Red Fuel and DC

[ksterrett]

I work for a highway district in Id. that just purchased a 04' "600" last week , We use RED fuel legaly because we are tax exempt. Now I need to find out If DC could void the factory warrantee because of the " Off-Road" fuel we use in the rig. Thanks for your help , Ken Sterrett

 

[guava]

Its my opinion that they can't. If I buy a truck and never let it touch the road then its only a tax issue and not a fuel issue.



Given the standard DC mechanic mentality, they'll only think your avoiding paying taxes by using red fuel. Its none of they business.

 

[Pugster]

I don't think the warranty issue is your problem. If someone servicing your truck reports your using red dyed high sulfer fuel to the enviromental police, you could find the fines are very, very stiff. Thousands per day.

 

[EEngel]

Red

Does the truck have any stickers or way of showing it is a city vehical?



I would assume if they really wanted to be dinks they could get you just for driving it on the road to the dealership.



I would ask the service department what their policy is. If it sucks, call another.



I really don't think 99% of the mechanics give a crap. They are there to do a job and make a living.

 

[RGardner]

I had a service manager tell me that DC had told them that if there was evidence of red fuel in the truck that the warranty was to be voided. I told him that if the fuel was good enough for 200,000 tractors and combines it should be good enough for DC. It should not be a warranty issue but a tax issue. DC is opening themselves up for a major lawsuit if they deny warranty when one us legally using red diesel.

 

[Summit]

just run it and dont worry. if your exempt as many farmers i know are ( some of there trucks dont know what green fuel is), never heard of any of them having warranty problems and alot of them drive 2nd gen trucks and have had lift and injection pumps replaced.

not only that but there has to be several tractor applications out there.

 

[klenger]

School buses use the CTD 5. 9 also, and I'll bet they run on red fuel. Of course, they aren't warrantied by Dodge.

 

[The patriot]

No DC mechanics ever said anything to me about it.

Eric

 

[DHayden]

He's not a farmer, he is working for a state tax exempt department. They can run the roads it doesnt matter. The diesel is the same except for the dye. If anyone asked he would just have to show the dept. is tax exempt, DC should have no say in it or they would be opening themselves for trouble as someone mentioned.

 

[ksterrett]

DHayden, You are right , The truck has " Exempt" on the licence plates . I was just trying to find out if DC could deniy us the warrentee because of running the red fuel. But if you think about it this is what all state, county and city trucks use on the road, so how could DC denie the warrentee when the state of Id. allows us to use this fuel?.

Thanks for your imput and if anyone has more info please tell "US" . Ken

 

[Boonieman]

Unless I'm mistaken, red diesel fuel is for off-road use only in the U. S. and it's not the same as regular road diesel because of it's higher sulfur content. There is the tax issue of course, but the largest fines I'm aware of will not come from a state, but the U. S. DOT and the EPA. My truck is registered as a farm truck and there's no way I would ever consider putting red fuel in it because of the fines involved. The EPA website has quite a bit of interesting info on this subject. The following two paragraphs are from their website. Of course, it's really none of my business what anybody does, but I would suggest you research this a little further if you're considering throwing some red fuel in your truck.



<From the US EPA Website>

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adopting a comprehensive national program to reduce emissions from future nonroad diesel engines by integrating engine and fuel controls as a system to gain the greatest emission reductions. To meet these emission standards, engine manufacturers will produce new engines with advanced emission-control technologies similar to those already expected for highway trucks and buses. Exhaust emissions from these engines will decrease by more than 90 percent. Because the emission-control devices can be damaged by sulfur, we are also adopting a limit to decrease the allowable level of sulfur in nonroad diesel fuel by more than 99 percent.



EPA estimates that affected nonroad diesel engines currently account for about 60 percent of total diesel particulate matter (PM) emissions and about 30 percent of total nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from mobile sources nationwide. These proportions can be even higher in some urban areas. The new nonroad diesel emission standards will reduce emissions by more than 90 percent, and are similar to the requirements for engines being implemented for on-road highway trucks and buses.

 

[klenger]

What does the owner's manual say?



"For most year-round service, No. 2 diesel fuel meeting ASTM specification D-975 will provide good performance. "



If red fuel meets ASTM specification D-975, then I don't see how they could void your warranty.



There is no tax issue for this member, they are exempt. (period)

 

[jelag]

I'm sure like most state and federal agencies that are tax exempt you have a fuel tank on the property serviced by a fuel provider...



Give him a call to make sure its the same fuel with just a dye... . if so run it... . and don't worry... I'm guessing the guy in the dealer will see the exempt plates and not question the dye... .



But if its a different mix... . of chemicals..... you might run into pump / injector problems... . and if thats the case I'd only run standard fuel... . and get your supplier to rebate back the taxes... .

 

[BIG HAULERS]

I run red diesel in my farm equipment when I asked if it was any different than regular pump diesel at the distributer they said it is no different it just has red die added so its use can be monitored in vehicles used on the road. Like yall said I've been tempted to use it on occasion but the risk of fine isn't worth it.

 

[bgilbert]

It's #2 diesel fuel without green dye WITH red dye. Nothing magical about it. Bill

 

[Boonieman]

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/FAQ/diesel_fuel.htm





The above address at Geno's Garage discusses diesel fuels at length, including differences between red (off road) and on road diesel.

 

[EEngel]

LINK

Boonieman,



Thanks for the link. That was really informative.

 

[RGardner]

my supplier tells me there is no difference anymore between road and farm diesel except for the dye and price.