Red Dyed Diesel

[TractorGunn]

Hello,
I would like to know if Red dyed diesel will cause any engine or fuel line troubles. I purchased the 2023 Branson 2515H new and have been using clear On road(taxable) diesel from the start. I have recently been approved for a Red dyed diesel permit here in Texas. Off road use only. I have been running the clear On road diesel since the purchase in 2023. I was told by the supplier that it wouldn't harm anything but just wanted to post and see anyone's opinion on this. Thank you. Jim
Over 500 hours and running great-

Your engine will filter that dye out through the exhaust.

 

[Hay Dude]

I've never been checked. But I bought my Ram a year ago. Prior to that it's been years since I owned a diesel road vehicle. I think they check truckers a good bit. I'm sure everytime they stop one and put him on the scales.

Nah
I’ve been DOT’d a half dozen times and they’ve never dipped me. Not saying it never happens, but it’s very rare. The rumor of it and it’s stiff fines go a long way to discouraging using it in over the road trucks.

I was talking to a guy a few months ago who said he has been running it for many years and never been dipped or caught. I think it’s problematic to be doing this, but I didn’t really know the guy.

 

[Hay Dude]

Just be sure to never put any of the red dyed diesel into an on-road truck or vehicle. No harm to the vehicle or engine, but if DOT or DMV decides to stop you and check the fuel, the red color tells them you are using untaxed fuel in a highway vehicle.
Even a gallon of red fuel will continue to color several tank refills.

I hang with truckers & farmers and have yet to talk to one who was dipped. I’ve been running large trucks over the road for like 30+ years and never been dipped.
It can happen, but it’s more of an internet sensation than reality.

 

[paulsharvey]

I think the dipping thing, it escalates; like $1000 first offense, $10,000 second, vehicle seizure on 3rd.

I do know one road contractor that stopped running off road, cause the guys would fill the trucks up with the transfer tanks, rather than stop at the gas station and use the company card. So, thats probably a case where the company Had been caught a couple times.

Edit; looks like 1st offense is $1000, or $10/gallon, whichever is greater. Repeat offenses can face criminal charges for tax evasion

 

[paulsharvey]

So, I think this is what the road builder in question did. You buy taxed diesel, and record the use in off road applications, and file for that tax to be refunded. It sounds like a lot of paper, but the fuel truck keeps a log of fuel/machine hours/lube dates/PM services for each piece of equipment anyways,

 

[BlueKnife]

I often wonder if the farm tractors rolling down the highway to their next field have the red stuff in their fuel tank.

Also curious about the tractors used by the state, county and municipal government doing mostly work on the highways (mowing, picking up limbs and other debris, etc.) are using offroad diesel.

Update. I answered my own question. At least in SC, farm machinery and equipment designed for offroad use are exempted in the statute regarding dyed fuel.

In many cases, government on road vehicles, such as county owned ambulances and fire trucks, use red diesel too. It's not just the off road ones.

 

[paulsharvey]

In many cases, government on road vehicles, such as county owned ambulances and fire trucks, use red diesel too. It's not just the off road ones.

Only speaking around here; county/state/bigger towns typically buy clear diesel, as they are exempt from the tax anyways. The red offers no advantage. They all have their own pumps, and have then filled by the typical, major, fuel dealers, not a local "fuel" supplier, that a farm or contractor work with

Maybe they are only exempt from the state portion, and not the federal? Reason I say this, maybe it was gov politics, legal, or stubborness; but uncle in law was maintenance supervisor for a county school board, and they have large generator tanks (like 10,000 gallons worth) and his diesel wasnt getting burned, but he need to replace with fresh. He tried to give it to the bus garage, who refused, and he had to pay an environmental company to come empty his generator tanks, and dispose of it, so he could get fresh diesel. Maybe it has to do with fed road tax? Maybe it was a paper work issue, maybe they were worried about dirty tanks, IDK

 

[Frxdy]

As long as you are ALWAYS off road, no problem. I used clear as I do go on the roads occasionally. I am Harry Homeowner and don't use all that much fuel each year. To get caught even once with red fuel on the road can make a lifetime of savings for me be gone in one ticket. Also..... it would take many tanks of clear fuel to get the red dye to be no more.

 

[BlueKnife]

Only speaking around here; county/state/bigger towns typically buy clear diesel, as they are exempt from the tax anyways. The red offers no advantage. They all have their own pumps, and have then filled by the typical, major, fuel dealers, not a local "fuel" supplier, that a farm or contractor work with

Maybe they are only exempt from the state portion, and not the federal? Reason I say this, maybe it was gov politics, legal, or stubborness; but uncle in law was maintenance supervisor for a county school board, and they have large generator tanks (like 10,000 gallons worth) and his diesel wasnt getting burned, but he need to replace with fresh. He tried to give it to the bus garage, who refused, and he had to pay an environmental company to come empty his generator tanks, and dispose of it, so he could get fresh diesel. Maybe it has to do with fed road tax? Maybe it was a paper work issue, maybe they were worried about dirty tanks, IDK

I drive (and fuel) our local ambulance and am also on the local fire department. The ambulances and fire trucks get red diesel, so no federal or state tax. Neither has their own tanks. We fill up at the same card lock pumps where I fill the slip tank in my pickup.

 

[Hay Dude]

A huge local dairy & milk processor had just replaced their back up gen sets and had a full 10,000 gallon diesel tank. The Gen set installer said the fuel cannot be over a year old and this fuel was. They had to give 10,000 gallons away or void the gen sets warranty.