Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) RED fuel 0 PSI

[bbutler]

Ever time I run RED fuel my fuel pressure goes to 0. Has anybody elese had this problem?

 

[jrandol]

I think you are referring to Red Dye Diesel?? Dont get caught on the roads with that, the feds will chew you up and spit you back out!!



Everything I have read and heard on Red Dye is that it is exactly the same as #2 but they put a bout a spoon full of this red dye in a couple thousand gallons of #2 and it turns red for tracking purposes. If that's true there wouldnt be any difference in the volume or structure of the molecules that would decrease your fuel flow. Are you sure it wasnt the fuel they use in Diesel locomotives??

 

[lil red cummins]

the red #2 here is the off road variety and has a higher sulfer content according to the label on the pump at landmark. the big thing is that it has no road tax on it. it may have other differences but i don't know.

if you use your truck for business, don't get caught on the road with it. you will get fined.



as far as affecting fuel pressure. no idea. could there be more air in the fuel?



bbutler, how was your power on the red stuff? was it more, less, unchanged? did you notice more smoke?



just curious.



jim

 

[RBeard]

Been running red with 5% motor oil and had no problems at all for 120K. Not sure why you would see psi loss.

 

[JaMan]

Why the motor oil? At $1. 60 gal. the future could be red





Jared

 

[RowJ]

BButler

Are you saying you DO get fuel pressure with on-road, none red diesel? Makes no sense to me, especially since most of the off-road diesel is dyed, on-road, no tax, low sulfur fuel, as mentioned above.

At least it was when on-road first came out. Most small fuel dealers (by far the majority) could not afford two different storage tanks and two different delivery vehicles for two different diesel fuels. Suspect still that way and know of no way to tell at pump.

 

[mmclaughlin]

I used to work at a marina where we sold red number 2 diesel fuel for the lobster boats. It was basically the same fuel as non-dyed fuel, but we did add an additive - can't remember what it was, though. I used to run it in my VW rabbit with no problems at all. I believe the sulfer content was the same as road-going fuel. I had no difference in MPG with road fuel and marine fuel - I got 55 mpg running either the dyed fuel or the ligit fuel - the only difference was about $0. 40 a gallon!

 

[jrandol]

Originally posted by mmclaughlin

I used to work at a marina where we sold red number 2 diesel fuel for the lobster boats. It was basically the same fuel as non-dyed fuel, but we did add an additive - can't remember what it was, though. I used to run it in my VW rabbit with no problems at all. I believe the sulfer content was the same as road-going fuel. I had no difference in MPG with road fuel and marine fuel - I got 55 mpg running either the dyed fuel or the ligit fuel - the only difference was about $0. 40 a gallon!

Ive ran 2 tanks of Red Dye for giggles in this truck and thousands of gallons in an old company truck years ago and never noticed any difference in power or economy. Everything I have heard and read shows that it is literrally the same fuel just has some special dye in it to track the non-taxed fuel.

 

[jrobinson2]

The driver that delivers my fuel told me that in Las Vegas they add the dye when the truck is loaded, the fuel is the same. I think a lot of the fuel in the St. George area comes from the Vegas pipeline terminal so it should be the same. I have run a fair amount of red in the past and never noticed any difference in fuel pressure or performance.

BTW I have a friend in your area that was checked for red fuel last year

Jared

 

[Ncostello]

My fuel dealer has one tank. They ask you if your tax exempt. So definately no difference in the fuel there. I fill up our fire trucks often enough such that the employees there always assume I'm tax free as a person in general. I have to remind them its my truck I'm filling. (The pumps are on the blind side of the building so they cant see what I'm driving, but for some it still wouldn't matter)

 

[Big-D]

Hey Neil,



How about letting me fill my Ram, it's red... .

Dave

 

[jelag]

My old house used to have an oil fired furnace. . stove oil can be purchased as #1 or #2 and its the same as diesel... . just another word for it... . when the tank failed we replaced it with a 1000 gal tank and used to pump the fuel into my truck... ... fuel guy never said a thing as he filled the tank in the hot summer... same sort of thing... ...



With the fines that the stations now have to pay for selling red fuel to vehicles that run on the road..... I'm surprised they let you buy it... in addition to the fines for running it yourself... .



Here in Spokane the 2 fuels, dyed and non dyed are the same... one has road tax... one doesn't... .



Jim

 

[ecpeters]

WE use the red fuel at work for our standby generators from time to time. We have had problems with the dye clogging the 20 micron Raycor filters. I have been told that this is not uncommon on farm equipment. I have been told that a change to a 30 micron filter end the filter problem.

 

[JohnE]

Originally posted by JaMan

Why the motor oil? ...

Same reason people add or say they add transmission fluid to the fuel, trying to disguise the non-tax fuel.



Some areas still get red fuel in old high sulfer grades. That is getting less and less due to refinery and pipeline capacity. Around here, the diesel cetane is really bad in winter months. If the fuel is lower grade, why does the price climb? Gotta love the seasonal adjustments.

 

[jrobinson2]

WE use the red fuel at work for our standby generators from time to time. We have had problems with the dye clogging the 20 micron Raycor filters. I have been told that this is not uncommon on farm equipment. I have been told that a change to a 30 micron filter end the filter problem.

A 30 micron filter should only be used as a primary, never as a secondary filter. Older equipment usually use a 15 micron secondary, the newer machines will use a 10 micron or sometimes even a 3 micron on the newer common rail engines in John Deere tractors. I have never heard of red fuel clogging filters on farm equipment before, I have a 150 hp stationary irrigation engine that last year ran over 21,000 gallons of red dyed fuel through a 10 micron filter a little smaller than the one on our Cummins pickups with no problems at all so I doubt the dye is what clogged your filters.

Jared

 

[RowJ]

Checked with Chemist at work. He said nothing in red dye that could clog a 10 micron fuel filter as long as it was mixed in well with fuel - which would happen just by filling tank.

 

[Rebel_Horseman]

This may be an old wive's tale, but I heard a long time ago there was some sort of chemical or additive that can be added to red #2 to neutralize the red dye thereby making it appear clear if you get dipped. Anyone heard of this? I too have been thinking of running it, or at the least mixing. I've never heard the motor oil or trannie fluid thing. Does the motor oil really work in disguising the red fuel, andif so how?



Reb [><]

 

[jrandol]

Oh I bet the IRS is loving this thread. Who might be lurking here now. hmmm... ... ...

 

[JHutson]

Originally posted by jrandol

I think you are referring to Red Dye Diesel?? Dont get caught on the roads with that, the feds will chew you up and spit you back out!!



Everything I have read and heard on Red Dye is that it is exactly the same as #2 but they put a bout a spoon full of this red dye in a couple thousand gallons of #2 and it turns red for tracking purposes. If that's true there wouldnt be any difference in the volume or structure of the molecules that would decrease your fuel flow. Are you sure it wasnt the fuel they use in Diesel locomotives??

 

[JHutson]

I work in the tank farm business and the IRS which control the fuel oil say that the red dyed fuel is only for off road and construction equipment and they don't care if you make a mistake and get it. It is your ass if you are caught and the place that you bought it from. you will get a fine and the they will be fined by the gallon. so beware!!!!!!!!!! The dye is only for high sulphur fuel thats why our fuel we use is straw colored it is low sulphur.