[beemerbird]

Noticed today at Sainsburys that diesel is now 8 pence per litre more than petrol. The price difference between the two used to be around 3/4 pence per litre. I know an ex BP production manager who told me that the production process for refining diesel was more costly than petrol, however the crude oil required for diesel production is actually cheaper to buy.

My question is why is there now a wider gap in cost at the pump for the two fuels? When I first got the 335d, it was approximately 9 pence per mile cheaper to run in fuel terms than the 330i. Now the 335d is only approximately 3 pence per mile cheaper to run (notwithstanding MPG).

Anyone any ideas?

[NFS]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Noticed today at Sainsburys that diesel is now 8 pence per litre more than petrol. The price difference between the two used to be around 3/4 pence per litre. I know an ex BP production manager who told me that the production process for refining diesel was more costly than petrol, however the crude oil required for diesel production is actually cheaper to buy.

My question is why is there now a wider gap in cost at the pump for the two fuels? When I first got the 335d, it was approximately 9 pence per mile cheaper to run in fuel terms than the 330i. Now the 335d is only approximately 3 pence per mile cheaper to run (notwithstanding MPG).

Anyone any ideas?

http://www.petrolprices.com/why-dies...an-petrol.html

[beemerbird]

Interesting article but why the wider price gap at the pumps from September last year to now?

[NFS]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Interesting article but why the wider price gap at the pumps from September last year to now?

I'm not sure if it really is wider. Hasn't diesel generally been the same sort of price as super unleaded?

[jjbirch]

went to work today, one of my lorrys was running low on fuel we had a about 40 mile trip. We past 2 fill up pumps first one is 1.20 liltre so i said drive past that one and go to the other one about 10miles on, that was 1.17 both are local stations not big names we put in £170 of fuel in the trucks in the morning i said to the woman who was serving saying fuel is getting out of hand,and the other garage was 1.20,we drove past in the afternoon about 4ish and the harage that we filled up went upto 1..19 how can they do this. is this with in the law its not right

[peterg1965]

The price differential is biazarre. There was a point last year when diesel was cheaper than unleaded, about september if memory serves, explain that? The oil companies do it because they can get away with it. 8p price differential equates to about 36p per gallon. I remember 20 years or so when there was only a couple of pence difference between petrol and diesel per gallon. Now that prices have gone above the physcological 'barrier' of £1.00 per litre it seems that they have just rocketed. The next stage will be the £1.50/litre 'barrier.

It is also of interest that some pundits (spead betters more like) have predicted that oil prices may actually plunge back below $50/barrel this year. I dont know enough about the marker to comment, but it would be interesting to see if petrol/diesel prices reduce markedly if this is the case. Maybe a change in US presidency at the back end of the year will have an effect on oil prices. US foreign policy, in particular its attitude towards Iran, has a big effect on the markets........ sorry.... shutting up now.....i am now even boring myself ...............

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

The price differential is biazarre. There was a point last year when diesel was cheaper than unleaded, about september if memory serves, explain that? The oil companies do it because they can get away with it. 8p price differential equates to about 36p per gallon

My point entirely Pete - why the big price differential now - doing my head in!

[mikem]

Just buy a petrol car.

Diesel generally gets more expensive in winter as its used as a fuel.

[Hotcoupe]

Just a stab in the dark -

More & more people are/were jumping ship from petrol to diesel, although with the price of diesel, perhaps that trend is going to end soon.

Me, I know nothing

[ShereKhan]

Diesel usually has an additive added during winter to stop it clogging.

The strange thing is diesel is cheaper than petrol in most of europe.

I think the price differential is down to taxation.

Since I've had my fuel card I've stopped looking at prices, I've been using V power since Nov and when I was at the pumps the other day I noticed the price was 1.19

[NFS]

Originally Posted by mikem

Just buy a petrol car.

Sound advice.

I'd also recommend a manual gearbox to overcome the 'hard brake pedal' problem.

[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by needforspeed

Sound advice.

I'd also recommend a manual gearbox to overcome the 'hard brake pedal' problem.

Nah - Too slow (M3 excluded).

[Bumps]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

The price differential is biazarre. There was a point last year when diesel was cheaper than unleaded, about september if memory serves, explain that? The oil companies do it because they can get away with it. 8p price differential equates to about 36p per gallon. I remember 20 years or so when there was only a couple of pence difference between petrol and diesel per gallon. Now that prices have gone above the physcological 'barrier' of £1.00 per litre it seems that they have just rocketed. The next stage will be the £1.50/litre 'barrier.

It is also of interest that some pundits (spead betters more like) have predicted that oil prices may actually plunge back below $50/barrel this year. I dont know enough about the marker to comment, but it would be interesting to see if petrol/diesel prices reduce markedly if this is the case. Maybe a change in US presidency at the back end of the year will have an effect on oil prices. US foreign policy, in particular its attitude towards Iran, has a big effect on the markets........ sorry.... shutting up now.....i am now even boring myself ...............

All pretty wierd stuff and you seem to have had a better stab than I could have Pete, but essentially all that has to happen for the prices to plunge is for OPEC to turn on the taps a bit more (easily within capacity). But they'd lose money, so they won't. And our illustrious leaders would lose out on VAT when the price of North Sea oil fell in tandem. So they will hardly be pushing for it to happen then.

[dxb335d]

I love my diesel. How many diesels just ''fook off'' as it were from Older M cars...

Carlos


P.s i know its not really a performace motor, but i had a go with one of those megane turbos the other night... EASY MAYYYTEEE

[squeezebm]

Originally Posted by beemerbird

Nah - Too slow (M3 excluded).

[mikem]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

I love my diesel. How many diesels just ''fook off'' as it were from Older M cars...

Carlos


P.s i know its not really a performace motor, but i had a go with one of those megane turbos the other night... EASY MAYYYTEEE

Still fighting the cause Carl.

It`s horses for courses, that little Megane Turbo would leave you blushing on a tight, twisty track but on a straightish road/ high speed run you`ll easily pull away from it as you have prob 70-80 hp more.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by mikem

Still fighting the cause Carl.

It`s horses for courses, that little Megane Turbo would leave you blushing on a tight, twisty track but on a straightish road/ high speed run you`ll easily pull away from it as you have prob 70-80 hp more.

Would it f***. The e92 chassis is very well balanced, even with that big D up front..

a 335i went around a tarck quicker than an rs4. But you think a megane turbo (fwd?) will leave fandango blushing? you aint seen me round the twisties mate, let alone me in a 340+bhp 335d

[mikem]

LOL, I must`ve just driven the shit ones mate. Or your a driving God.