Re: theWatt Podcast 75

This is the thermodynamic equivalent of wasting time debating how many angels can stand on the head of a pin.

Issues like safety, reliability, durability, initial cost all may be more important than cost of fuel. Depreciation is the big car expense for most people, not fuel cost even at $4 a gallon.

It all happened before as Oil Crunch #1 played itself out. Chevy Novas and Chevettes sprouted Cadillac badges, Cadillac also devised a V-8 that would first shut down two, then four, then eventually all cylinders - leaving you to call AAA. Then someone remembered diesels had lower pumping losses and presto!, Cadillac held a shot-gun wedding between a Roosa diesel injector pump and their V-8. Made those old GM city busses look clean.

Europe's refineries are set up to produce a lot of diesel (hydrocracking), American refineries use catalytic cracking to produce comparatively more gasoline. More than half the new cars in Europe are diesel with gasoline at $7.50 and diesel a buck less. Diesel would be around $6 a gallon right now if a few more car drivers were as astute as Rod. I smell diesel fever everywhere and hear the sounds of our 10,000+ stripper oil wells creaking back to life once again for a couple of years.

It's deja vu, all over again.

Regards.