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Old 05-20-08, 11:03 PM   #51
dclee
IH8MUD Lifer
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Elk Grove, CA, USA
TLCA# 12205
Posts: 1,762
Quote:
Originally Posted by 100 TD View Post
Before I get banned for quoting Shotts I'd better say I just drove past the gas station and saw the latest price of Diesel is now $1.81 AUD per litre or $6.57USD per US gallon!
Unleaded is $1.53 AUD per litre or $5.55USD per US gallon.

Geez, I thought we had it bad! I feel (well, sort of) your pain, my friend!

The math I use also takes into account fuel economy. IMHO that's the only true measure of total fuel cost. Sure I pay more per gallon, but I also get more miles out of each gallon. Since my ultimate goal is driving distance, that's the measure I use. Here's an example from my own personal experience:

Assume the price of Regular Unleaded (not even Premium) is $3.90 per gallon (as it is here).

Assume the price of Diesel is $4.70 per gallon (as it is here).

1980 Mercedes-Benz 280GE, 2.8L petrol motor, returns ~13 mpg mixed
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300GD, 3.0L diesel motor, otherwise identical truck, returns ~20 mpg mixed (and I drive somewhat aggressively).

For the gasser, that's 13 miles per gallon at $3.90 per gallon. 3.9/13 = $0.30 per mile.

For the diesel, that 20 miles per gallon at $4.70 per gallon. 4.7/20 = $0.24 per mile.

That's a 20% savings in fuel costs alone. Ratchet that up to the cost of Premium fuel that most modern Land Cruisers specify, and the disparity (in this case) goes up to 33%!


__________________
Derek Lee
`63 Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG (404.115)
`64 Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG (404.114)
`81 Mercedes-Benz 300GD (460.333)
`90 Mercedes-Benz 500SL (R129)
`02 Saab 9-5 Aero
`04 Toyota Land Cruiser (UZJ100)
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