untaxed fuel

[radioman]

I came across a forum today that talked about IRS red dye and EPA red dye in fuels in kerosene and diesel. Now What has me confused is which is which? which one is darker? Is it true that EPA red has too much sulfur for on road engines?

The reason I asked is because my wife tried to do the right thing for me and get a can of diesel for my tractor and when I was pouring it I saw it looked beet red!! I stopped and I only put maybe 1/8 to 1/4 gallon in. I asked my wife what did the pump say and she told me it was off road kerosene. SIGH!! Right now I gotta put it away for now and use another can to fill up my tractor as its not cold enough to use it and I am out of power service. Now - is off road kerosene epa or irs red?

 

[Whitnel]

I have never heard of and EPA red. The red dye in diesel is just to catch people using off road diesel in on road trucks.

I believe off road diesel is the same as on road diesel only difference is the dye.

 

[Monster5601]

The red dye is used to indicate the fuel was sold federal road tax free as mentioned.

Kerosene is nearly the same as number 1 diesel less the additives typically use in diesel engines.

 

[rd_macgregor]

I recently started using dyed heating fuel in my tractor, and it seems to work just fine so far. Is it just me, or does the dyed fuel smell different from regular road diesel?

BOB

 

[smstonypoint]

I came across a forum today that talked about IRS red dye and EPA red dye in fuels in kerosene and diesel.

Can you provide us with a link? Like other posters, I've never heard of an EPA dye.

Steve

 

[grsthegreat]

Kerosene can be dyed red for off road uses (heaters mostly) and of course red dyed diesel also. Im not sure why everyone keeps citing that died diesel has sulfur in it. I checked with my supplier and their dyed diesel has the same sulfur rating as regular road diesel. Its also a winter blend like regular diesel. Its made to use in MODERN, NEW offroad engines like $250,000 dozers. They have to have the ultra low sulfur fuels to operate.

 

[radioman]

Can you provide us with a link? Like other posters, I've never heard of an EPA dye.

Steve

ok - I am copy and paste someone's post . His comment is why I asked. I never heard of it and I want to confirm it or bust it.
#5 from forum http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f34/kerosene-vs-dyed-kerosene-215834/:

Kerosene and Diesel #1 are the same thing. Identical. The dye probably means that the road tax has not been paid, so you cannot burn it in a licensed vehicle that can be driven on the street.

There are two different shades of red. One is IRS red, and it means the fuel has not been taxed. The other is EPA red, and that means the fuel contains too much sulphur to be used in an on-the-road vehicle. Either color of red is illegal to put in your diesel tank. If LEO catches you with even a hint of red in your fuel tank (or fuel filter), you've had it.

All politics is local. The Amish don't drive diesel-powered vehicles, so they may have a deal that allows refineries to make kerosene for them without either the tax or the dye. But for us ordinary taxpayers, don't get caught with red dye in your pickup's fuel tank.

 

[radioman]

This link has really good info on diesel/kerosene/heating oil/winter blend.
http://flashoffroad.com/Diesel/DieselFuel/about_diesel_fuel.htm

 

[smstonypoint]

ok - I am copy and paste someone's post . His comment is why I asked. I never heard of it and I want to confirm it or bust it.

IMO, you would be safe in politely calling BS and asking the poster to provide a link to document his/her claim.

Steve

 

[Skyco]

Yep- BS
Same dye, different concentration-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_dyes

Halfway down the page- "In United States of America, the Environmental Protection Agency mandates use of a red dye to identify high-sulfur fuels for off-road use. Solvent Red 26 is used in the United States as a standard, though it is often replaced with Solvent Red 164, which is similar to Solvent Red 26 but with longer alkyl chains. The Internal Revenue Service mandates use of the same red dyes, in fivefold concentration, for tax-exempt diesel fuels such as heating oil; their argument for the higher dye content is to allow detection even when diluted with "legal" fuel. Detection of red-dyed fuel in the fuel system of an on-road vehicle will incur substantial penalties."