On Sat, Nov 10, 2012 at 9:23 PM, Craig <diese...@pisquared.net> wrote:
> On Sat, 10 Nov 2012 19:22:13 -0600 OK Don <okd...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > I still can't decide whether to go with Propane or Diesel. I have a 500 > > gal propane tank that is now only used for the grill and the small > > guest house when it's really cold. > > Propane is crazy expensive here, $1.60/gal, IIRC. > > I've not had sucess finding comparative operations costs between the two > > fuel sources. > > From http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/energy.html : > --------------------------------------------------------------- > Fuel Energy Content & Conversions > > The exact values will vary depending on the quality of the fuel and in > some cases the pressure. > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > For the fuels in question, > > 1 gallon diesel = 139,200 BTU > 1 gallon propane = 91,500 BTU > > So, from an energy perspective, 1 gallon propane = 0.657 gallon diesel. > > With on-road diesel at $4.189/gallon and guessing road taxes to be > $0.50/gallon, that gives off-road diesel at $3.689/gallon. 0.657 gallon > of diesel would then cost $2.42, which makes propane at $1.60/gallon less > expensive. > > > Craig > OK - thanks! Now that I have a rational and scientific method to compare fuels, I checked on real prices. I found that Propane cost us 2.60/gal last time we filled - not the 1.60 that I quoted. Current prices are: Diesel road taxes in OK + Fed = $0.38/gal. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Diesel_Taxes_April_2009.svg) Diesel ranges from $3.49 to $4.29/gal. but is $3.63 at my usual station now. (http://oklahomacitygasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D) So $3.25/gal for a genset. Propane is currently $2.02/gal from our supplier (need to top off the tank!). American Propane Gas Company - http://www.altfuelprices.com/stations/LPG/Oklahoma/Oklahoma-City/ So, $3.25*0.657=$2.14 for Diesel vs. $2.02 for propane - not that much of a delta. Even if the delta were reversed, it certainly is not enough for a 270 or so gallon Diesel tank installation to match the capacity I currently have for propane. I should stay with what I have :) Three gallons an hours at $6/hr for 24 hours = $145/day for electricity! No wonder we buy it from the mass producers! This is a good argument for right-sizing the genset for the minimum required load! Figuring the proper load size is my next assignment. OK Don 2001 ML320 2012 Passat TDI DSG 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager 1957 C182A _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
