Last year we had hundreds of people write to us in Support asking why there was a 13ppl difference between petrol and diesel at the pumps. While we covered it briefly then, we wanted to explore a more in-depth look at why this happens and what causes it.
We’ll cover seasonal transitions, a bit about how the price at the pumps is determined as well as how the system works.
How the price at the pump is determined
You may have seen in the news this week about “7ppl rises expected” after the attacks on Saudi Arabia and wondered how long it takes for a significant event to be felt at the pumps.
First, let’s look at how oil comes from being drilled to the pumps itself.
Once the oil has been drilled it’s sold on the market and in the UK we trade Brent Crude. Oil is traded in dollars so events that affect the value of the pound or dollar can fall in our favour or out of our favour.
Now that a refining company has bought the oil it is taken to a refinery and using fractional distillation is split into all the products we use from bitumen for the roads to bottled gas. Petrol (or gasoline) is a much lighter fuel whereas diesel is denser and is taken from the “same bit of the barrel” as heating oil.
After the refining process has finished, then the fuel is sold on the wholesale market which retailers buy and then this is what is sold at the pumps.
Costs add up all the way through the line, and you can watch the video below to explain it further on how the price of fuel is determined.
Could diesel be rising?
Seasonally diesel rises every year from the end of September to spring the following year. This is to do with the grades of diesel used as in winter are more expensive than summer as they have more restrictive cold properties, such as cloud point, or cold filter plugging point.
Petrol goes the opposite way, as it shifts to a different Reid vapour pressure as cooler European temperatures allow lighter molecules to be used. This helps to widen the gap between diesel and petrol even further, as petrol can be manufactured for cheaper in winter. This change officially begins on October 1st, but the Platts cargo assessments, which reflect values of cargoes loading or discharging 10-25 days ahead from time of publication, make the change ahead of the date.
Another factor in this price spread is the peak driving season in the US is over so petrol demand has lessened meaning that prices can fall and also a greater price spread will happen.
So it’s not just because I have a diesel?
Not at all, it’s just unfortunate that the spread has been increasing recently as more and more taxes are lumped onto diesel drivers.
From ULEZ to drop off taxes at airports, everything is keyed towards the diesel driver paying out more. However, aside from getting rid of the diesel, there is not much one can do. There are some scrappage schemes available for low-income families but not for the general public.
The spread has been noted as the biggest since February this year as experts analyse the crack swap. Crack swap tracks the difference between the value of the refined product such as diesel or gasoline and that of crude oil. It’s a widely used hedging instrument that allows refiners, consumers and producers to lock in prices as well as serving as a measure of the forward market.
How to save money when driving
When driving a diesel car, especially as the pump prices are so high, you can improve your fuel consumption by following the below:
Don’t use unnecessary speed. The Department for Transport figures states you’ll use up to 9% more fuel driving at 70mph than you would at 60mph and up to 25% more fuel travelling at 80mph instead of 70mph. The faster you drive, the greater your fuel consumption. Set off a little before you need to, to avoid feeling rushed.
Don’t think slow driving is always best though. To drive well below the speed limit on motorways, etc, is dangerous. It’s also unlikely to save much fuel. Conserve momentum. This is as important for fuel consumption as not driving too fast.
Drive at the lowest speed you can, in the highest gear possible. Car manufacturers quote the most fuel-efficient driving speed as 55/56mph.
Recieve the price alerts to get the cheapest prices near you in your inbox.
You can also download our new app to check stations near you on the go, see here for more: https://petrolprices.com/download-the-app/
What do you think of the price spread? Do you notice it yearly? What’s the spread near you? Let us know below.
A couple of months ago in some places the price of petrol equalled the price of diesel. This was for
A very short period. I find generally the pricing between the two is 5-7ppl. In Hampshire. What I would like to understand is why Diesel in one area is 5ppl more expensive than in another. Example Calne, Wiltshire 125.9 ppl, Basingstoke, Hants 131.9? 19/9/2019. Generally in the North of England fuel is always cheaper than in the south.
Try BLYTH SERVICES on AI NOTTS (BETTER STILL, DON’T TRY = £149.9lt)
Living near the coast of West Sussex, where there are plenty of wealthy people – not all of us, though – fuel prices are mostly higher than in many other parts of the country.
