It was asked what type of fuels are out there. I have a buddy in the fuel business in Alabama and asked him. Here's what he told me:
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Oh boy! Finally sumpin' I really know about and can answer
intelligently!( well, sorta).
Up Narth you-all use different fuels for home heat and other off-road
uses, like farm tractors and backhoes and such. Down here in God's
Country we use the SAME STUFF for all those things. Yep, all high
sulphur diesel is the same. Its what we used to call "diesel" until the
U.S. guvment, in their infinite wisdom, decided to make two different
kinds available, and tax it differently(wait a little while, they are
about to make a third one). Road diesel is low sulphur diesel (we call
it LSD) and it is always taxed, $0.244 per gallon federal excise tax.
Off-road diesel is HSD, or high sulphur diesel, and it what used to pass
for all kinds of diesels before the govment got involved.
We deliver off-road fuel to farmers, home heat accounts, construction
jobs, generator tanks, etc. IT costs around 85 cents a gallon right
now, versus the buck-and-a-quarter and more for the on-road type.
We also have lots of folks who bring drums and tanks into our facility
and fill them up for their own use, including some "gentlemen farmers"
who have expensive toys like Kubotas and Deeres that they play with.
Keep in mind a 55 gallon drum of diesel fuel will weigh around 375
pounds. A good hand pump is a little over $100 and will last a
life-time. Cheaper ones are available but they leak and go bad after a
year or two.
Duane, if you get home heating oil delivered they can probably also fill
up a drum for you, but the fuel may not be the same. Contrary to
popular opinion, Virginia is no longer part of the SOUTH, as the yankees
have taken over. Most home heat delivery trucks just have one big
compartment in the truck and only carry heating oil. Ask your provider
if there is any difference between home heating oil and farm diesel. If
not, you're cool. Otherwise you will have to make other arrangements.