What have you done about fuel prices?

[roofeditor]

Originally Posted by luckuslucas

If the weather's nice, my bike doesn't cost a whole lot to run...

I left that one out and today I went to the gym and to inspect Cocoa Beach Country Club all on the Bike (Harley) About 40 mpg!!!

[roofeditor]

Originally Posted by Dave Whitmer

I compose using Microsoft Word. I also am active at another site that just installed new software and if I don't use a big font it comes out so small I need a magnifying glass. The big font is just a default.

I was just wondering if you had some eyesight problem like several here do. I've been blessed but I know several here that the big fonts help.

[94_turbo]

be careful of running non-taxed fuel---------------

[DieselFan]

1. Change car/truck to something more efficient?

- Back in October 2006, we gave our Honda Accord to our college-bound son and bought a 2003 VW Jetta TDI for a second car. My wife works from home, so I alternate between the VW and the Excursion. Roughly 2/3's of the time I'm driving the VW. The rest of time I'm in the truck hauling or towing or just letting it stretch its legs if it hasn't been driven for a while.

2. Drive less?

- No, not really. We've always consolidated trips to save time and fuel. What we have done is keep it below 60 MPH and drive like we've got an egg on the gas pedal. Yields about 25-30% in savings.

3. Take the little car instead of the F-350?

- When it make sense.

4. Now here is the big one. How many of you have written to your congressman or senator asking them to look into the speculation shell game which is actually driving the prices way up. Think about it, you all have a congressman and have a senator so how many of you have actually written or called your guy/gal?

- I've written and called both my state and federal elected officials. Not to look into the speculation shell game, but to steer us towards increased production and get out of the way. Like it or not folks, oil fuels 90% of the world economies and any suitable alternatives are decades off.

Bloomberg News is now reporting that "Emerging Market Oil Use Exceeds U.S. as Prices Rise". See Bloomberg.com: Exclusive

In addition, emerging markets consumption will continue to spiral upward for the forseeable future. China alone is expecting to consume 62.5% more oil in 2020 compared to 2006. See "China's oil consumption to hit 563M tons in 2020" at China's oil consumption to hit 563M tons in 2020

In other words, we are in a world of hurt.

With what the future holds, the only answer is to continue to develop alternatives to oil and significantly increase domestic production and refinement of crude to put downward pressure on the price of oil. We need the market to build us more efficient vehicles and factories (if there are any left) and we need to start putting more nuclear plants on line.

And like Dave said, kick EPA to the curb and may I add, throw a few tree huggers under the bus. We don't need extremists. We need people to look at this in an intelligent manner and apply a measured approach. Moderation is the key.

And IMHO, I don't want the government trying to fix this. All they will do is screw it up like they have just about every thing else.

The downward pressure on the dollar also affects this but that's for another thread I guess.

[nascar88]

The truck will be used to get firewood and that's about it. Maybe a little close towing with the 5th wheel. Motorcycles and the honda civic for now.

[luckuslucas]

Originally Posted by roofeditor

I left that one out and today I went to the gym and to inspect Cocoa Beach Country Club all on the Bike (Harley) About 40 mpg!!!

Maybe I should have been more specific. By bike I meant bicycle. For around town stuff it's way faster than a car anyway. All I have to do is fuel myself...

[Dave Whitmer]

1. Driving less
Not a starter.
That would entail living somewhere I don't want to live or working a less-than-satisfactory job, or both. Not acceptable.

2. Get a car.
Not acceptable.
Don't like car payments. $700/mo buys a lot of fuel even at today's prices.
Low top sill. Cars are designed for midgets or gymnasts.
Automatic transmissions. Very difficult to find a car with a stick and a decent top-sill height.

I do ride the bike (Honda Valkyrie) to work occasionally, but it is such a gas-hog that my truck may soon get better MPG.

My 50 mile commute precludes a bicycle.

Until the nation is ready to cuff aside the EPA, NIMBYs, and environmental extremists the price of energy will only go up.

[roofeditor]

Originally Posted by Dave Whitmer

1. Driving less
Not a starter.
That would entail living somewhere I don't want to live or working a less-than-satisfactory job, or both. Not acceptable.

2. Get a car.
Not acceptable.
Don't like car payments. $700/mo buys a lot of fuel even at today's prices.
Low top sill. Cars are designed for midgets or gymnasts.
Automatic transmissions. Very difficult to find a car with a stick and a decent top-sill height.

