What is Red Dyed Diesel?

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Been seeing it promoted at various stations while on the road - Oregon, Idaho, Monta a ...
Dont recall ever seeing it in California. So, anyone know?
 
non road taxed diesel, varies by state but for texas for example you need to get and end user affadavit from comptroller to buy. Hefty fines for use in on road vehicles. Same fuel, possibly cycled out less depending on where you bought it, I used to get it from farmer co op place and local oil propane company for use in my tractor, skid steer or diesel boat.
 
Off-road diesel is dyed in Europe too. Diesel vehicle tanks are checked for evidence of the dye during mandatory safety inspections in many countries there. You don't want to be caught with red in your tank.

Dyed kerosene was a thing here too, but I'm not quite sure why, unless it was to discourage its use in place of diesel fuel in vehicles.
 
non road taxed diesel, varies by state but for texas for example you need to get and end user affadavit from comptroller to buy. Hefty fines for use in on road vehicles. Same fuel, possibly cycled out less depending on where you bought it, I used to get it from farmer co op place and local oil propane company for use in my tractor, skid steer or diesel boat.
How does anyone go about verifying you are used red Diesel? Are there diesel inspectors running around in this day of understaffed organizations? Would one be forced to submit to an inspection of their fuel tank, against their 4th amendment rights? Or do you loose your red diesel purchasing privilege's if you don't submit to an inspection?
 
I dont recall what the affidavit says its locked away in my safe, but i imagine theyd use it as proof if you were ever caught that you were well aware of the consequences. An accident where fuel was spilled, or taking your vehicle somewhere to be serviced would be where id assume you'd get caught using it. Ive had it for 15+ years and never been inspected or anything like that. Never heard of anyone getting busted for it personally, but i imagine if you were running down the highway with a transfer case on your flatbed dodge pulling a cattle trailer and there were red streaks coming from your fuel filler door they might pull you over.
 
Talked about on diesel truck forums. Where these trucks go (auctions, equipment repair places, etc) an inspector will show up and dip tanks. Can't stop them and they have legal authority (part of the state transport police IIRC). Fines and vehicles impounded are discussed often

https://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52193

https://www.oilburners.net/threads/red-dye-diesel-fuel.58233/

https://www.thedieselstop.com/threads/i-got-dipped.62767/

https://www.powerstroke.org/threads/running-red-fuel-deleted.1003098/
 
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They sell it here for a dime less than on-road diesel. Station owner profits from the arbitrage in tax rates.
 
Fuel devoid of road taxes designed for stationary (generator) or farming use.

Its dyed red for easy analysis if you try to run it in your on road vehicles.
 
I've heard of tanks being dipped in the parking lot of a country concert, frankly that's genius. That being said, I have no problem with tanks being dipped. Red diesel isn't taxed and is meant for off-road use. As much as I hate taxes and have a general distrust for the government (regardless of who is in power), those fuel taxes are intended to maintain roads.

Also since I rarely get to use a Bevis and Butthead meme here:

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I heat my home with a Monitor kerosene heater and found out probably about 10 years ago it would run just as good on low sulfur diesel as on kerosene. Diesel is usually about $1.00 a gallon cheaper than kerosene and has more BTU's/gal. Sometimes I burn the red dyed diesel and sometimes I use regular on road diesel. The price of the dyed varies at the truck stop in town that has it so if it's only $ .10 or less a gallon cheaper than on road diesel at Walmart I'll just pay the tax instead of making the truck stop rich off of it. Sometimes it runs about $ .30 cheaper and at those times I'll buy it and use it. I don't have a problem with the truck stop making a profit but charging as much for off road as others are charging for on road doesn't go over well with me. I'd rather pay $ .10 extra gal. and have the proceeds going toward road improvement.
 
I dont recall what the affidavit says its locked away in my safe, but i imagine theyd use it as proof if you were ever caught that you were well aware of the consequences. An accident where fuel was spilled, or taking your vehicle somewhere to be serviced would be where id assume you'd get caught using it. Ive had it for 15+ years and never been inspected or anything like that. Never heard of anyone getting busted for it personally, but i imagine if you were running down the highway with a transfer case on your flatbed dodge pulling a cattle trailer and there were red streaks coming from your fuel filler door they might pull you over.
I’ve saw them be caught by DOT inspectors in PA. They have a device and they “stick your tank”. If it comes out red; $10,000 fine right there. Not this hard to see if someone is running of road fuel to be honest
 
As a consumer product, it is subject to the general sales and use tax instead of road tax. Since sales tax is a percentage of the retail price but road tax is a flat amount per gallon, the difference closes as the price increases.
 
I can't remember why but I've been at a talk with ministry of transportation inspection officer and IIRC he said they have some test that can tell if you've ever run off road diesel in your vehicle. They pull the fuel filter and swab the line before it or something...
That said, my small farmer neighbor says she runs dyed in her pickup all the time, so it must be rare to be checked?
I don't bother to go the extra 20 miles to get it for my tractor, I don't use enough.
 
The one off-road pump in my little town is so slow (when it even works) I just buy regular green diesel at the gas station. I doubt I burn 15 gallons a year.
 
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