Diesel fuel vs. Heating Oil ??

Anonymous Poster · May 11, 2003

Another newbie here /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Researching the possibility / desireability of using my existing heating oil in my new Kubota. A search on the words "diesel fuel": "heating oil": "fuel" didn't bring up anything difinitive although one of the links did stress NOT to use heating oil in an automotive application due to the lack of lubricant additives. The general thread of opinions I have gathered from reading this forum leads me to the conclusion that most folks use #2 Heating Oil as if it was #2 Diesel.... Does anyone know the real "poop" on this issue or where to find a "practical" discussion about the issue aside from the folks that want to charge more for the same product by renaming it? Since the owners manual calls for #2 Diesel, I'm not worried about the difference between #1 Diesel (I prefer that in my PowerStroke 7.3L) and #2 Diesel, just questioning the long term use of Heating Oil vs Diesel Fuel. I know it will be cheaper initially but am I setting myself up for future major expenses by doing so???? I imagine this has been kicked around rather thoroughly but my searches (only went back 6 months) didn't find it.

Thanks
Steve

prosperity · May 11, 2003

Good question - something I've been wondering too.
I have a 1000 gal oil tank for my house which I fill every summer. Seems a shame to have all that fuel here and go to town with my 5 gal cans for tractor fuel.

Bob999 · May 11, 2003

Depending on the supplier, my deliveries of heating oil are labeled "dyed diesel" on the receipt. My understanding is that #2 home heating oil is #2 diesel with red coloring added as a means to indicate that road tax has not been paid.

I also understand that some diesel fuel, particularly winter mixes, have additives that are not generally in products that are sold as heating oils.

JohnMiller3 · May 11, 2003

Hi Steve,

Welcome aboard TBN…! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Diesel fuel is # 2D fuel oil

Home heating oil is # 2D fuel oil

Diesel fuel is identical to Home heating oil
Home heating oil is identical to Diesel fuel
(except for the distinguishable tax dye)

# 2D Fuel oil = # 2D Fuel Oil

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Gas, Kerosene, Diesel Fuel Differences…

CTyler · May 11, 2003

Other peeps have posted getting both heating and offroad deisel delivered at the same time. Pumped the same stuff in both tanks and the heating/fuel oil cost more /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Darren · May 11, 2003

Last I heard there was no problem using heating oil other than the $5,000 fine. At least that's what one boat owner paid. The IRS is prickly about the tax issue. If you buy taxable diesel for nontaxable use (boat -off road equipment), there's a form to fill out for getting a refund on the taxes paid.

When you use heating oil for other than heating oil, make sure no one including a heating oil dealer knows about it. That means NO ONE! The IRS depends on someone tipping them off in many of those cases. They don't have the staff to run around the country checking out all the fuel tanks on everyone's property. Folks have gotten caught because heating oil dealers see a customer using more than they should.

You're safe, from the IRS, with either regular diesel (apply for a tax refund) or off-road diesel in your tractor. A $5,000 fine will pay for a lot of fuel.

PondKeeper · May 11, 2003

Darren

Do you know where the tax form is available, fuel dealer or IRS?

How do you collect? deduction on your taxes or ???

Without knowing the procedure it sounds like it is a hassle and not worth the effort for a homeowner unless you use alot of fuel.

Mike

Anonymous Poster · May 12, 2003

( Last I heard there was no problem using heating oil other than the $5,000 fine. At least that's what one boat owner paid. The IRS is prickly about the tax issue. If you buy taxable diesel for nontaxable use (boat -off road equipment), there's a form to fill out for getting a refund on the taxes paid.
)

I don't know anything about the IRS getting involved. I buy my dyed non-road-tax diesel directly from my oil supplier. I had to fill out a form that he keeps on file that states I will be using it for off-road purposes. That includes my tractor. It also includes non-heating uses such as running the diesel-powered refrigeration unit on refrigerated semi-trailers, as well as boats. Florida D.O.T. officers will sometimes make a random check of diesel-powered on-road vehicles to make sure there is no off-road fuel in their tanks.

I do not pay the road taxes in the first place for something that will be used off-road, so there are no taxes to recover via the IRS, and no IRS forms to fill out. If I could have honestly stated that my uses were agricultural, I would also pay no sales tax on my tractor fuel. I think the fuel distributor was somewhat surprised when I didn't claim the agricultural privilege. I suppose I should get a chicken or plant some corn...

Contact your local oil distributor and ask - you should be able to do the same. My distributor gets the same price for the fuel regardless of how it is used, but then, I'm not aware on anyone in my area of Florida who has an oil-fired home heating system -- we generally don't have furnaces.

Anonymous Poster · May 12, 2003

Hey John,

Thanks for the "welcome aboard" and the info, I'm not quite as confused as before. I guess the bottom line now is a warranty issue which I will discuss with my dealer, a real straight shooter. Will post results of that ASAP.

Steve
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Anonymous Poster · May 12, 2003

BTW

Here is an updated link to Exxon's answers to this subject, although (intentionaly?) a bit vague.

 http://www.exxon.com/USA-English/GFM/Products_Services/Fuels/Diesel_Fuels_FAQ.asp 

Steve