Which fuel?

Anonymous Poster · Jan 23, 2003

I am new to diesel tractors and have a question about which grade of diesel to use. One local supplier only carries the grade that is placed in cars/trucks for on-road use, but a supplier about 10 miles from me carries fuel labeled as "off road". Is there a difference? Can I mix them in the same tank?

Thanks

Bird · Jan 23, 2003

Is there a difference?

Maybe, maybe not./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif "Off road" diesel may be higher sulphur content, and it may have red dye added. On the other hand, I always bought the regular diesel, no dye, for off road use (with the proper paperwork filed with the state) so I didn't have to pay the road tax.

Can I mix them in the same tank?

Yes, no problem.

Trev · Jan 23, 2003

To second Bird's opinion, the difference is that red dye is added to off-road fuel, and you don't get hit with the same taxes. Presumably, if they catch you running off-road fuel in a road vehicle, you will be in moderately deep caca.

Which brings to mind a question I have.. if I run my tractor on the road, say a few miles to a friend's house, is this still considered "off-road" use?

Bird · Jan 23, 2003

Bob, I don't know the laws at all in your state, but I think the basic answer to your question is that you're OK. If I understand the lengthy technically written laws in my own state, it's just fine if the purpose of your trip is agricultural, construction, etc., but if it's just for personal transportation, then you have to abide by all the auto/truck rules and not be using off road fuel./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif And I know that no police officer in the rural area I lived in is ever going to stop a tractor to inquire about the purpose of the trip./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Surge · Jan 23, 2003

Well, probably one of the fuel experts can give you more specific's on any actual chemical property differences , but there are a couple of that are known...

First, the off-road would be dyed "Red" to designate it as "off road". This is done as a tracing mechanism to ensure "off-road" diesel does not end up in "on road" trucks, cars etc...Truck stops frequently take fuel samples and if red dyed diesel is found in road vehicles, the federal penalties are stiff.....

The reason is the off road diesel does not have the associated road taxes and while you did not state it in your post, it should be much cheaper than the regulardiesel you will find at the truck stop or gas station...

Currently, winterized off road diesel here in Nebraska is $1.08 per gallon at my local Cenex Co-op, and the last time I noticed at the local truck stop, road diesel was around $1.45 per gallon... Most all of the difference is your Federal and State road tax. If you are not seeing a similar difference in price, someone is making alot of money on the off road fuel, ... I generally load up with an extra 5 gallons of diesel before the winter and I am still using $.82 cent off road diesel I bought in October before the latest fuel price run up...

I do not worry about the winterized as I use Power Service Diesel fuel supplement that adds an anti-gelling agent and also other additives to lubricate the fuel system etc...

I personally will not buy the road diesel due to the price but also would not mix the two either.... I would presume the properties are similar... not sure how the winterized diesel plays into this as I am not sure what the road diesel does for winterzation ie: mixing diesel grades....

I am sure one of the experts can jump in a clarify the actual performance or chemical differences, if any, other than price....

Trev · Jan 23, 2003

And I know that no police officer in the rural area I lived in is ever going to stop a tractor to inquire about the purpose of the trip. 

Thanks yet again, Bird. I was relieved the other day, when, for the first time, I had my tractor at an intersection and encountered a full-dress State Police Battle Cruiser. He just smiled and waved, and off we went. I always wondered if they'd just ignore me here in farmland, or if they'd be checking me out. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

whoodle · Jan 23, 2003

I have only been ckecked for dye once, and it was done by and IRS agent at a weigh station!

thcri · Feb 2, 2003

I don't think any police officer would check a tractor for the red dye, basically because for the most part they are legal to have it, unless it is a construction tractor or for business purposes?? The red dye is specifically to tag fuel that is not taxed. (over the road trucks, diesel pickups and cars that are not farm use) That is kind of my understanding of it. I use my tractor for mostly mowing, snow plowing and moving some dirt. Legaly I don't think I could have the red dye fuel. Only farm implements are allowed to have it. Again what cop is going to pull over a compact tractor? If someown knows the real law regarding the red dye please post it.

murph

Bird · Feb 2, 2003

Murph, I just answered your similar question in another thread./forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif But if you'd really like to know the law in Texas (which won't help much in Minnesota), you can click here and read the law in Texas (if you have the patience to read that much/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif). If you scroll down over a third of the way to Subchapter C, it gets into the diesel fuel.

thcri · Feb 2, 2003

Bird,

I guess I did find your posting in another thread. I guess I should have done a search before I asked my question. Sometimes you get reading a thread and all of a sudden you have a question. Anyway I did go and read your Texas Law. I am sure Minnesota is pretty close as I think the red dye is somewhat of a federal law where is governs all the states.

Again Thanks
Murph