The more affluent the area, the higher petrol and diesel prices are, usually separated by 5-8 ppl.
In Humberside,the spread varies from 125.9-132.7 for diesel. Asda spread is just 3ppl over petrol, however at Morrisons it is 6-7ppl over petrol.
Just spent a month in Ireland, where diesel is cheaper than petrol by a good 13-14ppl. Paid 1.30 cent, which equates to around £1.17 per litre. Nothing to do with production costs and everything to do with the tax/VAT imposed by the respective governments.
Fuel costs at the pump are roughly 60% tax
Same in Spain(Cadiz area….Andalucia) diesel is 1.25 Euros while petrol is 1.30 Euros litre.
Thought being in E.U. meant we were all going to get same deal…..fighting pollution etc.
Not much control of waste either(bins), leave much to be desired.
Why don’t you give diesel prices only unleaded
change your account settings, I get both.
Never had this issue before people started to buy diesel on the advise of government diesel was always about 7ppl cheaper till people bought them over petrol and then the price turned the other way there was never a price rise in the colder months it is only happening now through greedy oil producers and government raising costs and taxes through the back door
Exactly! Lies, more lies and big red buses of lies!
The big red bus was true, only you did not believe, I sympathise, but then it is how well you were educated in English Language, it is only the learning of a foreign language you learn how abysmal our teaching standards were and how much confusion it leads to in later life. However, I doubt you will read this, so you will never understand.
A pity.
In “the” English language.
A few full stops would clarify your point also.
Diesel went up in price originally because refineries were geared up for mostly petrol and not much diesel. When everyone started buying diesels at the behest of the government, the refineries were not set up for it and so it became increasingly costly for them to meet demand.
As far as the technicalities go, modern diesel is certainly more expensive in the winter as explained above. However in the past, petrol did not go down in price because it is a factor of the increasing levels of ethanol and bio-ethanol used now that enables the formulation to be changed in the colder months.
so, why is diesel cheaper than petrol in France and some other EU countries?
Tax…Macron wants to put the prices up. Hence Gilets Jaune. Only one part of their protests.
On the Continent ( E.U. ) bio, standard and super diesel has been cheaper than petrol for many years. I would suggest it is UK Government policy to charge motorists more per litre for diesel than petrol
My consolation as a diesel car owner is that my fuel consumption is 50% better than if it were petrol. And with a 600 mile per tank range, I never buy extortionately priced fuel at Motorway Service stations.
Why is diesel cheaper than Petrol in Spain and a lot cheaper than the U.K. Diesel is 1.14 euro on Spain
Nigel, I’m currently on gran canaria and diesel is 0.95 litre an petrol is 1.17. It’s our bloody rip off government again, diesel was always cheaper than petrol. Its because its environvmently friendly, green tree huggers (who get ferryed around in big jags) think they can single handedly save the world.
No sir, diesel is not more environmentally friendly than petrol.
Scientific fact. You seem to have been brainwashed like many.
The facts are boring, no Greta’s to sell the product, but they count.
Just remember not all is ever as it seems and you will not be disappointed!
greta’s bothered about AGW. That’s caused by CO2, allegedly. Diesel gives 30 % less CO2. Therefore , I Drive a diesel, to save the planet, as instruted by the govt, until now/
It is a modern canard that diesel is more harmful than petrol and the switch away from it is causing the UK to start missing CO2 emissions commitments. Diesel engines are far more economical than petrol – hence the CO2 problem – and modern compliant ones have for some time had effective filters that remove the problem particulates. The trouble is that the government has taken a sledgehammer to crack a nut as usual and condemned the thing they used to want us to use without thinking (a) of the consequences and (b) that the problem that concerns them has already been resolved.
In Spain at the moment having driven through France and diesel cheaper than petrol in both countries
I go to Germany each year for Easter and use just enough diesel to get there then fill up in the week, on a weekend it goes up and then on the return trip I top up again and fill a 10ltr can. Last Easter i paid the equivalent in £1.07ppl on a weekend jumps to £1.14ppl then when i get back to Belgium (Aldenkirk) £1.17ppl on the border of France, this year France was dearer that the UK
The problem I have, is why one Shell station sells diesel at £132.9 and another a few miles away sells at £128.9?
