Stung by the oil market
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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'14 ML BT
Stung by the oil market
When I bought the BT in June, the difference between diesel and gas was about .30 per gallon. Now with oil dropping hard, the difference has gone to .80 per gallon.
At .30, I figured the breakeven to be at about 35k miles, that's taken a drastic turn against my math.
My understanding is that diesel is marginally cheaper to product than gasoline is.
So much for my first diesel experience.
I wonder why people in the transportation industry aren't howling about the change?
At .30, I figured the breakeven to be at about 35k miles, that's taken a drastic turn against my math.
My understanding is that diesel is marginally cheaper to product than gasoline is.
So much for my first diesel experience.
I wonder why people in the transportation industry aren't howling about the change?
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'15 T&C & '14 SL63
While your breakeven over gas has extended further, your total cost of driving has still come down substantially.
While I'm sure you can howl about the delta to diesel... you could also just give a breath of relief and enjoy your lower fuel prices.
While I'm sure you can howl about the delta to diesel... you could also just give a breath of relief and enjoy your lower fuel prices.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 63
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From: MN
12 ml350 bluetec, 08 bmw 135i, 12 F250 PSD
My father and I just had a lengthy conversation about this very topic last night. He and I both drive diesel vehicles and have also felt the pain at the pump. You should feel lucky at a .80 cent difference. This morning, here in MN, the difference between reg. gas and diesel was 1.27!!! Gas was at 2.67 and diesel was 3.94. That is just complete bs.
My thoughts are that diesel can be whatever cost, as the trucking industry and businesses will just push the expense onto the consumer, resulting in higher cost groceries and other products. So really in the long run everyone gets a little hit from this price gouging. It's just that us Bluetec drivers get hammered twice.
P.s. I recall all the years until recently that diesel was always cheaper than gas, as it's less refined. I too would like to know the REAL reason for the huge difference.
My thoughts are that diesel can be whatever cost, as the trucking industry and businesses will just push the expense onto the consumer, resulting in higher cost groceries and other products. So really in the long run everyone gets a little hit from this price gouging. It's just that us Bluetec drivers get hammered twice.
P.s. I recall all the years until recently that diesel was always cheaper than gas, as it's less refined. I too would like to know the REAL reason for the huge difference.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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'14 ML BT
Not certain that's factual, but there is some logic to it.
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From: Atlanta, GA USA
2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
My father and I just had a lengthy conversation about this very topic last night. He and I both drive diesel vehicles and have also felt the pain at the pump. You should feel lucky at a .80 cent difference. This morning, here in MN, the difference between reg. gas and diesel was 1.27!!! Gas was at 2.67 and diesel was 3.94.
Keep in mind that, when doing comparisons, you should really look at the cost of premium gasoline; since that's what's called for in most MB engines.
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Junior Member
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From: MN
12 ml350 bluetec, 08 bmw 135i, 12 F250 PSD
^I understand the "winter blend" is always a little more, but after driving diesel vehicles for over 20 yrs, I've never seen a spread in cost like I have in the past year. Over 1.00+ is just down right ridiculous and wrong.
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Super Member
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: East part of Texas
2017 CLS550
I almost bought a ML350 diesel in May 2012 but decided on gas. Not because the diesel motor cost $1500 more up front or the price of diesel was .50 more expensive than premium but because of other factors such as driving style, use and period of ownership.
During the past 2 1/2 years here in Texas I have seen the gap in prices narrow to where gasoline and diesel were the same and then diesel became cheaper than gasoline. Now, we are again .50 a gallon more for diesel than premium. Because of these shifts one should consider buying on other factors besides price per gallon (unless you are planning on putting a whole bunch of miles on the thing in a short period of time).
The more important thing to determine is use - do you mostly drive long stretches of open highway, do you haul trailers or boats, do you plan on holding on to the car for ten years or more, etc. If your answers to these questions is yes than buy the diesel. If no, the gas version is just fine. Don't worry about the price of gas vs diesel because it will change again in time - it always does.
During the past 2 1/2 years here in Texas I have seen the gap in prices narrow to where gasoline and diesel were the same and then diesel became cheaper than gasoline. Now, we are again .50 a gallon more for diesel than premium. Because of these shifts one should consider buying on other factors besides price per gallon (unless you are planning on putting a whole bunch of miles on the thing in a short period of time).
