Community Forums

mcbus · 08-03-2016, 01:01 PM

Several years ago (in Oregon) I had a 70 ga tank in the back of my truck to fuel my tractors. Also drove that truck and 5th wheel to Arizona many times. I have heard the stories of the Arizona state patrol dipping tanks but nobody could ever tell me when or where or supply a credible witness. I have not used the dyed fuel in my truck but I'm thinking that they would play heck checking my tanks without probably cause. I wasn't commercial so DOT does not have the authority to check either. That's a different can of worms. Not saying they haven't but I speak based on a lot of experience including my own children who are in law enforcement, They haven't heard of anyone being checked (legally) either and that covers three states. I have also filled that tank several times in Parker, Az with off road and never a word from the seller. Maybe Washington operates under a different set of laws. Don't know.

dustyone · 08-03-2016, 02:58 PM

I drove rig for 43 years before retiring. Yes I have been I have had my fuel checked. There is a difference between Road Fuel and off-road fuel it is the sulfur content. The new vehicles and new engines both on and off road don't like high sulfur fuel as much. Not worth the fine if you get caught. Not worth the wear and tear on your engine either. Wouldn't do it hope you don't.

1bigmess · 08-03-2016, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcbus

I wasn't commercial so DOT does not have the authority to check either. That's a different can of worms.
(SNIP)
Maybe Washington operates under a different set of laws. Don't know.

In Washington state, it's a Department of Revenue thing. They have the authority to stop you same as any other LEO.

powderman · 08-03-2016, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustyone

I drove rig for 43 years before retiring. Yes I have been I have had my fuel checked. There is a difference between Road Fuel and off-road fuel it is the sulfur content. The new vehicles and new engines both on and off road don't like high sulfur fuel as much. Not worth the fine if you get caught. Not worth the wear and tear on your engine either. Wouldn't do it hope you don't.

Apparently you missed my post. Right from the oil company, no difference between off road and taxed as new equipment tractors, combines, etc have pollution equipment that requires the use of low sulpher fuel.

TXiceman · 08-03-2016, 04:48 PM

Off road has not had the road tax paid and has a red dye added. If for some reason the DOT checks you tank, they can tell if you have ever had red dye fuel and the fine is pretty hefty.

Ken

palehorse89 · 08-03-2016, 04:52 PM

Here is a good website to look at Locomotive, marine and non-road diesel fuel standards begin at later dates. - Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance

mackwrench · 08-03-2016, 05:31 PM

I cant factually say the Georgia and Florida DOT do and often check for non-taxed fuel. In both commercial AND private vehicles. Big rigs, cars and trucks. I've heard they have a paper wax looking "stick they push down the fill and if it's dyed changes colors....

There's a group in north Florida that's into hot-rod "roll coal" diesel pick ups they've been busted more than a few times...

Thanks for the link palehorse89, that should clear up anyone's doubt about there being any difference between off and on road fuel.

BrianGlenn · 08-03-2016, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powderman

Apparently you missed my post. Right from the oil company, no difference between off road and taxed as new equipment tractors, combines, etc have pollution equipment that requires the use of low sulpher fuel.

Some of us remember that off road and on road diesels had different specs up to 2014 (my previous post #20).

Brian

Gary RVRoamer · 08-03-2016, 07:28 PM

I suspect you will find the off-road diesel doesn't have the same additive package as the highway stuff either, but it all came out of the same refinery and it's all ULSD now 92016). It's primarily a tax thing - the federal and state taxes on "highway" motor fuels.

Scottybdivin · 08-03-2016, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powderman

Apparently you missed my post. Right from the oil company, no difference between off road and taxed as new equipment tractors, combines, etc have pollution equipment that requires the use of low sulpher fuel.

Could be a regional issue. We buy up to 10,000 gallons of off-road diesel at a time for our transfer tank. It's all the same here in Texas. There was a brief time period during the transition, that LSD was available for off-road. However, it was all ULSD long before it was mandated for off-road use in 2010.

We have two statutes that govern the use of OR diesel, IRS and state comptroller. IRS says any vehicle used exclusively off-roads. Texas says any vehicle that was manufactured exclusively for off-roads. Two different standards. We have 1/2 dozen water trucks that are used exclusively OR. Yet they were manufactured to be driven on the highway. They are unregistered and are transported by truck from job to job.

We've been inspected by both on several occasions, on the job sites. We had to succumb to the stricter rules (Texas) and use only taxed diesel in those vehicles. Funny thing. They both (IRS and Texas) claim that they trump the other.

micpib1354 · 08-03-2016, 09:13 PM

We used to run the off road fuel in our ambulances, as they were exempt. I was questioned by several mechanics about the dyed color in our fuel lines, the just shrugged their shoulders when I pointed out the exempt plates. We had no problems with the motors or injector systems that were related to the use of dyed fuel. JH

Pigman1 · 08-03-2016, 09:32 PM

I'll add one more yea to the fact that today the fuel in on road and off road pumps is exactly the same except for the dye. When my son worked for the Southern States Cooperative, a farm supply store that supplies fuel, fertilizer, seed and feed in the mid-Atlantic states, he used to get me the empty 55 gal drums that they received their red dye in to use as farm trash barrels. Southern States would get fuel and would dye it on premises depending on what tank they were going to sell it out of. Same fuel, just different color and the price was based on whether tax was charged or not---Red, no tax. Not red, the tax had been added to the pump price.

Gordon Dewald · 08-04-2016, 08:26 AM

One of our friends delivers fuel from the refinery for a living. He said he fills from the same filler. When he checks out at shipping he tells them what he is supposed to be hauling. If it is offroad/farm fuel the shipper goes out with the dye packet and puts it in the tank. If it is on road he is simply released.