134.9 diesel and 131.9 petrol
Why do we pay more for diesel in the UK than on the continent?. Is it down to higher fuel tax in the UK?
Greedy government taxes
Yes.
Interestingly we notice a 2-3 mpg drop in fuel consumption in winter. Also cheap Morrison’s diesel was probably a contributory factor in a fuel pump failure. The fuel pump had a 4 figure price tag. The mechanic said that it was a false economy as it had less ‘oil’ so the pump wore out. Using Shell or BP would have been better. We changed and fuel economy increased by 3-6 mpg, and our mechanic is much happier, he hates fixing things unless he has to. 🙂
You always get less mpg in winter as its colder
And diesel takes longer to warm up than petrol, so a diesel on the school run will not be any cheaper to run in winter than petrol.
sorry, but a diesel on a short school run is no more efficient than a petrol anytime of the year.
Make the kids walk!! School runs are a major contributor to congestion and pollution! Besides they (government) whinge on about obesity and kids, so walking to school wouldn’t do them any harm…….didn’t hurt us who grew up in the 70’s/80’s.
Actually, it is the other way round. Petrol engine on short trips does not warm up the catalyst fully so makes lot more pollution. Cold petrol engine will deposit water in exhaust pipe which will corrode away and cost you. Diesel also will not warm fully on short trip, which is not good for the engine, but you don’t get same issues as above. Diesel combustion works on excess air and the corrosive water vapour is blown away. If you must do short trips, you are better off with diesel. Better still, use an electric car or walk.
http://euanmearns.com/mercedes-b-class-electric-and-diesel-cars-compared/
“The all electric costs 39% more and has only 14% of the range of the diesel. Using these metrics, the diesel is 10 times better than the electric car. The 104 mile range of the electric car really confines its use to a daily commute or city runaround which somewhat devalues the 8 second 0-62 mph acceleration. Stripping out taxes on fuel, the running costs per 100 kms are 249p (electric) and 159p (diesel). Contrary to popular belief, electric vehicles (EVs) are considerably more expensive to run.”
They are at present. But watch this space – as technology advances and demand increases due to increasing taxation on fossil fuels, they will become more affordable. I did make the point that EV better for short trips as no engine warm up issues.
Winter diesel has lower energy value than Summer diesel.
Nigel, cold air density is higher in winter, that’s why your car feels more powerful. The problem in winter is two fold, one people don’t bother to pump up their tyres, the pressure drops quite a bit, (I check mine every week takes couple of mins) two, more rain, your car tyres cause more drag moving water than air. I drive a articulated wagon and a run to Birmingham from Preston and back in the rain will use another 50-60 litre of diesel. Same trip/ loaded weight.
Yep in both fuels. simply because yes it colder so longer warm up time, but with modern engine management systems these days not as bad as it use to be, BUT, in winter you run, heated screens, blowers, headlamps all the big battery drainers so engine works harder, to run it all, short runs in traffic batter your MPG and battery in winter. I wonder how older EVs will fair.
I always thought alternators on standard vehicles were direct belt driven from the engine and produced a constant output relative to engine speed .
I never realised that they became more of a load on the engine the more electricity that was being used and it was just the battery which was drained more as it received a constant charge from the alternator?
How does that happen, then?
An alternator will produce only the electrical power demanded of it (up to its max rating). With no electrical load it spins round easilly. Try switching on the lights with the engine idling. You will hear the engine revs drop slightly as the alternator starts do do some work.
Gilly, you’re right about the more expensive Diesel being better for your engine. Part of the reason why supermarket diesel is so (relatively) cheap, is that had no additives. I tend to alternate my fuellings, 1 tank of Tesco/Sainsbury’s followed by 1 tank of BP Ultimate.
Yes, the BP Ultimate is the best, most expensive, Diesel offered by British Petroleum, but it gives me significantly better fuel-economy than their standard Diesel. In addition, all of the additives in BP ultimate help protect my Land Rover’s 2.5L N/A Diesel.
