On road diesel vs off road NO 2 red

[Aquamoose]

I agree with Rob. The ONLY difference is the dye and how it’s priced differently due to taxes. The subject should have been resolved long ago.

 

[CobyRupert]

You're making it out to be more confusing than it is. At the fuel pump it will always be diesel. Period....
.... Whether it is strictly #1 or not doesn't matter, at least in northern states all stations switch to a fuel that won't gel, still with low sulfur and meant for modern diesel engines.

Rob

I doubt it’s strictly #1. You mean #2?

“...it will always be diesel. Period.” Hmmm...
So when do northern stations change?
Do they ALL change on the same date?
Do they all change to fuel good for 15 degrees, 0 degrees, -10, -20, or is it -30 degrees on this date?
Or does this switch vary day to day, week to week, month to month, station to station?
Hmmm....it’s almost like a person doesn’t know what they’re getting. There’s no such thing as “just diesel”. Not so simple. Period.

 

[aczlan]

I doubt it’s strictly #1. You mean #2?

“...it will always be diesel. Period.” Hmmm...
So when do northern stations change?
Do they ALL change on the same date?
Do they all change to fuel good for 15 degrees, 0 degrees, -10, -20, or is it -30 degrees on this date?
Or does this switch vary day to day, week to week, month to month, station to station?
Hmmm....it’s almost like a person doesn’t know what they’re getting. There’s no such thing as “just diesel”. Not so simple. Period.

I think I posted a link previously, but there is a asme schedule with average cold temperatures over the winter by month and they recommend that these will be mixed to that temperature. As for when it will be changed over that depends on the winter, but generally it is changed over between September and November depending on how far north you are and how cold is it expected to be.
For how much of a pain it is to deal with a gelled fuel system, we put winter additive in ourselves when it gets towards the end of October and use summer additive for any fuel purchased after April.
This is in a 100 gallon bulk tank, but I will put a little bit in the tank of each of the tractors if they're close to full when I dose the bulk tank for winter.

Aaron Z

 

[MHarryE]

The off-highway pumps at my station are well labeled. #1 from Nov 15 give or take 2 weeks, no bio, reverts to #2 March 15 give or take 2 weeks, with bio. Heating oil different pump because Minnesota is unlike New England states and allows higher sulfur for home heating. But the pumps are clearly labeled. There is one additional station in my small town that sells the same fuel for heating oil and diesel but it is clearly labeled “may contain up to 500 ppm sulfur”. The owner has no clue - he told me that Cenex controls the pumps and the labeling. For him it’s TMI, he only sells what they put in his tanks and doesn’t bother with details. He has too many other things to worry about. So I only buy from the one clearly differentiated if I need fuel and I don’t have my fuel trailer at the main farm when the trucker delivers weekly during the summer.

 

[oosik]

I've always used on-road diesel. Then a year or so ago a local station started selling off-road. That's what I use now and can see no difference - other than the added dye.

 

[CobyRupert]

Well, MHarryE, I stand corrected.
I’ve never seen any labels like that here in the NorthEast.
It “just diesel” here unless the pump is specifically labeled kerosene.

 

[Hayloft]

I haven't had any problem with it. I get it from a bulk supplier that has a fairly high volume, so it's relatively fresh.

Now you owe me a barrel of blueberries.

I've been using off-road red for about 4 yrs no issues.