#1 vs #2 Diesel

[04Chevy2500HD]

What are the cons to running #1 through my DMAX? Am I going to hurt anything? Tired of these rip off prices for #2.

 

-David

[coyotekid]

Whoa, I'm not so sure I'd run #1 unless it's REALLY cold outside. I've always been under the impression that #2 has much more lubricant and a better additive package. I think #1 was designed with a lot less lubricity so that it performs better in very cold weather. Here in Montana, you can't even buy #1 most places unless it gets extremely cold for an extended period of time. In the winter, blended #2 is the norm, and we start seeing straight #2 about the middle of April.

 

Do you mean red-dye offroad diesel versus non-dyed highway diesel? If so, I wouldn't recommend that either. I've heard that the fine for running farm diesel is in the neighborhood of $10,000!

 

Hope this helps.

[04Chevy2500HD]

Off-road diesel is exactly what I am looking into. The person that sells it told me it is basicly #1 diesel. I can get the off road stuff for 1.25 a gallon vs 2.20+ gallon for on road stuff. How often do you see folks check fuel tanks anyway?

[Frank S]

Off-road diesel is exactly what I am looking into. The person that sells it told me it is basicly #1 diesel. I can get the off road stuff for 1.25 a gallon vs 2.20+ gallon for on road stuff. How often do you see folks check fuel tanks anyway?

As said above,don't get caught running that on the road.If they trace the dye into your fuel system you're in for a pretty steep fine.

[Jpshostr]

Off-road diesel is exactly what I am looking into. The person that sells it told me it is basicly #1 diesel. I can get the off road stuff for 1.25 a gallon vs 2.20+ gallon for on road stuff. How often do you see folks check fuel tanks anyway?

They check those tanks a hell of a lot more then you'd think. Running dyed diesel is something you don't want to screw around with, huge fine off the bat, no questions asked, as well as an audit from the IRS and paying road tax on every gallon of off-road diesel purchased in the past 1-2 years, whether it was burned in the truck, or in a tractor/combine/other heavy equipment. You also can't just run one tank of off-road and call it good, the dye sticks around in the tank a LONG time.

 

Its not if you'll get caught, but when. I am forced to "play with fire" more then I desire, I don't need to go out creating more possible problems for myself.

 

As for burning #1 instead of #2, not a good call. Even in the dead of winter the most we'll burn in our equipment is a 50-50 blend of the two. Gotta keep as much #2 in there as you can and only resort to putting some #1 in if you need to prevent gelling during times of extremely low temperatures.

[BlackSilver]

If 'off-raod' (dyed) diesel is #1, then there are two reasons not to run it.

 

Reason #1 --- the dye sticks around forever, and the fines are SERIOUS money.

 

Reason #2 --- #1 diesel has significantly less BTU's/lower cetane. Your mileage will suck.

[Roofer]

Don't run offroad fuel. It is not refined like #2. I have been checked a few times. It takes them two seconds to see if you have offroad fuel. I know a guy who got caught and it was either $10K or $25K for the fine. Either way it is not worth it. Some people say it gives you more power...yadayada....It's all BS.

 

#1 fuel is for mixing with #2 in winter. Up here it is blended in the winter months.

Use regular #2 and not make problems for yourself and your injectors.

[coyotekid]

I'm not so sure I'd believe that off-road (red-dye) is basically the same as #1. I don't have a the chemical engineering degree to back it up, but I am almost certain off-road diesel is #2, but it isn't necessarily as refined as highway diesel. I would also guess that it does cut down on performance and milage.

 

I use dyed diesel extensively as I work for an excavation company, but I'm pretty sure it's not like #1. We burn it all summer in turboed engines, just as it was designed to be used for. If it was #1, there's no way these engines would last the 4000 + hours that they do! The oil analysis results on heavy equipment engines wouldn't come back normal, either.

 

For what it's worth, I've had to run highway diesel in tractors before when offroad wasn't available, and I haven't noticed any difference in performance.

[bigdogs]

Out of curiousity who checks for the dyed fuel? This is my first diesel and the dealer told me not to use the off road stuff as it will get you a fine so haven't ,but was wondering is that something a local cop would do or ???

 

For winter we have the #1 and #2 mix as well but Fleet Farm sold this stuff called Artic Diesel that was not mixed so had all the good properties of #2 but could tolerate the colder weather.

[Roofer]

The D.O.T. vans and trucks stop you and check fuel. I talked to one at a gas station and asked him, when we got stopped and asked to check the fuel, if I said no....what would happen?? He said it would be an automatic fine. Whether that is true or not, I'm not sure. They like to throw their weight around though.

[Steve Cornell]

I have been checked 4 times over the last 4 years here in WV and all 4 times it was the State Dept. of Tax and Revenue (I guess their the ones who are not getting the tax revenue) 2 of those times there were DOT officers present (DOT traffic stops) and the other 2 times a Tax & Revenue vehicle turned around and pulled me over to check the fuel, all 4 times they used a clear piece of tubing to run in the gas tank put their finger over the end and pulled it out to check the color of the fuel.

 

I was in my company pickup (with logos) all of these times but at the DOT stops they were pulling over all diesel pickups (personal and company)

 

If you refuse you are guilty (just like refusing a sobriety test)

 

Yes, I am told by the guys checking my fuel that the fines are VERY high ($10K +)

 

In most areas "on road" & "off road" fuel is exactly the same, "off road" just has dye added, this dye will be traceable after many tanks of "on road" fuel is run through your tank, # 1 diesel has less lubes added and is similar to Kerosene.

 

As tempting as it is you won't see me running dyed fuel around here

[bigdogs]

Thanks for the info. I was not sure who did the actual checking of it. I don't want to risk a fine so no way I'd use that dyed stuff either. Most places around here just sell the normal diesel or the so called premium diesel (how it differs I'm not sure).

[zorrro]

A friend of mine used to drive a diesel tanker. Sometimes the on road stuff and sometimes off. He said, "It all comes from the same tank, when I'm hauling off road the guy at the depot pulls a little lever and red dye is added and the price goes down. When I'm hauling the taxed stuff no dye is added."

 

I also know a log truck driver who ran out of gas the sawmill. The mill employees gave him a few gallons of the red stuff so he could get the station and fill up. A few full tanks had been ran through when he finally got checked at the weigh station. There was still enough red in the fuel for him to get the fine ($10K) and his CDL came under attack.

 

It's a risky venture......................

[04Chevy2500HD]

Well it is against the law for us to pump our own fuel in Oregon. So I can always blame it on the fuel pumper.

[Black02Silverado]

One thing that alway got me is the way things are different in crimes. Heck get caught running the wrong fuel and you get slammed with a 10k fine, but get caught driving drunk and it seems you back on the road with just a slap on the wrist. Just seems that way, I know it isn't.

 

It isn't like running the wrong fuel will get another person killed. I know it is wrong but does the punishment have to be so harsh? Couldn't you get slapped on the wrist after the first time and then gets slammed if your dumb enough to do it again.

 

Just things never seemed to make sense in the legal world.