#2 Diesel vs Red Diesel US

[gbogh3]

Has any used red diesel in the US? Its currently .40 cheaper per gallon in California.

[Crash513]

From the limited research I've done, it's not worth taking the risk.

There apperars to be a bit of debate about whether the actual chemical composition is different between red (which is intended for heating, and off road vehicle use) and "green" pump fuel ULSD. It's been proven that red diesel can run in most diesel engines, but then again so can Crisco.

In the US, ULSD formulation is higly regulated (and obviously taxed) and BMW claims to work closely with major oil companies to ensure the proper lubricity qualiteis are retained in their end product. Thanks to our friends at CARB, the distribution and storage or Diesel in CA is also highly regulated and monitored all the way thru to retail.

While it's not likely you would ever be caught and fined for red diesel use (which apparently happens with some frequency in the UK), the question you have to ask is whether it's worth the risk. Saving $.40 per gallon on fuel sounds very attractive, but considering how much it might cost to cover a fuel system problem if BMW won't cover it under warranty, you'd have to drive a lot of miles to make it worthwhile.

At this point, I am more than happy to pay the $4.50/gal price (a relative bargain compared to Europe) to enjoy the 25-30 MPG I'm getting from my 3.5d. Compared to paying ~ $.05 less for our crappy 92 octane premium ethenol enriched gasoline in CA, I'm still coming out ahead compared to the 15 MPG I was getting from my old 4.4i!

[motordavid]

It's illegal, it may get 'found out' by your BMW dlr, (as most of the dyes used are very difficult to fully flush from a fuel system), and some 'off road/heating oils are slightly different blends than road diesel, in some locations. Not telling you not to, just pointing out what I know about it.

That .40Cts diff is road/fuel tax...

There are a couple of real diesel xperts on this board; maybe they will add their good info.
GL, mD

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Crash513

While it's not likely you would ever be caught and fined for red diesel use...!

I wouldn't be too sure. If someone sees someone filling-up at the Red diesel pump all they need to do is take-down the license plate number and report it -- most States are VERY picky nowadays when it comes to tax evasion. And my understanding is that the red dye stays "in the system" in detectable amounts for quite a few tankfuls after even one use.

I wouldn't think the tax evasion would be worth the risk myself. If one wishes to cheat on their taxes, it's probably safer to limit it to your income tax forms.

[Nbomar]

There is no difference in fuel. It doesn't have the on road tax on it. It is dyed red so that highway patrol can check for it and determine if you are running it. Most stations that sell it you have to have an off road exemption / farm certificate to buy it. It won't harm your car but it is a horrible fine if you get caught. 1 tank will hang around red for a while because the due soaks in to the filter, lines, tank, etc. take it from someone who knows...


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[ard]

Damn funny...

40 cents a gallon from people spending $1000 a month to drive a luxury SUV.

I could see it from truckers running 12 hrs a day 6 days a week....

[AzNMpower32]

Red off-road diesel, as mentioned above, is untaxed and not for on-road use.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by ard

I could see it from truckers running 12 hrs a day 6 days a week....

Yeah, they watch the truckers pretty closely. I recall years ago there was some requirement that truckers buy a certain amount of fuel in the state they are traveling through, so that they couldn't fill up in a low-tax state and avoid paying high fuel taxes in a high-tax state. Now I think they have to keep mileage records by state and file tax reports and fuel records to pay the appropriate fuel tax to each state they travel though. I think they do random checks for red dye in the tanks as well.

It must be a real PIA to be trucker nowadays with all the paperwork.

The IRS has a document for truckers about dyed fuel:

http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistr...dyeddiesel.pdf

[JCL]

Depends on geographic location and fuels sold in that area, but where I am...

Dyed fuel comes out of the same truck. The dye gets added at delivery. Residual dye stays in your vehicle a lot longer than a couple of tanks, it is fairly easily detected. Fines are high for using it on-road. Anybody ticked off by you cheating the rest of the drivers out there by not paying road tax can report you.

Not worth it.

Ethically, it is just the same as stealing a portion of your fuel.

[blondboinsd]

Originally Posted by ard

Damn funny...

40 cents a gallon from people spending $1000 a month to drive a luxury SUV.

I could see it from truckers running 12 hrs a day 6 days a week....