Community Forums

tedward1555 · 03-10-2010, 07:05 PM

When I was renting RV's I once filled the tank with regular gas and of course the RV shut down on the Interstate.... and after about 1,000 dollars of towing and repair we were back on the road.
Well today I did it again... well kind of. I had never heard of "Off Road High Sulphur Diesel" before but yep I pulled into a station in Hattiesburg Mississippi, and filled up at pump number 11 of 11 pumps. What I didn't pay attention to was the pump was marked "Off Road Diesel, Died Diesel"... and when I went in to pay the attendant didn't say anything about me filling up an obvious "on road" vehicle at pump number 11. 59 gallons I pumped in ... and it's even ILLEGAL to use it on public roads. So after about 45 minutes on the phone with Fleetwood first, who sent me to Freightliner, who sent me to Cummins, I was told it was OK to drive with it but to expect a rougher ride and a few warning lights from time to time, and probably need to have my filter replaced sooner than expected.
Just wanted you all to know that these pumps are out there right along with the other Diesel pumps and they are NOT well marked....
90 miles later I'm driving fine and so far have seen no change whatsoever.
Happy Trails
Ed

Bill Adams · 03-10-2010, 07:12 PM

The fuel is exactly the same as the fuel in any other diesel dispenser. It is dyed red and if you get caught their are huge fines to be paid, but otherwise, no worries. The only difference is that the off diesel is cheaper as you don't have to pay the whopping road taxes.

Dr4Film · 03-10-2010, 07:15 PM

Not sure if the Cummins people gave you the straight scoop but in CA just down the road from me is a fuel depot with two types of diesel. A lot of truckers and cars use their fuel. At the diesel pumps, you can choose between Red Dyed Diesel or Diesel #2. Red Dyed Diesel is off-road only and does not have the added road taxes that the Diesel #2 has. If a person were to pump Red Dyed Diesel into their road vehicle, they could get fined big time as you haven't paid the CA road taxes on the fuel.

However, the only difference between the two diesel fuels is the red dye. It should burn in the engine just fine. However the dye sticks around for a long time and pumping more normal diesel into the tank will not get rid of the red dye until many many fill-ups later.

Dr4Film ----- Richard.

George A · 03-10-2010, 07:35 PM

High Sulphur Diesel is used of farm tractors it is not the same as the regular diesel...we buy it all the time on the farm...out here u have to get a card for that pump to work...most of the time u will get more smoke & lights will come on...& your filter will clog up

George A · 03-10-2010, 07:42 PM

Sulfur contentAffects wear, deposits, and particulate emissions. Diesel fuels contain varying amounts of various sulfur compounds which increase oil acidity. Legislation has reduced the sulfur content of highway fuel to 0.05% by weight. Off road fuel has an average of 0.29% sulfur by weight.

RV Wizard · 03-11-2010, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedward1555

So after about 45 minutes on the phone with Fleetwood first, who sent me to Freightliner, who sent me to Cummins, I was told it was OK to drive with it but to expect a rougher ride and a few warning lights from time to time, and probably need to have my filter replaced sooner than expected.
Just wanted you all to know that these pumps are out there right along with the other Diesel pumps and they are NOT well marked....
90 miles later I'm driving fine and so far have seen no change whatsoever.
Happy Trails
Ed

You must not have the new ultra low sulfur engine. This time be glad. I am sure you have learned your lesson and in the future will pay attention to the fuel you are pumping in.

tedward1555 · 03-11-2010, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Wizard

You must not have the new ultra low sulfur engine. This time be glad. I am sure you have learned your lesson and in the future will pay attention to the fuel you are pumping in.

Yes I do have the new ultra low sulphur engine. It is an 08 fleetwood providence with an 8.3 Cummins engine. It is clearly marked to only use "ultra low sulphur"

But yes I have learned my lesson. I can assure you that I will never again put gasoline in a diesel and I will never again put died diesel in my on road vehicle. I've been fortunate these two times with very little expense and inconvenience ... I am very very afraid of what #3 is around the corner...

diandtom · 03-11-2010, 08:19 AM

If I am not wrong the fine here in North Carolina is $10,000 and they can take your rig. I would never do it or not intentionally. I don't think it will do any harm to the 2006 down diesel engines.

Gary RVRoamer · 03-11-2010, 08:21 AM

The off-road diesel may not have the same additive package included as the on-road stuff. It may or may not be ULSD, depending on the distributor. But as has been said, the main difference is that road taxes were not paid and you WILL be severely fined if any official checks and finds the dye in your fuel tank (unlikely). And the dye will stain the next couple of tanks full too, so you are at risk for some time. It would be rare for a non-commercial highway vehicle to be checked for off-road fuel, though.

Buckeyefarm · 03-11-2010, 09:09 AM

I am a farmer in Ohio and the only diesel we can get anymore is ULSD. My 2005 dodge has run fine on the dyed fuel with no problems and I am sure the same will be true of my 2010 dodge 3500 when it arrives next week.

a k · 03-11-2010, 09:21 AM

Here in Missouri, MODOT goes around to farm auctions and they stick the pickup truck tanks, and if it comes out dyed, you don't get your truck back until you pay the fine. Sneaky HUH?

And they catch a lot of them

popsuscdds · 03-11-2010, 12:40 PM

Greetings: Some time ago I filled my tanks on an eighteen wheeler with off road dyed diesel. I went to the gas station office and inquired about removing the diesel. Instead the proprietor simply had me pay the taxes on the fuel. He gave me a receipt showing that the road taxes were paid. It was a conoco station.
Milt

wardy · 03-11-2010, 01:57 PM

Ted,

You simply prematurely aged the Cummings Particulate Filter some since you have an 2008. But with only 59 gallons used it should not be a concern.

Ray,IN · 03-11-2010, 07:45 PM

No diesel engine damage will occur by using off-road diesel fuel. It may affect emissions controls when used long-term though.
Clean Diesel Trucks, Buses, and Fuel: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards and Highway Diesel Fuel Sulfur Control Requirements | Heavy-Duty Highway Diesel Program | US EPA
FAQ
Facts on Fuel
Those links should provide some additional information about diesel fuel. If I remember correctly, 2010 is the deadline for the entire U.S.A. conversion to S15(ULSD) diesel fuel, except for diesel locomotives, which are still allowed to burn 5,000 ppm sulphur..
FWIW, here is the original EPA regulatory announcement: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/hd2007/frm/f00057.pdf