I have a 1.6ltr Citroen Grand Picasso and use diesel from Salisbury to 55ltrs i put in an additive 1 measure of Redex Diesel I traveled to Milton Keynes run round for a week then off to Kent for 2 weeks when i got home i traveled 795 miles and sill had a 1/4 of a tank left . The point is you do not need to buy expensive diesel.
That would be about 79.5mpg. I can’t see a Picasso doing that. 60mpg yes.
Assuming the tank was full at 55ltrs I make that 87.6 mpg which is incredible. But ‘1/4 of a tank left’ is not a reliable measure since the tank is not a regular shape. Try measuring the tank contents brim to brim.
You can’t brim a tank accurately. https://youtu.be/ceESZX8mB1s
Thanks – interesting video and he makes some good points. Sure it is not scientifically accurate, but if you can see liquid fuel (not foam) in the bottom of the filler neck on level ground, that is good enough to get a reasonably consistent indication of MPG. Certainly much better than using the fuel gauge.
I buy cheap supermarket diesel and use an additive to raise mpg/protection which works out cheaper than premium diesel. Miller’s ecomax is the business and the car runs quieter and better all round 😉👍
That is true if you have a modern engine with electronic computer controlled injection that can automatically adjust for the improved fuel. Note that if you have an older diesel with mechanical injection it will make very little difference. Also, with an older engine you do need to be cautious about seal compatibility when trying the latest fuel formulations. My diesel is 30 years old and consumption is consistent whatever fuel I use. However, I have stopped using diesel from Asda as would get noticeable smoke which went away when I used another brand. I repeated the experiment a few weeks later and got the same results. I would be interested to know what is or isn’t in the fuel to cause this.
Ultra low sulphur diesel needs a lubrication additive to make up for the lack of sulphur which used to help lubricate the pump.
Used own a garage seen this lots of times did little survey all taxi drivers running on shell BP had little issues all normal customers running on supermarket fuels haveing injectors fuel pumps failing fact that fuel is c**p not so bad in petrol vehicle but must in a diesel
Ultra low sulphur diesel needs a lubrication additive to make up for the lack of sulphur which used to help lubricate the pump. Since the sulphur has been reduced, lube additive should be put in all diesel fuels – but how can you tell?
Apologies – message board is automatically putting my posts in the wrong place. Above was in reply to an earlier post and out of context here, but I cannot get it to display in that thread.
Very interesting, thanks for explanations – I really wasn’t aware of the seasonal change being a regular thing.
It’s all to do with how much they can get away with charging, more diesel used than petrol so it’s more expensive. Don’t be fooled by the temperature c**p, if that were true diesel wouldn’t freeze in winter, it doesn’t in other countries because it’s refined better, our lorries are stranded but lorries in the North of Canada are having no problem at continuous subzero temperatures.
Yes, the article is correct, because colder climate countries use a different cut of the oil, as well as adding more chemicals, such as anti-gelling additive.
In the UK, the Oil companies often try to predict the weather (temperatures) and sell us the summer cut as late into winter as they can get away with. So they’re charging us for winter diesel and delivering summer diesel, which is the wrong cut and is lacking the anti-waxing protection.
We’re forecast a very severe winter this year. Just watch: I’ll bet we see lots of TV reports of diesel cars and trucks with “frozen” — actually, “waxed” — diesel in their tanks.
The traditional solution is to add up to 10% petrol in the diesel to prevent waxing. Best not to try this in a modern high pressure injection system due to the reduced lubrication. 🙂
Well Rick, I’ve drove hgvs for the last 20 years, I’ve had diesel cars for longer, all bmw but, I’ve never had a problem with diesel waxing in this country, I say all bmw because I know it has a fuel heater in the filter as do a lot of hgvs. Can’t speak for other makes but my dad had an old Vauxhall carlton diesel and I can’t remember him having problems either.
In a very severe winter (like 1980-1981) diesel freezes anyway. Those were days when daytime temperatures didn’t get above -15C.
