Hiway diesel color?

[rustyshakelford]

If I mix a little gasoline with diesel in a jar they should separate correct?

They are both petroleum products. If it was e85 which is basically an alcohol I think they would separate but with gas and diesel I don't think so. The specific gravity is less than .10 difference. Hopefully someone else will now. You would smell gas though. How many gallons did you get and how big is your tank?

Brett

 

[kevinj]

Just need a little reassurance here.

I have always filled my transfer tank with on-road diesel. The tank has a clear hose. The diesel has always been a dirty lime-green color (with no after market additives). I have filled at several gas stations over the years.

The last time I filled up I went to a new station. Just started to fill my tractor up today and the fuel came out tinted red! I stopped the pump before much got into the tank but now what?

This diesel was from a truck stop pump and was definitely not off-road diesel. (I think that is dyed?).

As far as I can tell it smells like diesel but it's in my diesel transfer tank. Is this a common color for diesel that I just haven't seen yet? How can I confirm it is diesel?

Thanks!

If ya went to a good truck stop you may have bought refer fuel which is dyed red and less tax

 

[cat fever]

If I mix a little gasoline with diesel in a jar they should separate correct?

It will not separate. The gas has vapor pressure from the Butane. Close your fuel cap tight, leave it for an hour then open it. If it has pressure then you likely have gasoline in the fuel. A little is not a problem, say a gallon of gas to 15-20 gallons of diesel.

From what you described I think a delivery truck at some point put dyed fuel in the on road tank. You could notify the station and have them remove and replace the fuel. Of course you would have to prove it came from them.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

So it sounds like oder, vapor pressure, and flammability are ways to differentiate diesel from gasoline.

I seem to remember friction coefficient or "slipperyness" between your fingers also being an indication?

 

[cat fever]

All you mentioned are true. Diesel is slippery compared to gas. The other would be if you know someone who can check the gravity. Diesel would be low 40s and gas would be 60s. Jet fuel is mid 40s.

 

[kthompson]

If you pour some on the ground or some place safe to burn, diesel will need you to light it while the gas will be turning into vapor and will burst into flames before the flame gets to the liquid (normally). That is why it is so dangerous to use gas to start a fire as the vapor will spread out depending the circumstance to where you are even in the vapor and can catch on fire when it vapors and flame meet. It a good bit of vapor explode or go woof. Gas is not slick, it will wash motor oil or grease off while diesel still have lubricating value to it. One reason diesels normally have longer life.

About two years back station here changed hands.They sold about every kind of fuel including on road and off road diesel and also ethanol free gas. I bought ethanol free gas there for new chain saw. Saw had real issues and finally I gave up. Shop said you have diesel in the tank. Turns out I was not the only person to take an power tool to them with diesel in the fuel tank, trucker got mixed up on the tanks.