Why does the government restrict dyed fuel to off road use?

[6 Nebraska IDIs]

Aside from the obvious, it's not taxed, why can't we run "off road" fuel in our trucks? It has so much better lubricating properties in it than standard #2 diesel, and if I'm not mistaken still has a considerable amount of sulfur in it as well. My grandpa and my dad used to run it in our old 83 for years. The number of miles we put on that injection system was crazy, I bet we had almost 300k miles on that injection pump before we had to put a new one in it.
We had to stop running the fuel in the later portion of the 90's when the feds started dipping peoples tanks.
I was just curious which idiot politician had the strike of genius to make it illegal to run high sulfur fuel. These older diesels really need the higher sulfur fuel.

 

[Cincinnati Guy]

The dyed diesel is just dyed diesel and nothing else, its the same stuff as on road fuel but only with a dye to reflect the use of only off road vehicles.

 

[flareside_thun]

Wrong.....the off road diesel has a higher sulfer content and is "dirtier" than highway diesel. The red will dye all your fuel components. So, even if you run a tank of offroad then get pulled over a year later and have your tank dipped. The red will show up.

 

[dyoung14]

could you run it if you payed the tax, and could prove you payed taxes on it?

 

[1320Cummins]

As far as the fuel being the same, white and red. I have found that all of the red fuel I have run yields better mileage. 1+mpg gains have been found in both goats. I have never run any in the IDIs and will most certainly never put a drop of it in the S-1600. A ticket for weight is plenty for me
Best fuel of all IMO is red B10

 

[f-two-fiddy]

Do a little research.

Dyed and Un-dyed diesel fuel are refined in the exact same way. On the exact same line. There is NO difference between the 2. Except for the dye that is added at the refinery.

As far as "These older diesels really need the higher sulfur fuel" Not necessarily, most refiners have added a fuel additive package that actually makes the ULSD Slipperier than LSD.

 

[65sixbanger]

I burn red diesel just as much as i do standard diesel, nobody cares to much. Red diesel burns a lot hotter than regular and it does run much better. There is also not as much smoke. I have heard of highway patrol pointing a laser thermometer at the exhaust because of how much hotter it burns.

 

[DeepRoots]

sulfur is NOT good for the engines. Sorry
Sulfur is harsh and abrasive. Also at light loads (especially with two strokes) Sulfur becomes sulfuric acid as the lighter loads are creating more water vapor.
This is why we used to change exhaust valves on our detroits ALL the time when idling our tugs.
I haven't had to change a head on our boats in over a year.... before it was a head every 2-3weeks.

Drew

 

[crashnzuk]

Do a little research.

Dyed and Un-dyed diesel fuel are refined in the exact same way. On the exact same line. There is NO difference between the 2. Except for the dye that is added at the refinery.

I went to a class put on by guys that worked with the California Air Resources Board and they said the same thing. High sulpher fuel is a thing of the past both on and off-road. Now, you may still be able to get low sulpher off-road (500ppm) instead of Ultra-low sulpher (15ppm), but I don't know that for sure.
Travis..

 

[sassyrel]

sulfur is NOT good for the engines. Sorry
Sulfur is harsh and abrasive. Also at light loads (especially with two strokes) Sulfur becomes sulfuric acid as the lighter loads are creating more water vapor.
This is why we used to change exhaust valves on our detroits ALL the time when idling our tugs.
I haven't had to change a head on our boats in over a year.... before it was a head every 2-3weeks.

Drew

THAT could be a serious pain in the arszzzz--sheesh--

 

[WrickM]

the "off road" pump is listed as "low sulfur" as compared to the standard "Ultra Low sulfur" and it does seem to burn differently in addition to being listed differently.

 

[1320Cummins]

The worst tank dipping place I have heard of would have to be rodeos.
I have also heard stories of road blocks for diesel trucks. If you are driving a diesel they put you in line and dip your tank.

 

[sle2115]

The difference to them is, you don't pay road tax on the dyed fuel. No mater what the component breakdown, they don't want you running a non-road-taxed fuel on the road...you gotta pay your fair share when sharing the highways!

I'll let you guys argue the chemical makeup, but that's the reason they stick your tanks. Large companies using gallons and gallons putting in highways, mining coal, etc. raised enough cain that the road tax was dropped and to identify non-taxed fuel, they put dye in it.

 

[flareside_thun]

It's not just about the sulfur content but the Cetane ratings are also vastly different.

 

[DragRag]

It's the exact same fuel from the same truck where I fuel, they dump the red dye into the tank right in front of you, I have seen them do it with my own eyes. I am sure that not every station does it the same way, they may be able to buy low instead of ultra low, but not in these parts. Also, sometimes the fuel is very red, and sometimes it is faint depending on when they added the dye, and if they have topped the tank with clear at my card lock. You are most likely pumping ultra low sulfur with red dye though. I am willing to bet that the refinery around your parts is only refining one type, ultra low. It is not cost effective for them to do both when the market for low sulfur is so small.