother, anyway?

[PowerToThePeople]

3. Cheney need more $$$ for his legal defense? n/t

[B Calm]

4. Well 1% of the entire country heat their homes with oil and they

say there is a huge demand.. it's bs..

[obxhead]

5. Diesel does tend to have a longer life, but

If you work on your own vehicle you would be in a whole new ball game with a diesel. If you're a repair shop kind of person diesel may not be the answer.

[question everything]

16. Why is that? No, not mechanically inclined at all

can you elaborate?

[madrchsod]

6. they refined to much fuel then they switched to gas

then the hurricanes hit. thru the market-supply ratio totally out of whack. something we never hear about is that we compete with europe for heating oil and diesel fuel, that market is refered to the "atlantic basin". prices will stablize by the end of next year when new fields come into the market and the refiners come back on line.

[havocmom]

7. All of a sudden? Been higher than gas in my area for months.

And since it takes diesel to get food growing, get it harvested and get it to market... guess what happens to your grocery bill. Been noticing that aspect big time here. It will get worse. Firms which do custom conbining won't even come to my area next year due to fuel costs. Bread is going up, folks.

[MuseRider]

9. No kidding.

It is getting really hard here. Co-ops are closing, fertilizer is skyrocketing and we are SOL. We are banding together to try to keep everything going, it is the only way now.

[question everything]

18. Trucking, too

Again, heard on the news that for trucking companies that rely mostly on diesel, operating costs really zoom.

[MuseRider]

8. $3.45 here in Kansas

I managed to get it for $3.35 this morning but it was back up this afternoon. It is a full dollar more than the most expensive gasoline here and has been for about 3 weeks now. Not only that, every station I go to now shuts the pump down at $75.00 and I can't fill my tank for that much. So it may be cheaper in the south but the middle is killing us!

[Chemical Bill]

11. Run biodiesel...

you may not save money, but you save lives.

Check out biodiesel.org

Bill

[msongs]

12. $10 billion PROFIT last quarter alone. that is why because people

will pay it.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Jane Austin]

14. My mileage is so much better in my VW Passat diesel,

that it's still cheaper in the long run than regular gas.

I'm on my second tank of Willie Nelson's biodeisel now, so I feel like I'm helping a little bit.

[Maddy McCall]

17. It's 3.29 here