Oil & Fuel Tractor Use of Red Dyed Fuel on Public Roads

[oosik]

You know - how could a tractor be using the wrong fuel. If its dyed - that's OK because its a tractor and that's what dyed fuel is made for. If its not dyed then all the associated taxes have been paid and that's OK also.

It like when the ONLY Mercedes Benz in our little home town got caught using heating fuel rather than diesel. BOY - was that the hot topic for a while.

 

[smstonypoint]

I read, in part, from the laws governing dyed diesel fuel in the State of Washington.
1) Tractors and farm equipment("Q" decal vehicles) may use dyed diesel on public highways within 25 miles of their registered address
2) It is illegal to operate a farm vehicle with a "Q" decal, on Washington State public roadways, with dyed diesel beyond the 25-mile radius.

It is important that we are aware of the existing laws and not rely on myth or assumption.

Apparently the "25 mile" limit is national in scope -- What is the Fine for Running Off Road Diesel

Steve

 

[oosik]

Honestly - In this part of the country - I don't see anybody getting their shorts in a knot if you are running dyed diesel in your tractor and running down the county road. However - I have heard that LEO locally will get a tad testy if there is no - "slow moving vehicle" sign displayed.

Even that slow moving vehicle sign can be a bit of a joke. I was out and about on my new BMW motorcycle last fall - creating my own sonic boom going down a country road. Around a corner and there is big 'ol John Deere harvester coming right at me. He had to have had a 40 foot header on it - it was all the way across the entire width of the paved county road. Got to find out how efficient my ABS system on the bike worked. Nobody crashed, nobody burned - me and the harvester driver had a good laugh.

 

[smstonypoint]

Even that slow moving vehicle sign can be a bit of a joke. I was out and about on my new BMW motorcycle last fall - creating my own sonic boom going down a country road. Around a corner and there is big 'ol John Deere harvester coming right at me. He had to have had a 40 foot header on it - it was all the way across the entire width of the paved county road. Got to find out how efficient my ABS system on the bike worked. Nobody crashed, nobody burned - me and the harvester driver had a good laugh.

I looked up Amber -- I've been in your neck of the woods only once. I flew into Spokane and then drove a rental car to a meeting at Washington State in either late July or early August. I am thankful that I didn't meet any combines with headers on the highway that connects Spokane and Pullman.


Steve

 

[oosik]

You looked up Amber - had to squint a lot - right? Believe it or not - long ago(60 years and more) Amber was quite the small community. Man - I hope you would not meet a combine on the road between Spokane and WSU - down in Pullman. Around here, I-195 is one of our MAJOR North/South roads. They surely cross it but they aren't going to get away with traveling down it.

 

[Oldoak]

I never heard of a single farm tractor ever being cited. It is pickup trucks and delivery trucks and alike that were suspected of using off road diesel fuel or perhaps randomly checked by the D.O.T. I wouldn't know how often, if ever, long haul tractor trailer drivers are checked for using off road diesel fuel. I don't think those truckers would be foolish enough to jeopardize their livelihood.

 

[DieselBound]

I read, in part, from the laws governing dyed diesel fuel in the State of Washington.
1) Tractors and farm equipment("Q" decal vehicles) may use dyed diesel on public highways within 25 miles of their registered address
2) It is illegal to operate a farm vehicle with a "Q" decal, on Washington State public roadways, with dyed diesel beyond the 25-mile radius.

It is important that we are aware of the existing laws and not rely on myth or assumption.

There's two distinct parts to this thread:

1) Legality of operating farm tractors on public roadways;
2) Use of dyed fuel.

Because farm tractors are primarily operated off-road they aren't required to pay road taxes on fuel: you still have to pay sales tax! You can run red-dyed or non-dyed fuel in your tractor, on-road or off: but, you can NOT run blue-dyed fuel unless it's in a government vehicle!

The allowance to traverse public roadways came about because many farms were carved up with public roads and many farmers could only access their chunks of land via public roadway travel: fairly common in my area, and I suspect in other areas as well, is leasing operations that take place on several different property owner parcels (and these can be several miles apart). In general it is assumed that traversing public roadways is done ONLY in the pursuit of farming operations: I'd have to say that the student activities would fall short of this as it's not actually an engagement of farming operations: I'd be hard-pressed, however, to think a community with such activities would discourage such (large farmer population).

 

[Oldoak]

I'd be hard-pressed, however, to think a community with such activities would discourage such (large farmer population).

Yep, that is where "common sense" still prevails here in northeast PA.

 

[PILOON]

Yep, that is where "common sense" still prevails.......

Generally I find that with LEOs common sense is a rare commodity.

I have seen tickets issued from stopping with front wheels over the white line, sliding past stop sign due to dry sand on an icy road.

Being ticketed for speeding on a very steep hill, (LEOs use radar gun while hiding behind trees)

Ticketed for (carefully) running a red light to allow an ambulance passage. (in an area that has very very light traffic and none that day)

And how many people have been shot multiple times (often 12 shots) because the held a hammer, cell phone, or many other objects in their hand under the guise of feeling life threatened ?

LEO cruiser hiding inside a permanently placed large van with a ramp for fast exit and chase and this where a new highway joins an old narrow twisty country road.

I have seen a lot and suffered my fair share since most of my life I travelled a lot as a sales rep covering a large territory.
When yo drive 30-40000 miles/year you are bound to catch a few, simple laws of average.

LOL, got to admit some LEOs are nice which makes biting the bullet easier to take, like," Pardon me sir, would you please hand me your....." vs (with hand on his weapon) 'Registration and insurance papers" or "keep you hand where I can see them"

 

[Liquidsilver]

Pardon the slight weave here, but is there any difference in the dyed fuel, other than the coloring? Does it have better qualities for my tractor?

I ask because I can actually get regular auto diesel in the city for less than the off-road (dyed) diesel near my rural property. Is there any harm running the on-road stuff in my old Kubota?