Off road diesel
Tuned
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: South Texas
A family member of mine is a farmer and has been running it in two 2013 6.7L's and a 2015 6.7L since new with absolutely no issues. They ran it in their Dodge's prior to the Ford's for years and guess what, with no issues. It's diesel, with red dye to designate the tax difference, anyone else telling you differently is misled.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: Eagan, MN
If you are putting in dyed diesel to save money, you are better off just filling up and driving off without paying.
If you get caught with off-road diesel, they like big fines. If you drive off with a tank of diesel, you just pay what you owe, and may be a small penalty. I never had to pay a penalty when I did it (accidentally), I just gave a credit card number over the phone.
Of course, just do things right and you are better off.
If you get caught with off-road diesel, they like big fines. If you drive off with a tank of diesel, you just pay what you owe, and may be a small penalty. I never had to pay a penalty when I did it (accidentally), I just gave a credit card number over the phone.
Of course, just do things right and you are better off.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Red stays in the system awhile especially the filters,if your hauling stuff in your truck the DOT is looking for DOT#s on rigs that are 10,001 #’s GVCW gross vehicle combined weight,No numbers it’s around $400 fine!
Then they have a reason to swab your tank if it’s red it’ll cost $1200 additional in Wisconsin. Doesn’t matter if your hauling a camper or snowmobiles. I’ve been pulled over with my fifth wheel and they gave me the whole inspection front to back.I was in compliance and we said our goodbyes. They changed the rules two years ago so heads up guy!
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
If you are putting in dyed diesel to save money, you are better off just filling up and driving off without paying.
If you get caught with off-road diesel, they like big fines. If you drive off with a tank of diesel, you just pay what you owe, and may be a small penalty. I never had to pay a penalty when I did it (accidentally), I just gave a credit card number over the phone.
Of course, just do things right and you are better off.
If you get caught with off-road diesel, they like big fines. If you drive off with a tank of diesel, you just pay what you owe, and may be a small penalty. I never had to pay a penalty when I did it (accidentally), I just gave a credit card number over the phone.
Of course, just do things right and you are better off.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Never tried it, I have a twist. Seems like the only reason not to use dye diesel in your vehicle is for tax purposes to not get caught avoiding taxes. In Virginia we do not pay taxes on fuel at the retail level. The fuel taxes are collected by the wholesalers and not the retailers. So what would be the difference in using dyed fuel versus clear diesel fuel?
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
So off wouldn’t be taxed therefore it would be illegal to run, check with VDOT on that one. Pretty sure it’s illegal nation wide otherwise 18 wheelers would be running it they have to federal fuel tax
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Bye the way there’s a nation wide crack down on it now numbers don’t lie
I’m sure the feds have a formula to figure it out gallons sold,registered,vehicles and so on.
I run a business and I play by the rules,you get cracked and your on the list!
I’m sure the feds have a formula to figure it out gallons sold,registered,vehicles and so on.
I run a business and I play by the rules,you get cracked and your on the list!
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 344
Likes: 21
From: Galveston, Texas
A friend of mine has run the red dye fuel in his Fords since 2008 and in his 2017. The only clear they have see was the tank from the dealer at purchase and maybe a few gallons on occasions he was away from home and didn't have enough in his auxiliary tank to get him back. No pronlem at all to his engines. He hasn't been checked by anyone. other than the exhaust smell, you would have no idea...the dye has a different smell
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Wind haulers don’t usually get checked,if you us a diesel for what it’s meant for then you might, diesel is diesel it’s produced to government specs. It’s getting to the point for some state and federal jobs contractors have be emission compliant with our iron or your bid gets tossed. You can run what you want on the road it’s when and if you get cracked
I can’t run the risk it’s cheaper to play along with the rules.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 2
From: Hatfield's side of river
There are farmers around here that run nothing but Red diesel in their DPF equipped trucks. They also run it in their tractors and farm equipment that have DPF systems on them. They tell me that its the exact same fuel as road fuel, only with red dye added. When I asked my Ford tech if red fuel would hurt these trucks, he replied that it didn't make any difference. Half the trucks he works on has it in them. He's never had an issue caused by the red fuel.
There is absolutely zero enforcement of this law in my area, but personally I only run it in the farm equipment. With my luck, I'd be the first one.
There is absolutely zero enforcement of this law in my area, but personally I only run it in the farm equipment. With my luck, I'd be the first one.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From: Eagan, MN
The first offense for a drive-off is light. Unlike the first offense of using red-dyed fuel.
Much larger penalties for red-dye than a drive off. Of course the odds of getting caught driving off are pretty good.
Tuned
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: South Texas
There are farmers around here that run nothing but Red diesel in their DPF equipped trucks. They also run it in their tractors and farm equipment that have DPF systems on them. They tell me that its the exact same fuel as road fuel, only with red dye added. When I asked my Ford tech if red fuel would hurt these trucks, he replied that it didn't make any difference. Half the trucks he works on has it in them. He's never had an issue caused by the red fuel.
There is absolutely zero enforcement of this law in my area, but personally I only run it in the farm equipment. With my luck, I'd be the first one.
There is absolutely zero enforcement of this law in my area, but personally I only run it in the farm equipment. With my luck, I'd be the first one.
More Turbo
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 543
Likes: 33
From: Extreme NW Ohio
Ditto, and they change their own filters and are out of warranty so it doesn’t make two ****s. When you buy 10’s for thousands of gallons of red dye diesel annually for farm use it’s just too easy not to run it in all of your trucks too. The fact that it’s technically illegal for those who purchase it for farm and ranch use is bs, they pay for it legally for legitimate uses and therefor should be able to use it how they see fit.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 493
Likes: 5
I hate paying taxes, some more than others. But I REALLY hate paying additional taxes to make up for those that want a free ride.
Where I live in Central New York, there are more "farmers" buying untaxed fuel than there are farms! Some of these folks work the system in plain sight.