What is the difference between off-road diesel and diesel? (2023)

What's the difference between diesel and off-road diesel?

On-road diesel, also known as clear diesel, can be purchased at the local gas station. Off-road diesel is dyed red and is sold through bulk distributors. The only differences are in the color, cost, and intended use. In the past, off-road diesel had a higher sulfur content, which caused a smokier burn.

There is no difference in performance between the two types of diesel, but for businesses operating off-road vehicles, it's less expensive to use off-road diesel. You can use on-road diesel in off-road vehicles, but you would be unnecessarily paying state and federal taxes on the fuel.

There are no issues with mixing the two types of diesel fuels, although red usually has a higher sulfur content than green.

If you do get caught running off road diesel you can face a hefty fine. Many states level a $1,000/gas tank minimum fine. These same states charge $10/gallon instead if that's a greater fine. That is before any federal tax evasion penalties.

The only difference is that diesel burns a little bit cooler than kerosene, which can result in the wick having greater carbon build-up at a much faster rate than kerosene.

Because of that, off-road diesel (often called alternative fuel) can cost about $0.25 less a gallon. That can make a big difference, especially when the price of gas is going up.

Who checks for red correct diesel usage? HMRC and the police check for illegal red diesel use by carrying out random spot checks using a dipstick test.

Diesel fuel comes in different varieties, which you can easily differentiate through their unique colors. Regular diesel is clear without any dye added for coloration. This kind of diesel is meant for on-road vehicles with diesel engines.

No, won't do any harm as the die is only added to enable the customs and excise to detect if you've been using the vehicle on the road and evading fuel duty. Your biggest problem is if you're pulled over by them.

So, will off-road diesel hurt your truck? No, off-road diesel won't cause harm to your truck. That being said, it's illegal to use it because it's not supposed to be sold for on-road vehicles. You'll be charged a hefty fine if authorities find out that you've been using it.

Will off-road diesel hurt your engine?

No, red diesel will not damage your engine or any other part of the car. Red diesel is the same as regular diesel, but with a red dye. Off-road equipment and vehicles have the same diesel motor as regular vehicles.

Red diesel is used by restricted industries in off-road vehicles and and machinery. It's virtually the same fuel as regular diesel, except a red marker (dye) is added to identify illegal usage.

If the fuel is untreated, it will stay fresh and usable for a year. Some specialty fuels are treated with biocide to prevent biological growth from spoiling the fuel. If biocide is added, the diesel can last for two to three years.

The dye stains the interior of the tank, fuel lines and even the engine; the dye is harmless, and won't negatively affect generators or engines. It is simply there to help HMRC enforce the law and to prosecute fuel fraud where red diesel has been used illegally.

Red diesel can only be used on the road by 'exempted' vehicles. To qualify these vehicles must be engaged in an agricultural, horticultural or forestry-related activity.

2 fuel oil and diesel fuel are nearly the same, but people use them for different purposes. The distinct names mostly reflect the fuels' separate uses more than a difference in chemical makeup. The government does not impose a tax on No. 2 fuel oil, so it has the same red-dyed look as untaxed diesel fuel.

Kerosene will burns fine in most diesel engines without harming them. In fact, many newer diesel engines list kerosene as an approved fuel. Kerosene is made from a distilling process that makes it a pure fuel. This means that it has no additives like diesel does.

Kerosene has a lighter viscosity than diesel, so it will burn hotter. This can help heat the house, but it could also cause some problems for a heater not equipped to handle heat that's hotter than what is typical for heating oil.

High relative diesel costs in California are partially due to higher fuel taxes. In fact, Californians pay higher fuel taxes than residents in 46 of the other states do. While gasoline taxes in California are 68 cents per gallon, they are 33 cents in Nevada and only 19 cents in Arizona.

Red diesel is chemically no different than any other fuel, so it can be used in your truck, as heating fuel, and in a generator.

Can I use regular diesel in my tractor?

The Biggest Danger to Your Tractor Engine, What's in Your Diesel Fuel ...

