Diesel fuel off-road vs hwy blends

[Albiek]

I am new to diesel fuel powered tractors.
I just purchased an Mahindra 1533 and have been running hwy grade diesel blend since it is cold in Minnesota.
Does the off road none hwy taxed diesel have the same blend for winter use to prevent jelling and would I be better off running it in the tractor?
Thanks for any help you can give me. I would like to save the hwy tax if possible.
Loving my new Mahindra in Mn.

 

[davesl708]

Hi. Welcome Congrats on the new machine.

Highway and off road diesel are the same fuel. The color identifies taxed vs non-taxed fuel. Illegal to run non-taxed fuel on highways.

The winter blend depends on your source of fuel. Ask your supplier when they switch to winter blend. Keep in mind they do not run the bulk tank empty then fill with the winterized version. They blend them.

I use Power Service in my fuel year round to make sure I get what I need when I need it. It also has other benefits.
There are several choices for fuel additive but I went with Power Service in the white bottle. It has Cetane boost to help with starting and add lube to the fuel pump and injectors.

 

[oosik]

Welcome to TBN. I run highway diesel in my tractor. I don't use enough annually - 35-40 gal - to go thru the bother of finding the product and getting the necessary paperwork to purchase off road diesel. I know that in my area the highway diesel is not "blended" to prevent jelling. If you want to prevent jelling you have to add something yourself. I do believe that highway diesel and off road diesel are the exact same animal - off road diesel will have a colorant additive for identification.

 

[3930dave]

What (the other) dave said.

In my case, I use Stanadyne additives. Power Service, Howes, and OptiLube XPD are other popular and respected brands.

I run taxed road diesel in my tractor, for a few reasons:

1) I don't go through a ton of fuel.

2) I have a diesel road going vehicle. My stored diesel normally just goes in the tractor, but I don't want to end up in an emergency situation where I have to dump dyed diesel into my truck.

3) Fresh diesel matters to me. The truck stop I buy from will often get 2 tanker runs a day of diesel. Bulk diesel that is not turning over quickly may be more prone to moisture, which can lead to microbial growth (algae). Saving on tax is attractive, but I'd verify how fast that off-road tank is turning over this time of year, before going that way.

Enjoy the new tractor, buy at least one spare fuel filter if you haven't already - you'll need it eventually, and sooner if you have gelling.

Rgds, D.

 

[ovrszd]

I never rely on the supplier to winterize my fuel. I don't care what they "claim". They won't be out there in the cold with me trying to get my tractor to run when it gels. I always use a non-gelling additive in cold weather. Power Service white bottle.

As for "red" fuel, that's all I burn in my tractors. If you have a supplier that offers it at their pumps the paperwork necessary is minor and takes about 1 minute. It's basically your honesty and truth, verified with your signature, that you aren't using the fuel on the highway. I burn app. 2400 gallons a year so it's definitely worth it to me.

 

[Looking4new]

3) The truck stop I buy from will often get 2 tanker runs a day of diesel.
Rgds, D.

Dave, are you buying from the Flying J?

 

[3930dave]

Dave, are you buying from the Flying J?

J's usually go through a lot of fuel too, but in my case I use Husky as no J's are real close to me.

Rgds, D.

 

[Albiek]

Thanks for all the great info.
I purchased the tractor in October and have 70 hours on it already. I purchased a grapple for the front to clean up from a storm last July. We had 200 oaks go down. The storm was 100+ mile an hour winds. Huge task but the tractor is a life saver.

 

[ovrszd]

Thanks for all the great info.
I purchased the tractor in October and have 70 hours on it already. I purchased a grapple for the front to clean up from a storm last July. We had 200 oaks go down. The storm was 100+ mile an hour winds. Huge task but the tractor is a life saver.

Sorry to hear of your storm damage. I own 60 acres of primarily oak. I'd be very depressed to lose that many. You can't even cut that many up for firewood and get them burned before natural decay would begin to destroy them.

 

[3930dave]

Thanks for all the great info.
I purchased the tractor in October and have 70 hours on it already. I purchased a grapple for the front to clean up from a storm last July. We had 200 oaks go down. The storm was 100+ mile an hour winds. Huge task but the tractor is a life saver.

Doesn't take too many big projects on the ToDo List, for the tractor to feel like it's paid for :thumbsup: !

Rgds, D.