Think you forgot to mention that the UK has sufficient oil reserves stocked piled to last between 10 & 15 years
(Standard economy investment) then you have British oil reserve just off the cost of Scotland pumping a few thousand barrels of crude oil a day – BUT somehow that was not mentioned guess it’s for test purposes, so I cut & pasted an outdated bit of information eg
The largest UK field discovered in the past 25 years is Buzzard, also located off Scotland, found in June 2001 with producible reserves of almost 64×106 m³ (400m bbl) and an average output of 28,600 m³ to 30,200 m³ (180,000-220,000 bbl) per day.
United Kingdom Continental Shelf production was 137 million tonnes of oil
Well said Zane. And yet the UK has some of the highest fuel prices in the EU. Nothing like being screwed by the government. Yet Ireland which imports all it’s oil has lower petrol and diesel prices.
I agree with many other comments posted. We are again being manipulated.
I had always understood the raw cost to make diesel was less than petrol which I believe needs more refining. In fact it has been cheaper to purchase for most of my life and was able to achieve better mileage. The engines were more expensive. The government forced companies to switch to diesel by benefit in kind tax laws, then found out it was more polluting and now have applied more fuel tax. It was always the case that the driver added anti waxing additives when driving in freezing conditions so winter driving has always cot more with diesel.
Regarding the speed vs economy figures quoted. I accept that is the probably the case for certain small cars designed mainly for round town primary use however, cars designed primarily for longer journeys it may not always be the case. My car for example the most economical speed is more like 68 to 75 mph cruising in 7th gear. My car does not change in to top 7th gear until then when cruising on a motorway. Peak performance is about 1500 rpm, at 50 mph in top gear it is struggling at about 950 rpm so the auto gear box selects 6th gear… Yes I know auto gear boxes were less economic to use but they have come a long way from the American 3 speed fluid flywheel and can optimist performance with 7-8 gears, dual clutches and flywheel locking.
50 mph speed restrictions on the M4 currently around Reading to Maidenhead for road works and in Wales for pollution reduction?? are a problem, this is how I noted 50 mph limits cause uneconomical driving for some cars.
What a joke i bet the goverment coffers are making big bucks out of this this diesel fiasco i would,nt mind all new diesel cars have a DPF on them
Whenever anything happens to affect fuel prices in the upward direction the price on the pumps go up almost instantly but when there is an oil glut and the price of oil go down it takes a lot longer , if asked why they roll out the old excuse that they buy fuel ahead and it has to filter through,the government will not do anything because the higher the price the more TAX they get RIP OFF BRITAIN this is the highest taxed country in the world if the tax on what people earned was added to the tax on savings and the tax when you spend it no wonder every body and there dog want s to get to this country
When I was in BERLIN earlier this year PETROL was much more than DIESEL ( 10 cents more in places ) Can anyone tell me why ?
Most European countries charge less tax on diesel because it produces less co2 and is better for the environment. In higher density urban areas (like most of the U.K.) the higher particular emissions caused more problems so in the U.K. there was less enthusiasm to promote diesel. Given more recent evidence that diesel emissions have health implications (they’re still better for the environment, but worse for health) it seems there is even more movement against diesel in the U.K. in Europe given the long history of promoting diesel and cheaper prices it is politically too difficult for them to reverse this price difference (see French protests).
“recent evidence that diesel emissions have health implications ”
Lots of claims, not much evidence…http://euanmearns.com/mortality-from-diesel-car-pollution-in-the-uk/
why??????? this is disgusting, why are petrol drivers getting away with it??,, and why does fuel prices go up during the school holidays, why dont come down as quickly as it goes up???.
This would be fair enough, but, quite often, the Oil companies have charged us for the “winter diesel” while continuing to pump the “summer diesel” well past autumn and into winter, resulting in fuel waxing in a sudden cold snap with vehicles stranded.
With the Oil companies, it’s heads they win, tails we lose. The supply of winter diesel at the pumps should be monitored by law. We’re paying for it, so we’re entitled to get it in our fuel tanks.
The article is about Why Winter Diesel is more expensive than Summer Diesel. The price difference between diesel in summer and winter. It attempts to explain that production of Winter Diesel uses a more valuable fraction of the crude oil; which increases the pump price. Plus the fact that the Winter Diesel is in the same fraction of the crude oil from which the Central Heating Oil is produced. As such, there are two markets, heating and transport, both offering money for the same product. —– It’s the old Supply and Demand factor that determines the price.
