Community Forums

Mr_D · 11-10-2019, 08:54 AM

What Gary ran into with off road diesel is right
It is cheaper due to no road taxes added. It is dyed and can be easily see and tested for even several tanks later. Some states do in fact stop and check fuel tanks. Fines can be pretty high. I only know of one local station that has off road diesel though.

photraveller · 11-10-2019, 11:21 AM

Living in the middle of farm country I've known that "red" diesel existed. Never seen it at a station before. Just farm and other off road private use storage tanks.

I've heard of truckers getting tested, but I've never heard of an RV or pickup getting tested.

I have a diesel tractor and jokingly talked about buying a private farm tank, but I decided it just wasn't worth the risk for the RV.

Steve

Rollin101 · 11-10-2019, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

Thanks for that information Matt. I have never factored that in at all.... now I am going to have to pay attention to another issue to get a handle on this DEF bur n rate issue. I have a ticket to get the rate "calibrated" next time I am close to a Cummins shop and have the time. I spent a lot of time up North for this past 3 months. I did not notice if the pumps was saying Bio or #2. Frankly, I assumed that whether it had a sign, it was going to be biodiesel.... not pure #2.

On a slightly different issue, in NH, I started running into pure #2 and it was almost a buck less a gallon as it had no state or federal tax included in it. I asked what the deal was and was told that straight diesel was not taxed as it was not for highway use and was only there for a bunch of people who heat their barns or houses or whatever with diesel or maybe farm use. They told me it was a different color from highway diesel (maybe tinted red ????) and if anyone stopped me and sampled my fuel (who would do that?), that I would be ticketed as it was illegal to run raw diesel on the highway...

Well, I have been through MANY problems with after-processing on both this coach and my 15 Anthem and they were significantly expensive warranty repairs, so I had no desire to screw around with any of that " so I was not going to take any chances of throwing codes or generating problems over 50 - 99 cents a gallon difference in price so I always bought the high priced, "street legal" stuff, but I had never seen this issue discussed on here, and was wondering. Never seen that down south below the Mason-Dixon line. Who knew?

Gary

Lot of stations have dyed diesel, especially in farm communities. It is exactly the same diesel except for the dye and will not bother your engine, but it could bother your pocketbook. However, if you don’t take your Mh to farm sales or stockyards no one will ever know. I guess someone could see you filling with off road diesel and turn you in.

Balladeer · 11-10-2019, 01:08 PM

I was curious so Googled this issue.
Results:
The red dye is used to identify non-taxable fuel.
This is a FEDERAL requirement.
ergo; if you are caught by the "fuel police" the fine is $20 per Gallon or $1000 per incident.
There are cases on record for all states.

Wow, that can buy a lot of fuel. 250 gals at California rates.

Is it worth the risk? Only you can be the judge.

(p.s. = I use to use the red in my boat but it was not on the highways and therefore not subject to federal regulations.)

Fair winds and downhill grades........

Motang · 11-14-2019, 06:58 AM

Has anyone noticed and milage difference associated with the different brands of DEF? Walmart vs. Peak?

Gary.Jones · 11-14-2019, 09:20 AM

By government regulation, DEF is DEF..... there is a mandated concentration of any/all components, so there should be no difference. All DEF is defined as having to be made up of 32.5% urea and 67.5 percent deionized water. The differences should be in how well it is stored (in the ground, no ground water contaminants, in jugs from the source) or how well it is packaged (the previously discussed abuse of "returned" DEF at some stores, etc). But otherwise, DEF is DEF.... the only difference is price and profit.

Gary

Cablemandan · 11-14-2019, 05:44 PM

How about Blue def!
Think we ought to all by stock in that product

Gary.Jones · 11-14-2019, 06:25 PM

BlueDEF is also simply DEF..... different brand.... same mandated composition. Different price. Remember DEF is DEF by regulation. It is exactly the same.

Gary