I do ride the bike (Honda Valkyrie) to work occasionally, but it is such a gas-hog that my truck may soon get better MPG.

My 50 mile commute precludes a bicycle.

Until the nation is ready to cuff aside the EPA, NIMBYs, and environmental extremists the price of energy will only go up.

Honda 40 mpg? Gold wings get that or better! Truck gets 15 possibly? Bike is more fun!

[checkthisout]

Originally Posted by Dave Whitmer

1. Driving less
Not a starter.
That would entail living somewhere I don't want to live or working a less-than-satisfactory job, or both. Not acceptable.

2. Get a car.
Not acceptable.
Don't like car payments. $700/mo buys a lot of fuel even at today's prices.
Low top sill. Cars are designed for midgets or gymnasts.
Automatic transmissions. Very difficult to find a car with a stick and a decent top-sill height.

I do ride the bike (Honda Valkyrie) to work occasionally, but it is such a gas-hog that my truck may soon get better MPG.

My 50 mile commute precludes a bicycle.

Until the nation is ready to cuff aside the EPA, NIMBYs, and environmental extremists the price of energy will only go up.

I agree with some of this. You could purchase a cheap used fuel sipper for a few grand though.

Another obvious solution is to develop mass-transportation that people can use for their everyday commutes instead of burning precious fuel.

It's quite odd. U.S. economic woes could be completely solved by developing mass-transportation infrastructure, building nukes to make hydrogen for cars and generating power for household electricity and turning coal into liquid fuel and one that people often fail to mention is natural gas.

Natural gas makes a great motor vehicle fuel. When I was a kid the school districts entire bus fleet was run off of natural gas.

[MT765]

I'm thinking about becoming a mountain man. I hear they don't have much use for fuel. But seriously, I have tried to drive less but with trying to get to college classes on time makes it hard. Driving less is easier said then done.

[FloridaEd]

Lucky me, I don't still work, so commuting is not a problem. Unlucky me, I have two big Ford pickups.. see sig.. and neither is stingy with fuel.

1. We now drive Momma's F-250 gasser everyday and I never go over 45... sorry to those who get behind me... but most folks are not in such a hurry anymore. Momma's ride is up from 12 MPG to 15-16 with easy starts and lower speeds. I ran a spreadsheet and it's folly for me to buy a new gas-miser right now... pay for the fuel and drive the paid-for F-250 for another 10 years. But fuel may double again and I'll run another spreadsheet.

2. I used to put about 30k a year on my diesel... we're down to about 15k a year and a lot of that towing with close to 20k gross combined weight. I used to get 11-12 at 60 MPH, but I've dropped to 55 on interstates and 50 on secondary roads and have recently gotten 13.7 and 13.3 MPG towing.

3. I've been looking at a 125cc scooter for Wal-Mart trips and short runs.

4. I used to go to Hardee's for a biscuit and sausage gravy several times a week. I figured it out that it costs me abou $4.50 to drive to Hardee's for a $3.00 meal. I've cut that to about once a week... oatmeal and toast now for breakfast.

5. We now combine trips and keep an updated list of things to do and buy so we can combine them on errand trips.

6. I haven't called my Congressman because anything he does will screw up the mess further.

In the future, if I live long enough, Momma will need a new vehicle and I'm absolutely sure I will be able to buy a vehicle, most likely Honda, that gets 60-70MPG or more and will carry us in reasonable comfort and safety. My diesel F-350 dually will stay with me and be inherited by one of my nephews. I'll never buy another pickup unless I wreck this one, but this one will last longer than I will.

Big ticket markets like autos take a long time to make changes... I fugure 10-15 years before the effects of high fuel prices will work themselves through our economic choices because lots of folks will see it the same way I do... cheaper to keep the guzzler right now. But as I and millions of others need to replace vehicles, the changes will begin and become a big force in the economy.

I'm just glad I can get diesel fuel and have the $$ to pay for it. Last time Congress got involved... and I was there.. there were long lines, shortages, AND high prices.

Florida Ed

[macmaniac1]

I have been driving the '84 vw rabbit diesel that i found for $400 along the road. I avearge about 45mpg with my foot in it quite a bit. Still it has costing me $40 to fill. Time to make it a bio-bunny! I have also been commuting with a fellow worker to save money. We are also planning to relocate to a better location for the family. A place where we can have a garden to help on the grocery bill. I was also thinking on running brown gas(HHO).

