Is "red" diesel harmful?

[SHOOT1SAM]

Is "red" diesel harmful in any way to a CTD? I know that it is not subjected to the federal, state & local fuel taxes, but other than that, is there any difference between it and "green" diesel?

 

[MidwestMotorman]

well...

The dyed fuel is "off-road" fuel. The dyed fuel seems to plug fuel filters faster than regular fuel. On occasion I have been forced to use the red stuff, and found mileage to drop by 3-4 mpg over the standard diesel, and performance does not seem to be on par. The exhaust also "smells" different.



There is also a fine, $500 I believe (somebody correct me if I am wrong), for getting caught using it by the DNR. Around here, they spot check at farm sales and write tickets on the spot for offenders.



As far as damage goes, there have been people using it for years in their trucks with no apparent damage. I am not sure how the VP44 will handle it though.

 

[Don M]

its harmfull if ya get caught to your pocketbook. Fines are different all over the place. Some guys report up to 1500 bucks.



It is loaded with sulfur in some states. In OK you can smell it a long way away.



Runs great in my truck. I to noticed a small decrease in mileage.



Don~



The guys at the dealer got a laugh when they changed my fuel filter element and found it red!

 

[Blakers]

The quality of the Red fuel probably varies with location. I'm sure much of it is exactly the same as the non-dyed stuff, except with dye added. I don't see why it would cause a reduction in milage - if it's a heavier fuel (more C's) it should contain more energy and give more milage. Alot probably can be contributed to how it is made and handled - the refiner may be more careless with filtering and keeping the specs in line. We used to always just run #2 fuel oil in everything - furnaces and diesels with no problem.



Blake

 

[jjohnson1177]

IF you don't haul cattle and go to sales you won't have a problem. The DOT folks use to check tailpipes when you where stuck in line and couldn't get away but they haven't been doing that in quite awhile. They truck will run great and I've heard the added sulfer lubes the pump. As far as quality just make sure you get it where the fuel is clean, and as far as the smell goes it's no different then any thing else here in Comanche County , USA .

 

[UKRugbyman77]

I heard same as J Johnson - that it lubes the engine more. I have a fam member that has always run high sulfur - it's easy and cheap to pull up to the fuel tank right there at the house. It does stink more (stink is a harsh word if you're a true diesel man - I prefer the word aroma, ahhh) and it smokes like a beast. Just my . 02

 

[Don M]

JJ,



Not far from my place in Lincoln county.





Don~

 

[Briar Hopper]

The Indiana State Police had a booth set up at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY this past February. They had several mason jars full of red fuel on the table, all various shades of red... all were samples taken from victim's tanks

They had brochures and signs mentioning that the fine is $10,000. One of y'all Hoosiers correct me if I'm wrong on that score)

 

[pcorssmit]

One of the guys in our local chapter works for the city, he said they've had some problems running red in the city's 6. 5 Chevys. Something to do with some kind of optical pickup sensor in the pumps. Haven't heard anything about the Cummins pumps, though.



Pete

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I have 80,000 + miles on marked fuel. No problems yet.

 

[dresslered]

I have actually heard that the victim can be charged with a felony since it is essentially tax evasion. Never heard of a case though, but I'll stick with the $1. 479/gal stuff.



P. S. That'd sure be a bummer if that was your third strike!

 

[redneckdr]

red fuel

i don' farm any more--but if i did i would be tempted to run the high sulfur fuel out of the equipment tank. it might require a more frequent filter change, but i always filtered coming out of the storage tank thru a hastings cannister filter. i think the red DOES lubricate the pump and the engine better. certainly does have an aroma, though.

 

[DocStressor]

Look at the figure on page 13 of this document by Detroit Diesel and decide for yourselves if high sulfur off road fuel can harm an engine:



http://www.detroitdiesel.com/public/svc/lof/7se270-9912.pdf

 

[4020Deere]

I recently asked my bulk delivery man about the red stuff. He said they add the red dye right at the bulk plant. I've noticed some loads have been deeper red, and some more pink over the last several years. He didn't know if it was higher sulfer, but thought it all came out of the same tank. My mileage is actually better with red than clear, about 4-5! Anyway, I had read a way to "mask" it was to dump in some used motor oil. It turns everything black. I tried it on 5 gallons and I can;t see any red. Also, the red doesn't smell any different or smoke any more/less than the clear that I can see

 

[STRALEY]

Red yes

I agree that the dyed fuel is better. It has a little higher sulfur level and lubes everything better. My truck runs better with red vs. clear. I have tried it both ways and will continue to use red fuel. Who cares what it smells like so long as it is fresh fuel. Just my . 02.

 

[illflem]

I'm with the others, red is better. 95% of the miles on my trucks have been on offroad with no problems. In fact they don't run as well on clear. Tax free fuel was one of the main reasons I bought a diesel in the first place. I sure as heck am not going to install another farm tank just for more expensive fuel.

 

[jgil104]

Re: Red yes

Originally posted by CumminsTurbo425

I agree that the dyed fuel is better. It has a little higher sulfur level and lubes everything better. My truck runs better with red vs. clear. I have tried it both ways and will continue to use red fuel. Who cares what it smells like so long as it is fresh fuel. Just my . 02.

when i worked in chicago at navy pier were got boat fuel in the driver said he added the die to the tank truc k just before filling w/#2 diesel to color the fuel.

run red#2 for a year or two in a96-6. 5 with no problems .

 

[MidwestMotorman]

Dyeing fuel

I do not know about adding used motor oil to color it. How about carrying a case of Dextron ATF in the bed and saying you added it to lube the pump???



Wonder how much it would take to actually dye the fuel pink?



I think that the dyed fuel also requires more frequent oil changes as the extra sulfur will turn the oil really black.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

Thanks for all of the replies. I'm filling up tomorrow morning with regular #2, so I'll be able to do a little fuel mileage comparison. I didn't notice any lack of performance, and I don't think there's going to be any noticeable difference in economy. I pulled up to a pump in Montana, and there was a choice; $148. 9 or . 989 per gallon. Hmmm. I figured one tankful of taxless diesel wouldn't ruin the economy or the mighty Cummins. I did notice a different aroma the next morning though when it was about 47 degrees.

 

[SteveH]

I suppose that since I actually work in a refinery in the hydrocracker unit that makes the diesel we run in our rigs, and have done so for over 16 years) I would have a little insight to the composition of the diesel. There is not one difference in Red dyed diesel and the #2 at the pump. They are made exactly the same, have exactly the same components and are in fact produced at the same time. We have no "red diesel runs" and "normal #2 diesel runs". The dye has no bearing on the fuel, its only an inert marker. The sulfur content of the #2 is exactly the same as the "red dye" if produced by the same company at the same time. It is impossible for the red dye fuel to give you any anvantages or disadvantages over the same company's #2 that was delivered at the same time to the outlet. The only difference is the DOT can trace the "red dye" users and if they are caught using it on the road for everyday business, the fine is quite high. Hopes this helps clarify some of the questions.

Steve H