Tackdriver
Big Hairy Gun Nut
Reged: Jan 31 2001
Posts: 2340
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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So, Mike, JH, have you guys tried Biodiesel yet?
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I never saw a wild thing feel sorry for itself.--DH Lawerence
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Mike Harter
Avenging Angel
Reged: Nov 05 2000
Posts: 2426
Loc: Fresno, CA, USA
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My diesel is securely parked in the driveway. My timing was really good on that one.
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CountryJim
Whirling Dervish
Reged: Nov 01 2005
Posts: 42
Loc: Newell , Iowa
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Run 5% through my tractors all year long with standard additive in the winter months. No filter plugging like some say. When its blistering cold out, just go have a couple beers or coffee depending when you do chores morning or nite and let her warm up a half hour. Sometimes I get those beverages flip floped with the time of day.
In warm weather while doing tillage I have not noticed any disadvantages compared to #2 fuel. The biodiesel is priced the same as #2 in my area. I produce soybeans and feel im getting some kind of advantage back when I sell them.
Jimmy
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Mark P
Administrator
Reged: Jun 21 2005
Posts: 1012
Loc: Arizona
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Quote:
My diesel is securely parked in the driveway. My timing was really good on that one.
I've been poking through the classifieds on autotrader.com looking at 3/4 ton diesels. The fuel might be high, but the vehicles are getting cheap. I hem and haw over these kinds of things, but I'll probably snatch one up in the next 6 months. Seems you're not the only one that is rethinking their choice.
Fuel prices don't effect me much directly. I go through a tank of gas every about 30-45 days.
Diesel here is $4.69 the last time I was in town. A mile away in AP it's $2.15 or so. Muy beuno.
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
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Mike Harter
Avenging Angel
Reged: Nov 05 2000
Posts: 2426
Loc: Fresno, CA, USA
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I don't regret the choice, I just have other alternatives to drive that are presently a good bit cheaper. You're right about the prices; guys around here are bailing out of diesels right and left. I saw one pretty much like mine go for $26,000 last week, and it was loaded up with a 10 ton winch, new bumper, the works. Oh yea, mine is an '05. This one was an '06. For what that guy lost, he could buy a lot of diesel. But if you can't make it, you can't make it. There's no looking back.
I wouldn't consider bio-diesel unless it saved me a bunch of money. Probably nothing wrong with it; I'm just tired of their screwing with this stuff in CA. Last time they changed the fuel mix, they discovered the additives they legislated were causing major pollution problems with the underground aquifers. So we traded our clean water for a little cleaner air.
There is no free lunch. Just too many damn people. My address is broken!
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John-Henry
King Hell Dictator
Reged: Sep 25 2000
Posts: 4429
Loc: McNeal, AZ
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Mark is right:
Everyone that I know around here that runs a diesel, or at least everyone that burns any appreciable amount of the stuff, is going to Mexico and loading up. The (current) regulations say that you can have a tank no LARGER than 119 gallons, and it's supposed to be rigged into the fuel system on the vehicle, although I talked to one guy the other day who had a 100 gallon saddle tank flopped on a flatbed with no attempt made to connect it to anything, and the only question that they asked him when he came back through U.S. Customs was whether the fuel was for commercial or personal use. Another buddy of mine is presently hauling two poly tanks in steel cages, and each of them has a 100 gallon capacity, and no one has given him much trouble either.
I have a little 80 gallon cylindrical tank that I'm fixing to put in the bed of Cheryl's truck and haul down there; I pretty much despair of ever finding ALL of the ammo and firearms and other contraband that floats around in my truck, and it would be just my luck that a .22 shell or something would fall out of the seat on the Mexican side and cause me all sorts of inconvenience.
Sure is some compelling math, though; diesel is something like $4.69 in McNeal right now, although gasoline isn't too terribly far behind, and that makes for some discomfort when you try to fuel one of those big pickups (or anything else, for that matter).
John-Henry
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Bob Mc
Mountian Lion
Reged: Oct 05 2000
Posts: 1696
Loc: Fort Jones, California, USA
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The last I heard from town (I don’t go there very often) regular unleaded was $4.31 and diesel was something over $5.00. I haven’t priced hay yet this year (scary thought), but it’s got to be cheaper to run the horse than the pickup. I’m sure glad I didn’t buy a diesel rig when everyone was telling me I was crazy not to.
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If you can't do it with a dog, it probably ain't worth doin' anyway.
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Daryl
Flying Missionary Positioner
Reged: Apr 17 2002
Posts: 1411
Loc: Sierra Vista, Az
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Quote:
The last I heard from town (I don’t go there very often) regular unleaded was $4.31 and diesel was something over $5.00. I haven’t priced hay yet this year (scary thought), but it’s got to be cheaper to run the horse than the pickup. I’m sure glad I didn’t buy a diesel rig when everyone was telling me I was crazy not to.