[Dave Whitmer]

15 MPG from the truck? Roof, this is old Dave you’re talking to. My truck gets a steady mid 24 in the winter with dense air and half my aero mods disabled. I get high 26s in summer and may get 30 with this years mods. In fact my last three tanks averaged 26.0. 15 MPG my foot!

My Valkyrie (a naked Gold Wing with six carbs) gets 28-33 MPG and seems resistant to most of the stuff I do to my truck.

Have any of you seen what really fuel-efficient cars go for these days? A junk yard Insight will set you back $3500 and then you’ll have to fix it. When people let go of these they are wrecks.

Mass-transit would require completely restructuring how people live. People are used to going where they want when they want to go there. It seems the mass transit goes only where it wants to go when it wants to go and in any case it goes slowly. Mass transit is an eighteenth century solution to the way cities were set up then. Mass transit would be nearly impossible given today’s diffuse land-use. I don’t think Americans want to accept any more regimentation than what they endure now.

Have you looked at natural gas prices lately? $12/DTh on the NYMEX this morning.

[roofeditor]

Originally Posted by Dave Whitmer

15 MPG from the truck? Roof, this is old Dave you’re talking to. My truck gets a steady mid 24 in the winter with dense air and half my aero mods disabled. I get high 26s in summer and may get 30 with this years mods. In fact my last three tanks averaged 26.0. 15 MPG my foot!

My Valkyrie (a naked Gold Wing with six carbs) gets 28-33 MPG and seems resistant to most of the stuff I do to my truck.

Have any of you seen what really fuel-efficient cars go for these days? A junk yard Insight will set you back $3500 and then you’ll have to fix it. When people let go of these they are wrecks.

Mass-transit would require completely restructuring how people live. People are used to going where they want when they want to go there. It seems the mass transit goes only where it wants to go when it wants to go and in any case it goes slowly. Mass transit is an eighteenth century solution to the way cities were set up then. Mass transit would be nearly impossible given today’s diffuse land-use. I don’t think Americans want to accept any more regimentation than what they endure now.

Have you looked at natural gas prices lately? $12/DTh on the NYMEX this morning.

Some claim 50 but what the heck you get 26 mpg with a F-350 so 50 on a GW I guess follows.

Figure how much 100,000 btu's is for diesel and then 100,000 btu's is for natural gas. Tell me how you do!

[checkthisout]

Originally Posted by Dave Whitmer

15 MPG from the truck? Roof, this is old Dave you’re talking to. My truck gets a steady mid 24 in the winter with dense air and half my aero mods disabled. I get high 26s in summer and may get 30 with this years mods. In fact my last three tanks averaged 26.0. 15 MPG my foot!

My Valkyrie (a naked Gold Wing with six carbs) gets 28-33 MPG and seems resistant to most of the stuff I do to my truck.

Have any of you seen what really fuel-efficient cars go for these days? A junk yard Insight will set you back $3500 and then you’ll have to fix it. When people let go of these they are wrecks.

Mass-transit would require completely restructuring how people live. People are used to going where they want when they want to go there. It seems the mass transit goes only where it wants to go when it wants to go and in any case it goes slowly. Mass transit is an eighteenth century solution to the way cities were set up then. Mass transit would be nearly impossible given today’s diffuse land-use. I don’t think Americans want to accept any more regimentation than what they endure now.

Have you looked at natural gas prices lately? $12/DTh on the NYMEX this morning.

I feel more than blessed that I have a company car with all my Gas and Insurance covered.

Checking out rates for Natural Gas from my local utility shows them to be at $1.08 per therm "delivered" I.E. including a $.30 "utility charge" per therm.

So thats $1.08 per 100,000 BTU's with Diesel containing something like 140,000 BTU's per gallon @ $3.90 a gallon -$.55 for taxes = $3.35 a gallon makes it about $2.39 per 100,000 BTU's or natural gas the equivalent of a $1.50 a gallon Diesel.

Soooo....$1.50 VS $2.39 for the same amount of energy

On Edit: I see average west coast Diesel prices are $4.30 a gallon so adjust the numbers accordingly.

And then of course for good measure, assume Diesel Engines do 20% better than an NG-burning vehicle at extracting that energy.

You're still quite a ways ahead with the natural gas and far less complexity and maintanence on the vehicle compared to a Diesel.

I am always wowed by the fact that motor oil with 10,000 miles on it from an NG or LPG fueled vehicle looks just as clean as the day you put it in.