How is the law changing? The current law is that red diesel can be used in any machine which is not a road vehicle. From 1 April 2022 the law will change so that rebated fuel use is limited to certain types of vehicles, machines, and appliances when the fuel is used for specific purposes only.

While you can technically remove the red dye from gas oil, it's actually illegal to do so – and traces of the dye will remain in the engine. The process to remove the red dye from the fuel is called fuel laundering and if found illegally doing so, you can end up with a prison sentence. It's not worth the risk!

A man who carried out a scam involving red diesel fuel has been given a suspended jail sentence at Lincoln Crown Court. Marius Legavicius used cat litter to remove the red dye from the diesel fuel which carries a significantly lower level of excise duty.

You won't have to worry about which type to use because all diesel automakers specify Diesel #2 for normal driving conditions. Truckers use Diesel #2 to carry heavy loads for long distances at sustained speeds because it's less volatile than Diesel #1 and provides greater fuel economy.

#2 grade diesel fuel is the most readily available at most gas stations throughout the world. This chemical compound holds the highest amount of energy components and lubricant properties in one mixture and offers the best fuel performance available on the market today.

Removing most red diesel entitlements will help to ensure that the tax system incentivises users of polluting fuels like diesel to improve the energy efficiency of their vehicles and machinery, invest in cleaner alternatives, or just use less fuel.

Kerosene is a heating fuel and the excise duty on it is fully rebated (reducing the excise duty to nil). For this reason, it is illegal to use kerosene in any vehicle or to mix it with road fuels unless you have a permit from us allowing you to do so.

Wax paraffin formation – crystals begin to form when red diesel becomes too cold and amalgamate which block the fuel filter. This will cause the engine to fail or stop due to fuel starvation. Contamination – when the temperature drops water can form in the fuel which can clog filters and also cause engine problems.

Is red dyed diesel the same as regular diesel?

Red-dyed diesel contains a higher sulfur content than clear diesel. Because it is not to be used for on-road vehicles, this fuel is not taxed within the U.S. Blue-Dyed diesel – Blue-dyed diesel is identical to red-dyed diesel, except that it is used in U.S. Government vehicles only.

Red diesel is different from white or “road” diesel in two ways: its colour, and the rate at which it's taxed. Chemically, the two fuels are identical, and release identical levels of greenhouse gasses when burned. Its colour is changed through the use of a red dye that's used to differentiate it from unrebated fuel.

Dyed diesel fuel is regular diesel fuel that has red dye added to it. This is done to identify the fuel as non-taxed and to help enforcement officials easily identify it. Dyed diesel is for off-road use only. Examples include farm equipment and home heating.

Q: Does Red Diesel Smell Different Than Regular Diesel? No, Red Diesel is the same fuel as Regular Diesel. The only difference is the red dye and the cost. So, Red Diesel and White Diesel smell the same.

Under ideal conditions, diesel fuel can be stored between six and twelve months. To extend the life past twelve months, even under the best conditions, it needs to be treated with fuel stabilizers and biocides.

The U.S. government now requires diesel gas to be sold within three different varieties: clear, red, and blue. Understanding the difference among these fuels – and among the tax and legal implications of each – is critical if you intend to purchase diesel fuel.

Can you mix red diesel with normal diesel? As mentioned earlier in the article, there is no chemical difference between dyed and regular diesel fuel. They can be mixed and used just the same. Today they are both ULSD so if the equipment you are wanting to run uses dyed diesel normally it can use regular.

Automobile diesel is the same as truck diesel, but the pump nozzles are not as big. And, sometimes the “automobile diesel” is priced higher than truck diesel. But, remember – to use the “truck diesel” you may need a tax-exempt permit.

No. 2 diesel fuel means a distillate fuel oil that meets the specifications of ASTM Specification D975–07b. Sample 1Sample 2Sample 3. No. 2 diesel fuel means fuel with distillation temperatures of 500 degrees Fahrenheit at a ten percent recovery point and 640 degrees Fahrenheit at a 90 percent recovery point.

Shell Diesel fuel meets the minimum ASTM D975 specification for cetane index which is 40.