The more important thing to determine is use - do you mostly drive long stretches of open highway, do you haul trailers or boats, do you plan on holding on to the car for ten years or more, etc. If your answers to these questions is yes than buy the diesel. If no, the gas version is just fine. Don't worry about the price of gas vs diesel because it will change again in time - it always does.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 63
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From: MN
12 ml350 bluetec, 08 bmw 135i, 12 F250 PSD
I agree with shortspark. All the factors you mentioned make sense, and those are many of the reasons why we drive a diesel....and the fact I prefer the diesel way more than the gas version. I can handle the price difference, it's just that when the price per barrel of oil goes down, so does gas, but diesel stays the same or goes down very little. Seems like a racket to me.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 513
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From: SoCal
13ML BT
It's only a $0.20 difference right now in LA.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Atlanta, GA USA
2000 MB G500 NMLE, 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Prestige
Towing definitely favors the diesel. However, these new common rail diesels have not been around long enough to know if they will have the life span of the old technology diesels. Based on the extremely high injection pressures and the other new technologies involved, I would have my doubts. However, I do like and prefer the common rail diesels over gasoline.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
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From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
I recently read that during the Reagan admin the gov't wanted to put a use tax on the federal highway system and the transportation industry went crazy. They compromised with the Congresscritters by allowing an add on diesel tax, which can slide from a base price.
Not certain that's factual, but there is some logic to it.
Not certain that's factual, but there is some logic to it.
"THEY" have been talking about how to raise money to upkeep the hwy system. I HOPE they leave the diesel tax as is and jack up only the gasoline tax..............I'm a dreamer I suppose.
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Joined: Apr 2014
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2014 E250 BlueTec RWD, 2015 GLK250 (Sold), 2025 GLE450E (On Order 4 May)
Not sure of the reason for diesel costing more, but the state and federal taxes in my state at least is a minimal difference, 6 cents.
.4290 for gas
.4890 for diesel
I seen today a spread of 50 to 90 cents more between regular and diesel coming into work.
http://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-g...ics/fuel-taxes
.4290 for gas
.4890 for diesel
I seen today a spread of 50 to 90 cents more between regular and diesel coming into work.
http://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-g...ics/fuel-taxes
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 513
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From: SoCal
13ML BT
If fuel costs are consistently $1.00-1.50/gal more for diesel, I would have passed on the oil burner. Luckily diesel tends to be less expensive than premium in LA, and being a slight loser in winter months. In any case, my next SUV will be full electric. Now that is a torque monster. Hopefully, car options, range and charging will be less of a concern in five years.
Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 98
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From: Alberta, Canada
ml350 bluetec
Here in Alberta gas (but not premium) is $0.904/litre or $3.42 per US gal, assuming the dollar is at par (which it isn't) and diesel is 1.249/litre or $4.73 per US gal. That's a $1.31 difference and that bites and bites hard.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 522
Likes: 69
From: North Texas
Presently 19 S560 SEDAN, 2014 XK, SOLD GLE 450e
Not sure of the reason for diesel costing more, but the state and federal taxes in my state at least is a minimal difference, 6 cents.
.4290 for gas
.4890 for diesel
I seen today a spread of 50 to 90 cents more between regular and diesel coming into work.
http://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-g...ics/fuel-taxes
.4290 for gas
.4890 for diesel
I seen today a spread of 50 to 90 cents more between regular and diesel coming into work.
http://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-g...ics/fuel-taxes
This is my first diesel vehicle and I'm VERY impressed with how I can pass other cars at will on the hwy and how I'm surprised each time I see I've hit the 100 mph mark when passing.
I had a GLK as a loaner when having regular maint done and it had the 302hp gas engine and my first thought was how happy I was having bought the Bluetec version rather than the gasoline engine.
The diesel price is a bit of a put off, but I"m thinking of trading one of my other cars for either a used S350 or a 2013 E Class with the bluetec engine, I'm so impressed with diesel now. One of the top three reasons for having one is the RANGE of the vehicles. I hate having to stop on a trip every 350 miles to get gas. Plus I like QUIET vehicles on long distance trips.
The again, a CL550 with a 25gallon gas tank...............ummm, good. To bad it's only a 21.1 tank that it comes with. And they don't make the CL550 anymore if I understand correctly.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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'14 ML BT
Since the 50's.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: MN
12 ml350 bluetec, 08 bmw 135i, 12 F250 PSD
Finally fellow diesel drivers are speaking out on the cost of diesel. The news had a long segment on upset trucking companies and businesses that are affected by the 1.30 per gallon cost difference.
The news also reported that minnesota diesel is the 4th highest in the nation....it figures.
The news also reported that minnesota diesel is the 4th highest in the nation....it figures.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Solon, Ohio
2013 ML350 Blue TecToyota 4Runner
The cost of Diesel will remain high because the Truckers can pass on the cost to consumers as FSC "fuel surcharge" this is a money maker for transportation companies. 