Rick
There used to be a time when diesel was less than half the price of petrol before diesel cars became more popular so your theory about winter and summer use does not stand up the increased cost occurred when the government decided that it was a tax bonus waiting to be picked up as electricity prices will be taxed as soon as more electric cars are used so tax is the most predominant price increase not seasonal use
Electricity is taxed now, you can charge via your own solar though ….
What about global warming, won’t need as mush for heating
So there I was coasting down a very straight long hill in France in my Campervan trying to conserve both brake linings, momentum and therefore fuel on my way back home in UK only to be flashed for speeding at a very optimum (for their revenue) point in the hill. Now awaiting the fine. I should have just used the brakes 🙂
45 euros and you have 46 days to pay. I got two last month both on the journey back to Calais. Diesel supreme was 5/6 cents more than petrol but still cheaper than the U.K. Our government knows that we will do bugger all about it apart from whinge on about it on SM sites! This country and its people need to protest more and not just because you don’t like trump or leave voters…….maybe one day the U.K. will get its spine back and follow how the French et al put pressure on their government.
Can they issue a fine to you though? I recall that the Police don’t even fine foreign drivers that come here!
diesel at one time cost less than petrol it’s the same as a lot of other things we are being coned
Diesel drivers use far less fuel to cover greater distances. Less fuel equals less tax revenue. Hence the need for greater returns per litre sold.
Not such a large gap as you think, plus an awful lot of people use diesels for short trips as well since the government change all the tax levels I use a diesel don’t need it but I pay cheap insurance on it, same vehicle in a petrol with a cc of 1.4 cost me almost £200 so £30 or £200 simple choice there.
In the “good ole days” a diesel was a loud, smelly, slow thumper that had amazing pulling power and brilliant MPG, now diesels are as fast as petrol’s, and dam site quieter than they use to be and a lot smoother but with the speed comes the compromise, MPG is lower I’ve changed from a 2004 diesel to a 2011 diesel same car, same engine the 04 would cruise at 70 and give me around 55/60 mpg dependant on time of year, the 11 plate same speed same roads gives me 48mpg in the summer, and around 42 in winter no where near as good but a lot faster off the mark and has a lot more torque ready to go, so even this car has evolved from 04 to 11 with more torque and virtually no turbo lag but the cost of that is MPG!
Diesel always use to be far less refined than petrol so cheaper, now is probably refined to the same standard as diesels are no where near as robust as they use to be, so it cost just as much to refine now and the biggest price driver — the are LOADS of diesels on the roads at the moment not for long mind you we will be priced off the road sooner than later me thinks, and then, well it will be petrol engines turn to suffer in the great push to make us drive electric, massive revenue loss for the oil companies but a big thank you from the power companies, Fuel tax??? when we are all electric who’s going to make that up for the government I wonder? Think of EVERY single combustion engine car/van on the road not just driving but parked as well all have some amount of fuel in them, all that TAX lost, MMMMm where will it come from, a question nobody wants to answer. are we going to plug and charge our EV’s for free. wonder if this is why the smart meter is being pushed on to us all to keep an eye on what/how much we are charging, therefore charge us.
Almost all the correspondents on this article have NOT pointed out that the vast majority of UK road FREIGHT vehicles are diesel-engined. HM Government DARES NOT raise taxes on diesel fuels any further because the tax rise would cascade out across the UK’s entire economy as inflated prices for everything we (the public, businesses, local and national government bodies) purchase. Those price rises would rebound onto end users multiple times: retail customers buy their own fuels at the higher prices, but also face increased prices for goods in their shops because those goods are transported to the shops, and higher local taxation rates to cover their Councils’ payments for the fuels their vehicles use in delivering their services. Ditto the NHS and other branches of notional government.
I’m a Yorkshireman, born and bred. In order to minimise your real costs I recommend that you all stop whingeing about the few pence that a litre of petrol is cheaper than a litre of diesel – because the greater economy of diesels reverses the actual fuel tax costs per mile. Rescue your own wallets by buying the most economical second-hand diesel cars you can afford, instead of petrol cars.
