Diesel price v petrol price

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:35 am

I just read an article that suggests the gap between the price of diesel and the price of petrol in Finland has narrowed due to increasing demand for diesel. Simple supply-demand economics might support that notion, but I had always supposed (based on nothing in particular) that taxation rates were the main factor at play. Any thoughts? What really determines which fuel is the cheaper, and by how much?

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SteveS · Post by **SteveS** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:18 pm

I thought it was a cruel con by the government.. First they lower the new car tax on Diesel cars so every one rushes to buy one, then they hike the tax on diesel to claw back the money.

Now everyone is stuck with cars that pollute more, require more servicing and that encure a large cartax bill every year..

jas_rho · Post by **jas_rho** » Tue May 13, 2008 1:32 pm

Diesel cars in general usually pollute less actually. That's way the new car tax introduced the beginning of this year lowered the price of diesel cars.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:17 pm

Well I filled up at Neste yesterday (or rather my SO filled my car for me) and now I have acceleration problems (automatic gearbox)... put my foot down and it hovers at 2000 rpm and then allofasudden the gas kicks in and I go into vertical take-off mode. A bit scary when over-taking since I am not quite sure when the extra revs will kick in.

My guess is I have the new improved biowhatsit NExBTL in my tank (filled up in Suomenoja)... but I am going along this afternoon to check it out.

My other half said he noticed it too, but thought it was the trailer. I have been driving without all morning. So it can't be that.

Anyone else had any problems????

jas_rho · Post by **jas_rho** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:28 pm

Dunno, sounds odd. But it could be the knuter valve.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:31 pm

jas_rho wrote: knuter valve.

whasat???

Where is it?
(There is no page called knuter in wikipedia....)

Car is only 2 yrs old, about 90 000 km (maybe a bit less, can't remember)

Mattlill2000 · Post by **Mattlill2000** » Tue May 13, 2008 4:25 pm

put my foot down and it hovers at 2000 rpm and then allofasudden the gas kicks in

I had a similiar problem with my Toyota. It had something to do with the sensors on the computer indicating pollution control device wasn't working properly, meaning an incorrect fuel mixture in the injectors!

hanj · Post by **hanj** » Tue May 13, 2008 4:43 pm

2 yrs old car and 90000km...it should be under warranty ...quick go and get it checked.

yeah its sickening to see diesel has increased almost 50cents in the last 1 year...30cents of which in the past 4month.

peteh · Post by **peteh** » Tue May 13, 2008 5:58 pm

Everyone one must also remember that diesel engines do burn less fuel. I am currently looking to buy a new 1.5 diesel small car. They generally sip on average 4.7 l/100km. That at the current rate will save me quite a lot of readies as I clock up about 35,000 kms a year. Service on a diesel is approx the same nowadays as a normal petrol car and they are no way noisy or smelly as they were 10 yrs ago.
At the current market diesels also seem to hold there price a little better.

SteveS · Post by **SteveS** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:26 pm

jas_rho wrote:Diesel cars in general usually pollute less actually. That's way the new car tax introduced the beginning of this year lowered the price of diesel cars.

Actually, diesel cars might produce less CO2 which is what they base the tax on. Unfortunately diesels chuck out "Diesel Particulate Matter" which is very, very unhealthy.

Until all car manufacturers fit particulate filters to their cars I stand by my earlier statement!

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:34 pm

hanj wrote:2 yrs old car and 90000km...it should be under warranty ...quick go and get it checked.

It's booked in for Thursday and I'm bussing tomorrow anyway as I will be in town. The guy at the garage had no idea what it was. It's a lease car, so warranty not an issue. And in fact it only has 60 000 km - I was way off.

hanj · Post by **hanj** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:52 pm

the symptom you described sounds like gear slipping.....then again it could be anything...

donald · Post by **donald** » Tue May 13, 2008 7:25 pm

peteh wrote:Everyone one must also remember that diesel engines do burn less fuel. I am currently looking to buy a new 1.5 diesel small car. They generally sip on average 4.7 l/100km. That at the current rate will save me quite a lot of readies as I clock up about 35,000 kms a year. Service on a diesel is approx the same nowadays as a normal petrol car and they are no way noisy or smelly as they were 10 yrs ago.
At the current market diesels also seem to hold there price a little better.

What is your budget? I recently had the chance to drive a new Audi A3 1.9TDIe... note the "e" at the end, it stands for economic (or efficiency? or e-whatever). With my driving, it consumed about 4,8l/100km. As reference, a normal petrol car with a 1,6l engine would consume around or more than 8l/100km on the same route I tried the A3. And the engine performance is far away from a good old days diesel engine, you can accelerate very fast, if needed. Another convenience of Audis is that they need service only once every 30'000km. If the price is within the range of your budget, then GO FOR IT!!!

hanj · Post by **hanj** » Tue May 13, 2008 7:31 pm

Toyota Avensis 2.0l D-4D Wagon is averaging 6.1l/100km on city+highway driving. This is not from the brochure spec page..

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:00 pm

hanj wrote:the symptom you described sounds like gear slipping.....then again it could be anything...

I need a new exhaust sensor valve. Apparently, exhaust emissions are going back into the engine. Does that make sense???

Anyway, the spare part has been ordered.... car will have to go back in next week. But I can still drive it, slowly, but overtaking is a bit scary.

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