Anyone been checked for untaxed fuel? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BigMikeT57 · #1 04-11-2004, 08:28 PM

I am moving toward either WVO or Biodiesel.
Having researched the pros and cons, the biggest issue I have is the possibility of getting caught with untaxed fuel.

Has anyone here actually been stopped and checked in a passenger vehicle or pickup?

turbodiesel · #2 04-11-2004, 08:33 PM

In ~150,000 miles of driving MB diesels, I have not once been checked or ever even been hinted at being checked.

vwbuge · #3 04-11-2004, 08:51 PM

I have brought this up in the past. I was THINKING of getting a 275 gallon fuel tank to keep out back. Get it fueled up with some home heating oil and your set.

84300DT · #4 04-11-2004, 09:00 PM

never once here in over 250k mi. of driving diesels.

kerry · #5 04-11-2004, 09:11 PM

If you're worried, reroute the standard fill line into a small container of taxed diesel. If you get stopped, they will extract the taxed diesel. Put a hidden fill line into the real tank and fill it with heating oil, WVO, VO or whatever.

coachgeo · #6 04-11-2004, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vwbuge
I have brought this up in the past. I was THINKING of getting a 275 gallon fuel tank to keep out back. Get it fueled up with some home heating oil and your set.

IMHO If you do this and the guy who fills the tank up can see that you have a way to pump fuel back out you can bet you will eventually be caught. If it appears to be set up for home heating maybe less of a chance.

The Warden · #7 04-11-2004, 09:32 PM

I think that pickup trucks are more likely to be tested than passenger cars. So, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Also, although I could be wrong here, I think that they're mainly looking for "red" diesel and aren't all that concerned about WVO/biodiesel.

That said, I think that running "red" diesel is a heckuva risk, and isn't really worth it...you're saving a bit, yes, but if on the off chance you do get caught...you're in for a world of hurt $$-wise.

Just my $.02...

kerry · #8 04-11-2004, 09:37 PM

I was in Valentine NE a few weeks ago for a canoe trip. The gas stations there were selling farm diesel and road taxed diesel at different pumps. I'm betting the cops sometimes check in that neck of the woods. I'm thinking that cops in Denver wouldn't even know there is a difference.

Jim Dandy · #9 04-11-2004, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BigMikeT57
I am moving toward either WVO or Biodiesel.
Having researched the pros and cons, the biggest issue I have is the possibility of getting caught with untaxed fuel.

Has anyone here actually been stopped and checked in a passenger vehicle or pickup?

As far as I know, the authorities are looking for diesel with red dye and WVO doesn't have any. Farm diesel is pretty common around here, but I have yet to hear of any passenger cars getting checked. I have heard of Dodge Cummins, Ford Navistar, and GM Duramax pickups getting checked, especially at jobsites, but I have yet to hear of a VW or Mercedes diesel getting checked. Either way, not much of an issue with WVO.

coachgeo · #10 04-11-2004, 11:03 PM

Now that I think about it. If you buy 275 gals of road fuel from a fuel distributer I think you'll pay per gal about the same as home heating oil. bulk price. I may be wrong but I think so.

85drtysthbenz · #11 04-11-2004, 11:20 PM

i used to work on a farm that had a 500 gallon fuel tank we used for the tractors....i ran that in my VW Jetta while i had it, and in my 300SD for over a year...never had anyone check it...but i hear if you do get checked and caught, theres a hell of a fine

wolf_walker · #12 04-12-2004, 12:02 AM

Take off the diesel emblem on the trunk lid, most people don't know these old cars enough to notice otherwise unless you passing by at idle or low RPM. Heck put a 280 emblem on there or something. This is assuming your not bellowing soot out..

I have a heck of a lot of miles in diesel VW's, never even a hint of checking. And to be honest I'e thought several times about just getting a largish tank and filling it with offroad fuel. Little dishonest, but hey, so is my government. ~shrug~

bjcsc · #13 04-12-2004, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Dandy
Farm diesel is pretty common around here, but I have yet to hear of any passenger cars getting checked. I have heard of Dodge Cummins, Ford Navistar, and GM Duramax pickups getting checked, especially at jobsites, but I have yet to hear of a VW or Mercedes diesel getting checked.

A guy I know in North Dakota was caught running farm diesel in his pickup on his cattle farm. He was fined $2500 ( ~ 6 cows) and is in the last year of the three he was sentenced to providing fuel receipts and certified odometer statements that match his vehicle's mpg rating.

R Leo · #14 04-12-2004, 09:05 AM

Along the coast they dip the shrimpers vehicle tanks all the time looking for 'red' fuel. If the dip came up looking anything like road diesel (undyed fuel) I'm positive you could skate.

Dunno about Texas but in some other states you can apply for an alternate fuels exemption. Do a search in here or on the Maui Green biodiesel discussion board for "exemption" (http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=447609751) to read dananlinscot's commments on that subject.

TX76513 · #15 04-12-2004, 09:55 AM

Untaxed fuel is the only fuel "conventional fuel" dyed red. The test is positive if it returns more than 8 parts per million. The program is administed by the IRS and the people in this program are called "DCO's" Diesel Complaince Officers. These officers have to "stopping authority" and must rely on actual police authority to stop a vehicle. However some state/local enforcement offices have been trained to do the testing as a revenue source. It's was rare to get a passenger vehcile involved in one of these checks - mostly CMV's. In my exposure to this testing only one PV got nailed when he came to complaine about one of his dump trucks getting the $1,000 citation for dyed fuel. He had a big mouth and also had a diesel pickup - which was checked and recieved the same citation.