Let’s face it the fuel company is in it to make money. The government is in it to make money to run the country.
And since some bright sparks decided diesel was now such a dirty fuel (despite the statistics not fully supporting this) so it has to go, those of us who drive diesel are in a no win situation
Don’t worry Graham once they got the dirty diesel off the road it will be petrol next so they can force us into EV’s just so the UK can “look” good the its emissions policies. just like your half dozen or so bin lorries/vans that now come to collect your rubbish in the name of “environment” from one truck to 6 diesels to boot not only that stop/start diesels which is even worse. but at least we are saving the planet…… aren’t we?
Ever noticed anything to do with environment always = money paid out by General Public, just a thought.
“as petrol can be manufactured for cheaper in winter”. Think the writer needs some English lessons.
Why is it that no-one ever remembers the Budget speech, I think it was by Ken Clarke, when we were encouraged to buy more diesels? The percentage of diesel cars in the UK was compared to France. We were informed that diesel fuel was cheaper than petrol. In particular, we were specifically told that diesel fuel would ALWAYS be cheaper than petrol.
How can we ever hope to hold our Politicians to account for their actions when Journalists, even with all their resources, can so conveniently “forget”.
Take them to the High Court, but don’t be surprised at the outcome. Politicians lie. Lawyers lie for their clients. Society separates one from the other; so the practice goes on. At least we can dispose of politicians. Judges are above the law and we’re stuck with incompetents. But fortunately, there are a few good ones around!
Expect to see a clear-cut segregation over the Boris Johnson prorogation of Parliament next week, defining what is not in the jurisdiction of judges – ie politics – and what is not in the powers of Parliament – ie, criminal acts.
Logically the refining process for diesel and petrol hasnt changed over the years, so why is it that diesel allways used to be cheaper than petrol many years ago. Obviously from supply and demand and nothing whatsoever to do with the refining process involved, so basically the fuel companies are making more profit out of diesel than they do from petrol and consequently ripping the consumer off.
Beat the prices – buy an electric car charged by your own solar.
A No deal Brexit will cause fuel prices to rocket. Pound weaker and many other factors. Look it up.
Granted that the processing aspects of diesel may be higher than that of the lighter petroleum, that does not explain why a couple of years ago the pump price of diesel was either the same or less than that of the traditionally cheaper petroleum.
I guess that you simply omitted to mention profiteering aspects of the business! We all know how quickly the prices go up when there is a temporary shortage; and how slowly they go down after the shortage.
I’ve got a Peugeot 308 that does 65/70 mpg, £30 road tax . Going to miss diesel cars when they go.
Your explanation is fine, but surely has always been the case. Why is it we didn’t see the changes in price differential between petrol and diesel in the 70’s 80’s and90’s?
Yet on the continent diesel is cheaper than petrol, so how does that work out ?
Yeah, I don’t believe this explanation, I don’t know about anyone else. Sounds like it was written by someone from Shell
Just spent 15 days in morroco and there diesel is cheaper than petrol I was paying for diesel around 75p ppl. It’s all the tax that they put on it.
It’s insanely mad.
Agree completely. 13 years ago fuel was almost double the price in Turkey than it was in the UK. Now? LPG 45p litre. Unleaded 95p litre. Diesel 95p litre. Inflation 15%. This prves your point it is the government ripping us off with taxes.
We also had equal pricing at some outlets, travelled down to Cornwall and found this along the way. In Sth Lincs the equal pricing was said to reduce the tax paid by Diesel drivers. I thought I have both types and would not mind. Mainly we use Diesel and the pricing is getting a joke considering we are more economical than petrol. Therefore less pollution. When will they get this right?
Two models one petrol and the other Diesel. The Diesel will outperform on mileage. Making it a better thing for the environment. Getting 38 mpg out of a Range Rover compared to less than 20 mpg for the petrol type. So where is the reason the Diesel pays more? In the time left for our vehicles on the roads. We need to get fairer deals.
Typical of the British government to tax, tax, and tax again! The motorist has always been ripped off every which way, and its bloody annoying trying to survive when your on a miserable state pension! Just despairing again! new year, same flaming struggles .