Red dyed diesel
 

I checked out a commercial filling station in the area and noticed a fuel called "Red dyed diesel". Anyone know what that's about?

Red dyed fuel is untaxed. Getting caught with it in your tank (unlikely) could be a big problem. It's basically the same thing as HHF - home heating fuel. It will work fine in your car.

It's highway diesel without $0.50 or so worth of road taxes per gallon.

EXTREME fine if you are caught with it in your tank.

I was told the fine if you are caught is $1k per gallon of tank capacity....

Nah...I heard they whip you with hot chains if you're caught!

Then your Merc is slowly destroyed while you are chained to a post.

What's the point of the red dyed diesel then?

Has anyone actually gotten in trouble and fined for using it? Is it equivalent to diesel #2? And does the dye stain or anything?

Red dyed Diesel is equivalent to #2 Heating Oil. The Red Dye is put into the Diesel for farmers and those of us that use equipment "off road", to indentify the fuel as such. Not using the roads and highways, thus there is no tax for our fuel for our equipment.

The point is that there are lots of tractors that run on diesel. Since they are not licensed to be driven on the roads they do not have to pay the road tax on the fuel they use. They can save the 50 cents per gallon. The dye is there so that the governments (State & Federal) can bust you if you use it in an on road vehicle. In the state of California the first offense is $1,000 for the state and $1,000 for the federal government. It's not worth the risk and it is wrong to use it in an on road vehicle.

-Jim

You can use it in off road equipment, and in houses.

A lot of larger boats use it, saves the trouble of having to get the road tax back from the state.

I have never heard of them dipping the tank on a diesel car, they do check trucks though.

It's illegal just the same. At least in CA, they have a form for you to file taxes on it.

I don't “pardon” the WVO users. If they choose to do it, that's their choice. They don't hurt me directly by doing it.

Who says that they are not paying the taxes? I will say that I have yet to figure out HOW to pay the taxes. The state just doesn't want to deal with the issue. They don't know what to tell you when you ask. You get lots of "I'll get back to you."

The red dye issue is very much cut and dry. The rules exist. The punishments exist. There is no grey area.

-Jim

Advice....
 

If you do intend to run "Dyed Diesel"......you had better get some opaque primary fuel filters.....all a smart cop would have to do is open your hood and look.......no need to dip the tank!!!!

SB

I use "off road" (or at least used to, before Bio-) Diesel in my tractor.....basically it's the "old tyme" HS Diesel that these cars were designed to use.....more BTU/gallon, therefore better mpg....so then you can honestly say that your 300SD gets 30mpg......:D

Make that about $1.00 in New York. I had to pay $3.39 yesterday but found it later the same day for $2.99. Gotta get the biodiesel processor going.