Oil & Fuel No tax diesel fuel

[TractorLegend]

How/ where do i get diesel without the road tax for my tractor?
Can you buy it at a regular station in a can and get an exemption. Im in WA state.

 

[Donnyj]

Where I live there is a station that sells all fuels. One pump is labled Off Road Diesel. The fuel is colored red. Not to be used in over the road vehicles.

 

[RedRocker]

I only see it in rural areas, and only one place I know of near my property.

 

[psuedofarmer]

i have yet to purchase off road diesel - but just last week i was filling up at the local station (i LOVE rural areas where the 'station' is a family run operation with a name like 'Red's') they asked me if i filled with 'off road diesel'.

imagine my surprise when i found out it was $.40 less/gallon..

so my question:

i know you probably don't want to use this during the winter time (is this the same as home heating oil?), but is it ok to use during all other times of the year?

pf

 

[KiotiJohn]

First of all, most areas have oil distributors of some type, such as home heating oil companines. Call them and ask if they sell off-road diesel, many do, or will be able to tell you where you may purchase it.
Stations with off-road seem less common in some areas, but you may be able to call the different brand name companies and ask where you may purchase it at a station.
I personally buy mine from a fuel oil distributor locally in 55 gal drums that I take over there on pallets. 100 gallons or more saves me about $.50/gal.
As for using in winter, in most colder states, diesel fuel is mixed for a cold environment with #1, kerosene to reduce the instance of gelling. When this is done has more to do with the area and when colder weather tends to set in. Just ask the distributor about treatment. If it's not treated, there are plenty of additives one can purchase to add to the tank to prevent gelling. Power Service and Stanidyne (sp) come to mind. Make sure you purchase the product that says anti-gelling as they have several different prodcuts.
John

 

[VictorW]

There's only one place where I live that has the off road diesel that is dyed red. Some people use it but their turnover is so little that the fuel is sometimes old. Several local tractor dealers have told me it may be cheaper but not a good choice because of the fuels age. I get mine at a local truck stop and pay the tax. Hopefully it's fresh.
To pseudofarmer, I asked the same question to the owner of the station that has the off road fuel. He said his is not heating oil. I know one person who uses heating oil and so far hasn't had a problem.

 

[KiotiJohn]

#2 diesel is the same thing as heating oil. The only difference for off-road is the red dye, and some have high sulfur rather than low. The distributor can tell you which it is if you buy from a home heating oil company.
What I buy is high sulfur, at least until it's no longer available due to new laws, and I change the oil every 50 hours instead of 100 as recommended because there can be a higher sulfuric acid content in the oil due to the high sulfur diesel. Some say I'm losing my price advantage, but the oil doesn't cost all that much compared to the $.50/gal savings.
John

 

[MadReferee]

psuedofarmer,

There are several distributors in the Milford area who sell off road red diesel. I buy mine from Ciardelli. They truck in high cetane premium red diesel from someplace in upstate NY. Most, if not all, of the general contractors arounnd here use them as they are high volume and the stuff is NOT heating oil. Their winter blend is usually good to around -22F or so. I always mix Powerservice with mine but that is another story.

 

[psuedofarmer]

thanks madreferee..

i drive my ciardelli every day.. turns out that red's (in jaffrey) is getting off road diesel from the same distributor. i'll switch as soon as i need fuel.

pf

 

[MadReferee]

One more thing. The nicest thing about Ciardelli is that if you open an account with them and depending on your volume, you will get your own private key to the metered pump. That will give you 24/7 fuel availability.