Thread: Petrol v diesel economy

there is nothing economical about running an internal combustion engine in these trying times.

Waterskiing behind the 350 chev jet boat, straight pipes off the back and the odd lick of flame... Nothing to go through $100 of petrol a day - back at $1.20 a litre or better!

Here's an interesting viewpoint, as demand for petrol slowly falls and diesel and aviation (or 'middle distillate' grades) goes up, they are predicting that there will be a surplus of petrol produced as compared to the demand for diesel for process and transport purposes.

The point of it appeared to be that the price of diesel and avcat could end up fully decoupling from petrol and end up subsidising petrol prices as petrol supply exceeds demand but diesel remains in short supply. Interesting viewpoint.

Worth remembering that while the manufacturers, suppliers, distribution and retailers all have to make a dollar, it is actually the government at fault for the sheer scale of cost to the private motorist and freight operators. It is free money for the govt, they do nothing for it, blaming the fuel companies is off the mark, they take home the least, yet they do all the work.

Some interesting reading here. Little off track but still good.
I suppose my main inspiration was when I dis a run down south nearly 2 years ago and took the V6 murano as the lad had my 2.8 pajero.
This was when fuel was low due to covid. Diesel was close to a dollar and petrol was low too.
I will be fair and say I was nursing the V6 with the economy gauge but I still stuck to my normal speed
V6 was nudging mid 10ks to the litre.
If I tried i could do the 640 round trip hitting the low fuel lightsomewher around 20-30ks from home.

What it worked out was that the V6 was near identical fuel cost. Obviously not counting road ks but the paj isnt as economical either.
If a 4wd v6 could get mileage somewhere in between than I'm still ahead from where I am now
Dont use a trailer bugger all so that's not a major but well aware that fuel economy will plummet if the throttle is used aggressively or for load.

Originally Posted by 257weatherby

Worth remembering that while the manufacturers, suppliers, distribution and retailers all have to make a dollar, it is actually the government at fault for the sheer scale of cost to the private motorist and freight operators. It is free money for the govt, they do nothing for it, blaming the fuel companies is off the mark, they take home the least, yet they do all the work.

Isn't the fuel tax collected to pay for roading and infrastructure? or is the paid for through some other tax?

Originally Posted by Shearer

Isn't the fuel tax collected to pay for roading and infrastructure? or is the paid for through some other tax?

Its supposed to pay for the reading but the was a news article the other day showing that most of it gets spent on other things.

Does anyone know when the 30cent per liter "relief" on petrol tax runs out? It was originally 3 months but I have been told it is/was extended but google not helping there.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Does anyone know when the 30cent per liter "relief" on petrol tax runs out? It was originally 3 months but I have been told it is/was extended but google not helping there.

https://www.autocar.co.nz/government...at-half-price/

Cheers @striker

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Cheers @striker

Originally Posted by sore head stoat

CHCH very early 70s...... I remember getting out of school and a mate going to the gas station and putting in .25cents worth of petrol in his mums ford prefect and going for a drive !!

My brother and i use to buy the early 1948 to 1950 model Ford Prefects.Get them for about $70 $80.Flog the death out of them,have a great time driving them around for about 2 -3 months.Bang,blow up.Fuel was dirt cheap then.

Originally Posted by csmiffy

Some interesting reading here. Little off track but still good.
I suppose my main inspiration was when I dis a run down south nearly 2 years ago and took the V6 murano as the lad had my 2.8 pajero.
This was when fuel was low due to covid. Diesel was close to a dollar and petrol was low too.
I will be fair and say I was nursing the V6 with the economy gauge but I still stuck to my normal speed
V6 was nudging mid 10ks to the litre.
If I tried i could do the 640 round trip hitting the low fuel lightsomewher around 20-30ks from home.

What it worked out was that the V6 was near identical fuel cost. Obviously not counting road ks but the paj isnt as economical either.
If a 4wd v6 could get mileage somewhere in between than I'm still ahead from where I am now
Dont use a trailer bugger all so that's not a major but well aware that fuel economy will plummet if the throttle is used aggressively or for load.

You are right about economy for that V6 @csmiffy. It is a cracker of a petrol motor - the Nissan VQ35. Eight times on the world top ten engine list. Have had it in two of my sportscars now - a Nissan 350Z and my Skyline 350GT coupe (tuned for 287 and 280hp respectively, while the Murano is tuned to about 230hp). The Zed gave me 31mpg on a trip (9L/100ks), and the 350GT coupe was even better at 32-33mpg (about 8.7L/100ks). They certainly suck alot of petrol round town but they were extremely economical for tuned 3.5 litre sixes on the open road. VQ35DE - a superb motor. VQ35HR and VQ37 variants also.
Even the heavier Murano with the slightly detuned 230hp VQ will move when you need it.. Only CVT boxes though I think..

Note to my above post - later Muranos with VQ35HR were higher tuned. 250-260ish hp.