daybreak1998
Silver Member
I think the issue is the sulfur content of the fuel, not whether it's off-road or on-road. People always mix this up and equate the two where they shouldn't.
Off-road just means there is no highway tax in the fuel price, and the fuel is dyed red to indicate that. This is not a reliable indicator of sulfur content.
On-road diesel MUST be 15 PPM or less sulfur, otherwise known as ULSD (Ultra low Sulfur Diesel), so buying on-road assures you are buying ULSD. That relationship is reliable, i.e. on-road = Highway taxes = no red dye = ULSD
Off-road is not REQUIRED to be ULSD, but in practice it almost always is. Just ask the fuel distributor/dealer to confirm. So off-road = no highway taxes = red dye = (ULSD or LSD). In other words, it might be ULSD, but it's not guaranteed - you need to ask/check.
I just had my 250 gal storage tank filled the other day and it says right on the slip that it's off-road ULSD. Good thing because my excavator requires ULSD.
Howdy,
Exactly. My gators even have a sticker by the fuel tank saying use "Low Sulpher Diesel or Ultra Low Sulpher Diesel Only". OK it has the yanmar diesel engine in it. My last fill up with LSD 500ppm stuff was maybe 4 years ago now. (Northern Virginia) It has always been ULSD from then onward. (Off-Road #2 Diesel ULSD) dyed red, but same as your station pumped ULSD diesel.