Here’s the latest reader question, along with my reply!
Mike asks: Is it ok to run “red” diesel in my pickup? It’s a lot cheaper than the regular pump diesel but I’m worried about the effect on my engine.
My reply: Using “red” – or off-road – diesel probably won’t hurt your truck’s engine . . . unless it’s one of the newer ones that requires Ultra Low Sulfur – ULSD – pump gas to avoid bollixing up the emissions control system. But it could hurt the owner of the station where you buy it – if Uncle finds out about it.
Possibly, you as well.
It’s illegal (and cause for a Hut! Hut! Hutting!) to pump “red” diesel – the red is dye to give Uncle a way to identify it, visually – into on-road vehicles. “Red” diesel is supposed to be used only in tractors and other off-road vehicles/equipment. This is why the pumps which dispense it are usually off to the side somewhere – and why the guy inside will stop you if he sees you pumping it into an obviously on-road vehicle like a pick-up with street tags, etc.
It’s a shame, of course, that we’re denied lower-cost and more efficient diesel – the “red” diesel – and forced to buy the more expensive/less efficient ULSD for our on-road vehicles.
Thank Uncle for this.
. . .
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A lot of homes up here have oil heat, which is #2 oil, same as diesel; some years back a buddy of mine bought a diesel pickup and put a T connection on his oil tank with a small pump to fill the truck. Worked great and saved him some serious money, also back then you could buy oil cheaply for cash from a lot of different guys so he’d use different dealers so no one would wonder why all of a sudden he was using so much more oil.
Get a slip tank. Nobody even notices a person filling a slip tank at the ‘marked’ gas island.
Also, put a little ATF3 in the diesel every fourth or fifth tank. About a 1 liter for every 100 of diesel. Cleans injectors and lubes mechanical pumps nicely.
Anon, I always called ATF Tune=up in a bottle. I used to buy # 1 fuel when I could find it. Never understood why it was so rare in Texas and common in other states.
I have never heard of this before, definitely peaked my interest despite no intentions of getting a coal roller anytime soon
Of course, if I ever get stupid $$$$ and build a 1st Gen Diesel Taco, then I’m keeping an eye out for it, Uncle and AGW’s be damned
Hi Zane,
Yup! Also, I am pretty sure the “red” off-road diesel has greater lubricity (sulfur content) and thus is better for your diesel engine… on or off-road.
So real question is, how does an AGW check it anyway and what tips them off?
I mean, how can they tell in the first place if no one saw it or reported it?
They can pull you over and sample your tank.
When the low sulfur fuel came out it had a warning for older diesels, never mind there was no sulfur fuel available. I was just glad to be using Amsoil. I’m not above using red diesel. I consider it a life-saver for older engines.
Hi Eight,
Yup; me too. I get it in five gallon jerry cans and then . . . transfer it.
I got a deal many years ago on a 250 overhead fuel tank. It’s great to use……when you can afford to fill it. Living on SS, it’s not so conducive to filling fuel tanks.
Got a hell of a buy at an auction on a 1,000 gallon fuel tank but fuel was really expensive at the time so I have been using it for water troughs. Cut 5 feet off, split it and weld that together makes a damn good trough.