Bob,
The problem is, they cut, bail, stack, and deliver that hay using diesel fuel.
Hay ain't cheap right now.
Daryl
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Bob Mc
Mountian Lion
Reged: Oct 05 2000
Posts: 1696
Loc: Fort Jones, California, USA
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Quote:
Bob,
The problem is, they cut, bail, stack, and deliver that hay using diesel fuel.
Hay ain't cheap right now.
Daryl
Yeah, I know. That’s why I said it’s a scary thought. I’ve been reading quite a bit about people giving horses away that they can’t afford to feed, or even turning them lose somewhere to fend for themselves. Haven’t heard of that around here so far, but I’ve heard of a couple being given away that probably weren’t worth much to start with. If a guy had some pasture and wanted to pick up a few horses, now would probably be a good time.
I’m glad I’m down to just 1 horse now, and 3 tons of hay will do me for the year. I only go to town once a month, and the rest of the time the old pickup can stay parked for all I care. I have a mountain behind the house to play on, and a horse to do it with. Since my hiking legs are pretty well shot, it’s worth it to me to keep the horse; so far at any rate.
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If you can't do it with a dog, it probably ain't worth doin' anyway.
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Mark P
Administrator
Reged: Jun 21 2005
Posts: 1012
Loc: Arizona
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I've heard the same thing out here with the horses Bob. There's a radio classified program and more than once I've heard horses, "free to a good home".
If I had a trailer I'd think hard about grabbing one or two.
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
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Bob Mc
Mountian Lion
Reged: Oct 05 2000
Posts: 1696
Loc: Fort Jones, California, USA
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Quote:
If I had a trailer I'd think hard about grabbing one or two.
Bet you know someone who has one. 
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If you can't do it with a dog, it probably ain't worth doin' anyway.
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Tackdriver
Big Hairy Gun Nut
Reged: Jan 31 2001
Posts: 2340
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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JH
Tell me, is the Mexican side diesel just as good as the American side?
Not more contaminated or more water or some wierd thing?
Cause Im doing some math, Ill not be getting rid of my Dodge any time soon, but I may be getting a motorcycle. I just spent the last hour writing down storefront addys for some of the larger Japaneese names.
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I never saw a wild thing feel sorry for itself.--DH Lawerence
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GoWyo!
Disciple
Reged: Oct 12 2000
Posts: 393
Loc: WY, USA
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I'm hearing that the mexican fuel doesn't meet the ULSD specs that the newer rigs require. IF your truck's injectors bite it and you warrantee the service, they are supposedly checking the fuel. Granted this was a rumor for southern diesel owners and for newer rigs. '07 and up. Burning high sulfur content fuel might be a capital crime in CA.
Now this made me wonder, as the old fuel had more sulfur = more lubricity. I read many articles on how we need to add this additive or that to replace the lubricity of the missing sulfur content to prevent injector problems. Sooo, I don't know if the fuel would actually cause issues. Try turbodieselregister.com they should know.
I still get more miles per dollar than a gas rig. $4.39 here in Casper. Well, that was last Satuday, prolly over 4.75 now.
Well, time to dust off the Trek mtn. bike. Shorts won't fit for at least 20#, so i'll have to adjust for chaffing.
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Daryl
Flying Missionary Positioner
Reged: Apr 17 2002
Posts: 1411
Loc: Sierra Vista, Az
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Tack,
I haven't used mexican diesel in any of the newer vehicles.
It works fine in the older ones.
Daryl
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Cowboyvon
Druid
Reged: May 15 2005
Posts: 142
Loc: Rincon NM
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I'm buying alfalfa around here, 1st cut for $190.00 a ton.. I'll try to fill my barn on 3rd or 4th cut and maybe be able to get it at $160.00.. it all depends on what the dairy's do they kinda set the price. Its sure getting expensive I'm feeding 10 horses right now and one burro and 2 mules that I just bought a couple months ago 
The hay prices along with no killer market has killed the horse market... use to you always knew what a horse was worth.. and that was around .48 cents per pound 
With the price of fuel I feel sorry for everyone thats on a fixed income and this is just the beginning everything will going up , with our business we get to pass along the increase for the most part but it still hurts.. I might have to get me a buggy for those mules
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Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.
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Bob Mc
Mountian Lion
Reged: Oct 05 2000
Posts: 1696
Loc: Fort Jones, California, USA
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I don’t want straight alfalfa, which is mostly what’s raised around here. Most of it is trucked out of the valley to the dairies down south. I’ve been getting hay from the same fellow for years, one of the few who still raises good horse hay here. He can sell all he can grow to the horse people right here without shipping it. I just call him up and tell him I want 3 tons of hay, or more when I was feeding more horses. He picks it up right out of a field down the road when he bales it, delivers and stacks it, and I don’t even have to touch it. Haven’t heard yet what it is going to cost this year. Gawd, I’d hate to guess what that alfalfa must cost the dairies when you figure in the price of shipping!
