4 foot LED "shop" lighting

Diesel in Pgh Pa, which is in North America, costs more than gas. I just looked on YP and diesel is around $2.85 gal and regular gas is around $2.50.

...and if I'm reading this chart correctly, diesel is - on average - more expensive than regular gas across the entire US, including reformulated Areas

Less routine maintenance. OK. But the routine maintenance they do need is twice as expensive as gasoline motors. So maybe the same total cost between gas and diesel. And when it comes to actual repairs, you pay twice or triple the cost for a diesel repair than a gas repair. Diesel needs repairs too. Just like gas.

Last longer. OK. But you pay an extra $5000 up front. So you pay for this extra lifespan. Its not free.

Not sure but maybe overall the total cost between diesel and gas is about the same. Higher up front cost, higher repair cost, higher maintenance cost per event, is made up for longer lifespan, less maintenance, and maybe, maybe less overall repair. Ain't nothing free. If you need the benefits of diesel, extra power and extra fuel efficiency, its worth it. But if you really don't need that, then probably best to stay away.

Federal gasoline tax is 18.4 cents per gallon. Diesel federal tax is 24.4 cents per gallon. Each state also charges taxes on gas and diesel.

States are usually a bit higher on diesel tax than gas tax. But not always. And the amount difference can be a few pennies or 15 cents different. So it varies by state.

You clearly do not live in New England. I have seen $1.00/gallon difference between diesel and unleaded. Investigate and it's state tax.

What evidence to back up that claim. The rate chart as of Jan this year shows for:

Total Excise Tax + Fee/Tax for Gasoline and Diesel, respectively to be:

Maine 30.0 31.2 Vermont 30.81 32.0 New Hampshire 23.825 23.825 Massachusetts 24.0 24.0 Connecticut 25.0 46.5 (+8.1% on petroleum tax on gas) Rhode Island 35.0 35.0

Only Connecticut has any significant difference at all.

Adding the classic whipping boys of NY, NJ

New York 25.45 23.65 +unstated petroleum sales tax New Joisey 41.4 48.5 unstated petroleum fee

Nothing there to approximate a dollar difference owing to taxes/fees

The sign at the gas station.

That's now. When gas is $4 a gallon check again.

That river you swim in contains crocodiles.

Engine teardowns, sure they're expensive. Most don't bother with gasoline engines. By that time the vehicle is worth less than an engine job.

You didn't read what I wrote, did you?

No, I didn't think so.

And if the turbo diesel gives 26% better economy you are still (marginally) ahead - and just the therm density is, I believe. 15% better by volume. AVERAGE deisel eficiency is about 25% better than average gasoline, historically.

For a high mileage fleet operator deisel wins hands down - while for the low mileage urban commuter it makes no sense at all.

As I said previously, fuels are often priced "per therm" - and with deisel being 15% more energy dense by volume. that would make diesel $2.87 per gallon to match gasoline so it is still a 2 cent per gallon "real" advantage.

There is a gas station on my way to work that sells high-test for $4.00 a gallon. The same premium gas is available at Costco for $2.75 a gallon, and is around $3.00 gallon at most other gas stations.

One sign at one gas station? Meaningless data.

In other words, you can't support your assertion.

Yes, there ARE such things. Good luck finding them when the consumer literature describes the fixture without reference to them. This is one investigation...