red fuel
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2007
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red fuel
I've read articles about adding lube,ATF and other oils to fuel to help the engine , but what about running #2 heating oil isn't it more lubricating, or is it less filtered . I know it's a no no because of the tax issue but will it help or hurt the engine or mpg ?
Thanks for the input
00, 7.3, crew,5" open pipe straight out the side,off road upgrades
Thanks for the input
00, 7.3, crew,5" open pipe straight out the side,off road upgrades
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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from what i've heard running read fuel has its toll on a engine in the long run you just need to change your fuel filter out more regularly then usual bc it is not as clean. i kno i ran red fuel in my truck for about 10,000mi. and it made a new filter black so in the long run its prolly just cheaper to run green fuel.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,293
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From: Parker, CO
The red coloring is nothing more than a dye for the Fed to quickly determine if you paid taxes on your fuel or not. Farmers run their equipment on it all day long, and even put it in their trucks if they qualify for the tax exemption. It doesn't hurt anything or cause any additional problems. The dye is rather thick and very difficult to dilute, making it harder to hide the fact that you run un-taxed fuel. $10,000 fine in many places if you get caught.
Heating oil is actually less lubricating than #2 diesel. Don't run it in your truck unless it's an emergency.
Heating oil is actually less lubricating than #2 diesel. Don't run it in your truck unless it's an emergency.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,606
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From: Belair md
i carry the bottle of additive just in case so you have proof.
as for the heating oil, check your invoice, alot of places are selling famr fuel as heating fuel,
also running red fuel has no effect on your motor, it is the exact same fuel. for now it is 500 ppm sulfer so it may be a little happier in your truck but soon it will be 15ppm. other then that the only problem you run into is the fact that most farmers keep it in a big tank and it collects water from sitting, thats the only issue but its not the fuel's fault
as for the heating oil, check your invoice, alot of places are selling famr fuel as heating fuel,
also running red fuel has no effect on your motor, it is the exact same fuel. for now it is 500 ppm sulfer so it may be a little happier in your truck but soon it will be 15ppm. other then that the only problem you run into is the fact that most farmers keep it in a big tank and it collects water from sitting, thats the only issue but its not the fuel's fault
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
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Originally Posted by rebelchevy02
I dont run dyed, or two stroke oil, just wondered if they would actually know, or how long they could possibly detain/ruin your day on a hunch.
The ATF mix would be something to argue about, but I still think it's more trouble than anyone would want to deal with. Just use DK or something comparable. Time is money, but if you have more than the other, it might be interesting to hear what DOT would have to say about ATF in your fuel.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
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From: Milroy, PA
Yea, I dont think Ive actually run dyed, if I did, it was an accident, and I still dont know haha. The commercial pumps we use sometimes arent labeled well, and if its one you havent been to. I used diesel klean aswell. But just wondered for those who use 2cycle or atf.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Windsor, Colorado
I always wondered what would happen if were running one of the old body style w/ two tanks. Run one red and one clear. If DOT dips just let them know that one is for offroad and one for on. The filter would be red either way so there would be no way for them to know other than looking at the switch on the dash. Just a thought I had.
Posting Guru
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From: Milroy, PA
Originally Posted by mudmaker
I always wondered what would happen if were running one of the old body style w/ two tanks. Run one red and one clear. If DOT dips just let them know that one is for offroad and one for on. The filter would be red either way so there would be no way for them to know other than looking at the switch on the dash. Just a thought I had.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2006
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A few years ago during one of the fuel shortages, DOT allowed truckers to run red fuel and every single fuel ticket had a large stamp that stated you were running red dyed fuel and it was approved by DOT. Now if you have red fuel in any tanks and you don't have a reefer unit (by the way these can run red fuel, also known as off road fuel) then they don't have much give in their thinking. You're going to pay one big fine, and if you're a commerical truck get ready for a Level 1 DOT roadside inspection like you've never seen. If you're that anxious to save the few cents per gallon, find and indian reservation and fuel up there. Less Federal taxes and all. Most states like Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, etc have reservations. Otherwise it's not worth the risk. By the way it didn't affect the engines at all other than discoloring the filters.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Windsor, Colorado
Originally Posted by Texas7
If you're that anxious to save the few cents per gallon, find and indian reservation and fuel up there. Less Federal taxes and all. Most states like Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, etc have reservations.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
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Originally Posted by mudmaker
I always wondered what would happen if were running one of the old body style w/ two tanks. Run one red and one clear. If DOT dips just let them know that one is for offroad and one for on. The filter would be red either way so there would be no way for them to know other than looking at the switch on the dash. Just a thought I had.
AFAIK, it plain doesn't matter.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
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red fuel or "farm" diesel is the same as the diesel we buy at the pumps. Growing up on a wheat ranch, we always ran red. Now dad works for a fuel company, and when the tanker gets fuel from the distributer, both diesel fuels come from the same tank, red dye is just applied in shots into the fuel being pumped every so many gallons before it enters the tanker to dye it.
New User
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Bucklin
Most DOT anymore have a sensor in the front of there truck that takes in the exhaust fumes to tell what type of fuel you are running and the way that they can tell is red fuel has 500ppm or more while most green fuel anymore has 15ppm or less. Usually most of the red fuel will make a truck put out a lot more black smoke than your normal over the road fuel will. Around me you can prepay for red fuel at MFA and get it almost a $1.10 cheaper, so to me it is worth running red.