What is off road diesel for? Doesn't it end up in the air anyway? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Carrameow · #1 04-30-2006, 08:12 PM

Whats off road diesel for,I'm curious. Is it a blend that exists just to make you crazy?

You always see the Diesel Sign before you see the words "off road". The price is like $2.30 and then you see the words," Off Road"

Is this for Diesel lawnmowers or boats?

POS · #2 04-30-2006, 08:16 PM

It's called "farm diesel" down here - it's diesel without all the taxes. They use a red dye to distinguish it from regular diesel, and it's illegal to use in road vehicles. Also down here, they occassionally test it with strips down your tank.

1985 300SD Sady · #3 04-30-2006, 08:17 PM

I would say that it is used primarily used in diesel tractors.

The reason why it is not taxed is because these "off road" vehicles are just that, they dont go on the roads. This means that they are not doing any damage to the road or using the road in any way, so there is not a reason to tax it. Because we drive on the roads, we are using something that is not ours, so the government feels the need to tax us to make more money not only to fix the road (like that happens) but to have more money$$$.

It does not have anything to do with the air.

C Sean Watts · #4 04-30-2006, 08:22 PM

Good question, I debated that with a relative until I reminded him I once worked for a heating oil company.

It's for any use OTHER THAN a vehicle registered to operate on any road or highway supported by federal or state tax monies. It CAN be used in farm equipment, generator/welders, construction equipment, boats, furnaces, etc. The rule of thumb is - if it requires a license plate, inspection and insurance to be legally operated on a public road you are not supposed to burn off road fuel in it. Some locales (including here in NC) have a provision for off road gasoline BUT it's more complicated than just asking a farm supplier for it. At least when I saw it last, the buyer had to have a business tax number (and an actual farm) and do a bit of paperwork before buying it.

Carrameow · #5 04-30-2006, 08:29 PM

and later surreptitiously stuck it in their tank, would they only be penalizing some goofy law vice the environment? (Ps I am not going to try, I dont want the trouble he he he)

pawoSD · #6 04-30-2006, 08:51 PM

The fee if your caught with red dyed off road fuel in your tank is $1,000 per gallon of capacity of the tank. (Doesn't matter how much was in there or how much you used) So a 300D would have around a $22,000 to $23,000 fine. Thats almost enough $$ to buy fuel for the lifetime of one of these cars....

2.5Turbo · #7 04-30-2006, 10:06 PM

In WA they will tax you based on your odometer mileage if you're caught. Some of you out there with 200,000 mi+ Benzes should use caution

t walgamuth · #8 04-30-2006, 10:10 PM

actually it is for when you drive your benz in the boonies with the four wheelers. it will make it go anywhere the four wheelers can.

suuuuuuuperrrrrrr benz.

he he

tom w

tangofox007 · #9 04-30-2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrameow

and later surreptitiously stuck it in their tank, would they only be penalizing some goofy law vice the environment? (Ps I am not going to try, I dont want the trouble he he he)

Off-road diesel has nothing to do with the environment. It is just not taxed at the same rate a regular diesel. Since it is not used on the highway, off-road users are not charged road taxes. It would not be fair to make Farmer John pay for road maintenance when he is driving in his own field. Or at least that's the theory. Same reason you don't have to buy a license plate for a John Deere.

But I did hear a rumor that using offroad diesel in a car will cause the tires to rust. Then they will have to be sandblasted!!!

fj bertrand · #10 04-30-2006, 10:36 PM

There used to be blue diesel too, for operating over the road reefer vans. the diesel powered refrigeration system couldn't use off road (red) becasue the units travelled over a highway but why use clear taxed fuel when the use was not for motive power, thus Blue diesel. I don't know if they have it anymore. I don't think there's no tax on RR fuel or boat fuel.

For years I bought Agway 'green diesel' before organized crime got into the diesel business and caused the feds to come up with the color plans.

The scam was that if you bought off road (untaxed) from a distributor and then sold it as taxed fuel, you pocketed the 38 cents a gallon off the top. So came about the colors.

#11 04-30-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tangofox007

It would not be fair to make Farmer John pay for road maintenance when he is driving in his own field.

The government, Fair? Thanks, that's the best laugh I've had all day.

Have you ever been out in the country? There are more farm tractors using the paved road than you would think.

tangofox007 · #12 05-01-2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Have you ever been out in the country?

Naw, I don't reckon that I have. Went to the next county over one time. They got some cotton fields over there. It's a mess when them cotton pickin' machines get on the road. Don't know if that counts, though. But I do have a John Deere lawn mower. Only one in my neighborhood!!! And my cousin Bubba used to work at one of them there feed and seed stores.

Did you know that, here in Georgia, we'uns got more counties than any other state 'cept Texas? Y'all grow any tobacco out yonder in Colorado? I wuz thinkin' about how they say the South will rise agin. Don't think it will rise as high as Colorado, though.

Well, sorry fer all that ramblin'. But to answer yer question, naw, I ain't much of a country fellar. Country folk in these parts jest don't take kindly to ya when you drive one of them Mercedes Benz's. Makes me skeered to leave town.

Hatterasguy · #13 04-30-2006, 11:17 PM

Just for tax purposes. You can run it in boats, and other things that don't use the public roads.

Actualy FYI if you buy enough road taxed diesel fuel , and use it in say a boat, or maybe even construction equipment, you can send in to get your tax money back.

I think you need to buy like 200 gallons a year I'm not sure of the amount.

This is true of both gas and diesel, btw.

tram · #14 04-30-2006, 11:41 PM

Red dye? How red? The diesel fuel in my wife's 300TDT and in my O309D Bus gets pretty red when I add my ATF!

pawoSD · #15 04-30-2006, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tram

Red dye? How red? The diesel fuel in my wife's 300TDT and in my O309D Bus gets pretty red when I add my ATF!

I think when they dip it they do a chemical test for the dye, not sure if tranny fluid would have the same dye or coloring in it. I'd not be afraid to run tranny fluid in it, the chances of a passenger car getting its tank dipped are almost non-existant....the feds go after truckers, who could be using hundreds and hundreds of gallons of the offroad fuel per month or more, not car people that might use 40 gallons a month or less.