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If you can't do it with a dog, it probably ain't worth doin' anyway.
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Cowboyvon
Druid
Reged: May 15 2005
Posts: 142
Loc: Rincon NM
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From what I can see the dairy's around here can afford it..they get some help from the guberment don't get me started 
I wish I could find a place close to get some good grass hay.. but no one around here has it and Its kinda expensive to ship in..
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Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.
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yehti
Flying Missionary Positioner
Reged: Jun 28 2002
Posts: 1033
Loc: **************
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For a rough comparison these are the current prices for petrol and diesel in the South East of England.
1 ltr Petrol = 1.13 GBP = $2.24 X 4.5 = $10.08 per UK gallon
1 ltr Diesel= 1.30 GBP = $2.57 X 4.5 = $11.56 per UK gallon
Prices probably vary around the country a bit.
Prices are high in the European continent also and the French have been protesting over around the channel ports causing the ferries from Dover to Calais and Boulogne to be stopped. This causes many hundreds of large lorries (semi's) to be stacked for tens of miles on the M20 motorway heading for the port of Dover waiting for the stoppages to end.
SHOCKED !!!! WORRIED ????????
Edited by yehti (Sat May 31 2008 01:15 PM)
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NewtG
Apostle of Humility
Reged: Sep 02 2005
Posts: 303
Loc: DC
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SIGN HERE
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Mark P
Administrator
Reged: Jun 21 2005
Posts: 1012
Loc: Arizona
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Quote:
SIGN HERE
Why? I can just picture all of congress having a meeting and someone saying, "Holy shit! We got this internet petition. Better do what it says.". I can picture it. Then again there aren't many things I can't picture. Creative mind and all.
Better yet, those folks should start a petition to force Congress to mandate that all vehicles in the US will run on wishful thinking by the year 2010. It would better suit those that would sign something like that.
*steps off soapbox
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
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DanS
Crown Killer
Reged: Sep 14 2003
Posts: 2227
Loc: St. Louis, MO
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Yehti,
I do feel for you all on the other side of the pond. Our gasoline is expensive, and the gov't makes more off a gal of gas here (taxes) than the oil companies do.
Your gov't must be making a killing on the consumers over there. I have heard your taxes are outragious. I'm sure a barrel of oil cost the UK the same as the US. But you guys have that free health care, and other gov't programs that have to be funded one way or another.
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If it's not worth doing, then it's certainly not worth doing right.
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Bob Mc
Mountian Lion
Reged: Oct 05 2000
Posts: 1696
Loc: Fort Jones, California, USA
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Yehti, it would give us a better picture, and a better understanding of how you folks are coping, if we knew the average income of the working stiff in your country. Over here it is costing some people more to drive to work than it is worth. When people are spending a week’s wages just to get to the job, it doesn’t make much sense.
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If you can't do it with a dog, it probably ain't worth doin' anyway.
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yehti
Flying Missionary Positioner
Reged: Jun 28 2002
Posts: 1033
Loc: **************
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It is very difficult to gauge the true picture of individuals’ personal finances. I don’t see anyone really struggling although there is a bit of general griping about rising prices but that is normal. I don’t see that life is any different to any other time. There are plenty of consumer products and there doesn’t seem to be any desperation to sell stuff at stupid knockdown prices. All energy prices are up a lot and property prices are on a downward incline. The wife and I went shopping in a fairly large town yesterday and it was a bit quite in comparison to most Saturday afternoons. One of the daughters went out last night clubbing and she also said that it was a bit dead in the clubs and pubs so it looks as if there is a bit of belt tightening but no real hardship or panic that I can see.
As to my own personal circumstances. In a couple of weeks the wife and I are off on holiday to Cyprus for a fortnight and plan to have an extension conservatory built onto the house in the near future.
I haven’t a clue about what most people earn and so I recon the only way to compare is to check the price of common household requirements that everyone would use or go onto employment websites to see what money is being offered for various jobs. I’ll have a look on an employment website and pick something out.
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I am just a grain of sand on the wind.
The best I can do is to get stuck in someone’s eye.
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yehti
Flying Missionary Positioner
Reged: Jun 28 2002
Posts: 1033
Loc: **************
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I’ve been told be the wife and daughters that I’ve got no comprehension about how things are going up in price. “Well I wouldn’t, would I”. I just earn it ! It’s called a treadmill.
She’s informed me that the weekly food shopping has gone up by 10 > 20 pounds =$20>30. Some weeks are different because of the nature of the stuff that is bought. Our weekly food shop for 4 of us +2 dogs is in the region of 90 >>110 pounds $175 >> $215. Apparently a standard loaf of bread is now 1pound twenty pence = $2.35. It’s all down to those bloody Americans that are turning all the corn into diesel.
I have had look on a job site and it looks like general working jobs are being advertised in the 20 >>30 thousand pound region. $39.500 >> $59000. These figures are only rough conversions.
How do they compare to over there ?
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I am just a grain of sand on the wind.
The best I can do is to get stuck in someone’s eye.
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Bob Mc
Mountian Lion
Reged: Oct 05 2000
Posts: 1696
Loc: Fort Jones, California, USA
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Yehti, it would seem that things are roughly the same as over here. I was talking to a neighbor recently, who like you, has no idea of how much things cost. Of course his wife does all the shopping. I said something like, “Remember when you could buy chicken for 49 cents a pound?”. He thought you still could! When I told him you could expect to pay between $6 and $8 for a whole chicken it floored him! We won’t even talk about a good beef steak. I forget what it tastes like!
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If you can't do it with a dog, it probably ain't worth doin' anyway.
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Daryl
Flying Missionary Positioner
Reged: Apr 17 2002
Posts: 1411
Loc: Sierra Vista, Az
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Quote:
Yehti, it would seem that things are roughly the same as over here. I was talking to a neighbor recently, who like you, has no idea of how much things cost. Of course his wife does all the shopping. I said something like, “Remember when you could buy chicken for 49 cents a pound?”. He thought you still could! When I told him you could expect to pay between $6 and $8 for a whole chicken it floored him! We won’t even talk about a good beef steak. I forget what it tastes like!
Me too! I much prefer buffalo.
Oh, wait; my wife just reminded me that I ate a piece of beef steak at the neighbor's BBQ the other day. It wasn't bad at all.
She says I'm a carninvor. Can you imagine that? Me?
Daryl
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Mike Harter
Avenging Angel
Reged: Nov 05 2000
Posts: 2426
Loc: Fresno, CA, USA
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Well Bob, if you can stand drumsticks and thighs, Costco will sell you all you want for $.99 a pound. I happen to think chicken breast is dry and tasteless in any case. And if you like Top Sirloin, a nice 16 oz cut will cost you <$4 at Costco. Rib Eyes are high, but I don't see too many of those.
That Buffalo isn't free either. By the time I figured the cost of my last Elk hunt, I could have stayed home and feasted on Kobe beef for weeks. 
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Bob Mc
Mountian Lion
Reged: Oct 05 2000
Posts: 1696
Loc: Fort Jones, California, USA
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Trouble with Costco is that it is in Medford, OR. Two hour drive from here, and at last check gas is $4.31. Yeah, buffalo and elk might be pretty good. So is moose, but figure in the real price of that hunt and it ain’t cheap!
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If you can't do it with a dog, it probably ain't worth doin' anyway.
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Daryl
Flying Missionary Positioner
Reged: Apr 17 2002
Posts: 1411
Loc: Sierra Vista, Az
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No, it isn't free, and it isn't cheap.
That said, at the current prices, it wasn't too bad, either.
My wife figured it at around $3.00 a lb when all was said and done, includine processing.
Granted, it's not all ribeye and t-bones, but there are some of those, too.
Daryl
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Cowboyvon
Druid
Reged: May 15 2005
Posts: 142
Loc: Rincon NM
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We eat alot of buffalo and petty cheap too, if you buy yearling heifers, we butcher one or two a year...
I don't like chicken much...
You know they eat with there pecker 
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Keep your nose in the wind and your eye along the skyline.
________________________________________
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Bob Mc
Mountian Lion
Reged: Oct 05 2000
Posts: 1696
Loc: Fort Jones, California, USA
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Long story short.......... The County where I live is the worst place I can think of to try to start up a new business. There used to be a ranch here in the valley, just a few miles up the road from my place, that raised buffalo. You could buy meat there butchered right on the place. Word got out about the herd of buffalo there, and charter buses started pulling into the place with tourists wanting to see them. It developed into the 2nd biggest tourist attraction in the County. The “County Fathers” couldn’t stand it! They told the owners that they would have to put in a paved parking lot, public restrooms accessible by wheel chair, etc, etc. They said BS, this is a working ranch! The “powers that be” made it so miserable for them that they finally sold the herd and closed the place down.
Another case in point. A fellow started making custom fishing reels from a shop behind his house. A non-polluting business that fit right in with the general community. Again, the powers that be told him that was a no-no. That area was zoned agricultural, and he couldn’t have a business there. He told them to take a flying flip, moved to Colorado, where he now has a business which employs 10 people last I heard.
OK, I’m off my 
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If you can't do it with a dog, it probably ain't worth doin' anyway.
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ChrisA
Arch Deacon
Reged: Mar 29 2007
Posts: 689
Loc: Belle Plaine, IA
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