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Just filled up with Off Road Diesel

12K views 35 replies 24 participants last post by  dayne66 
#1 · (Edited)
I am pissed. The station advertised diesel on their sign and had a multi grade pump with 2 handles...one for gas, one for diesel. The price was the same as any other station in the area. I was passing through so I was unaware. After filling up, I noticed a very small label that looks like the normal "ULSD on road diesel" sticker...but said "not on road"...one little word "not". I immediately called the Mississippi Dept of Commerce to document it and turn them in. In 20 years of operating diesel cars and trucks, I've NEVER seen off road diesel sold at the automobile gas pump like this. I suspect the station is pocketing the additional profit from evading road taxes.

Now I have to run several tanks through to get the die out according to the guy I spoke with. I'm documented if its an issue but good grief what a hassle. At least it was ULSD mandated for 2011 and later engines.

So...read the label closely when using pumps at lesser known stations.
 
#2 ·
Was the fuel actually red, or did they have the wrong label on there?

I'm not condoning the use of red diesel in highway vehicles, but has anyone ever had or heard of someone having their passenger vehicle tank dipped by the authorities? I've been driving diesel cars almost exclusively for years and have never been dipped. Always hearing of the semis getting checked but never smaller vehicles.
 
#3 ·
In the same boat - having driven diesel for years, never had my fuel/tank checked, but there is always a first. That being said, it's more likely that the D.O.T will not. On a over-the road tractor the fuel tanks are easy access - on our CRDs they're anything but, with fuel filler necks being twisted and bent and a plethora of convoluted ways in order to fit inside the chassis.


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#4 ·
I never saw the fuel. I assume since the sticker was fairly new and said ULSD, it was probably off road fuel. The authorities can verify it. I am not worried about being dipped. Heck, nobody would guess its a diesel anyways. The dye sticking to engine parts is a myth. As long as the tank is run empty and clean (non-dyed) diesel is topped off a few times, its undetectable except perhaps in the fuel filter element.

I was on my last 30 miles and away from home so I choose an off brand station. Next time I'll read the label closely.
 
#5 ·
You'll be seeing red for a LONG time. It took about a dozen refills on my big truck before the red was dissapated enough to be unnoticeable. Mechanic put about 50-60 gallons in my tanks(150gal x 2) when he drained and cleaned them after getting badly contaminated fuel. I thought the fuel would never be green-ish/blue-ish again.
 
#6 · (Edited)
The trick is to not refill until as near empty as possible. This reduces mixing of old and new fuel. But yes, I'm expecting 3 to 4 tanks minimum if I can run it low enough each time.

Does anyone know if running our VMs bone dry creates a hard start situation? I know the old mechanically injected diesels require bleeding if run dry. It seems a common rail would pickup new fuel and reprime without issue. I'm thinking about siphoning my tank as low as possible, grab a 5 gal can of clean diesel then run it until it quits, refuel from the can and drive to a service station to refill. I can burn the old dyed fuel in my tractor.
 
#7 ·
This is what the Diesel Supplement says"
Priming If The Engine Has Run Out Of Fuel
WARNING!
Do not open the high pressure fuel system with the
engine running. Engine operation causes high fuel
pressure. High pressure fuel spray can cause serious
injury or death.
1. Add a substantial amount of fuel to the tank, approxi-
mately 2 to 5 gal (8L to 19L).
2. Press ignition switch twice without your foot on brake
to put vehicle in Run position. This will activate the in
tank fuel pump for approximately 30 seconds. Repeat
this process twice.
3. Start the engine using the “Normal Starting” proce-
dure. Refer to “Starting Procedures” in “Starting and
Operating” for further information
CAUTION!
The starter motor will engage for approximately 30
seconds at a time. Allow two minutes between the
cranking intervals.
NOTE:
The engine may run rough until the air is forced
from all the fuel lines
 
#9 ·
Personally I wouldn't stress out.

No DOT officer is even going to know they Jeep makes a diesel.

The only time I've heard of folks getting checked is places like parking lots of cattle auctions where lots of farmers congregate.


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#11 ·
Exactly! IMO this company was selling untaxed diesel at full price and pocketing the difference. The Mississippi Dept of Revenue can sort that out with them. I'm just pissed that I was put in the (unlikely) position of breaking a serious law with a $1000 fine and even potentially voiding my warranty. Neither is likely but still it was enough to worry me.
 
#14 ·
I wouldn't sweat it.
I've been driving diesels for over 20 years (own a construction company) and the only time I've ever had my fuel checked is when I got pulled over by the state troopers for suspected of being overweight (I wasn't)
Just let the fuel get low, but DO NOT ever run a diesel dry and refil with road diesel.

You'll be fine..
 
#16 ·
I wouldn't sweat it, I have ran off road diesel for years in my truck. You most likely will not be checked. All the have to do is pull down your fuel filter and check. Last I heard it was a $5000 fine, our trucks in the yard were checked a couple times (underground utility contractor).
 
#17 · (Edited)
Update: I ran the full tank of ORD through. I noticed excessive regens on this tank. Apparently this fuel was substandard. It regened daily, sometimes within 60 to 100 miles. I added a healthy dose of Diesel Kleen and ran it down as low as possible.

I found out that 45 miles remaining in the EVIC means 45 miles remaining. I unintentionally ran it out to the point the motor stalled. It restarted and ran a few more miles to the closest station. I put 1 gallon in and ran it 20 more miles then refilled at Loves.

FYI...when run dry, it will draw air when stopping or cornering before the tank is bone dry. The motor will stall but restart easily if you coast to flat ground to restart. Don't stop on a steep angle or you may not restart. Don't accelerate or stop hard after restart and you MAY get mire 5 miles out of it. Also, you CANT restart in Neutral and the tranny automatically goes to neutral on engine stall. You can only coast to a stop then attempt a restart in park.

I just drove 250 miles on the fillup nonstop and no regens so far. I will run it to empty a few more times to get any remaining red dye out.
 
#19 · (Edited)
One thought to consider - and it's speculation only - but the offroad diesel you got might not of been ULSD. I know it's mandated for on-road diesels since 2007. Thoughts to ponder.
I am almost convinced that it was LSD not ULSD although the label said ULSD on the pump. I was very careful to allow regens to complete because, at the rate they where occurring, my dpf would be plugged in no time...and I'd be limping to the shop with "improper fuel" and a denied warranty repair.

BTW...I successfully regened parked in my driveway on one occasion. It was already starting regen on the road and I noticed it while parking. I held RPMs at 1800 for about 6 minutes while it finished....not an easy task because the turbo makes the motor wants to run away. Holding a steady RPM requires a lot of focus. So this blows the theory that it must remain at 50 mph during regen. Also, if anyone attempts this, make sure to allow it to finish and then idle until CAT EGT is down below 450 °F before shutdown (about 2 minutes) to assure the DPF isn't still glowing red!
 
#22 ·
You're worrying too much about this man...there is not way someone is going to want to check the diesel in your Jeep. The local authorities probably wouldn't even be able to pick out a diesel GC from all the other ones they see...unless you are rolling coal or doing something stupid like that.
 
#23 ·
Filled at a sunoco in FL, didn't pay attention enough. First, pump was off to side, first clue. But put in 7 gal b4 notice 50 ppm low sulfur hwy diesel. Said not recommend for vehicles 2007 and later.

Stopped and went across street and got ultra-low sulfur 15ppm diesel

Opps


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#24 ·
I didn't realize anyone was still selling the higher sulfur fuel still. I never had to worry about it in my truck or the Jetta. I've been watching since I get the Jeep though.
 
#25 ·
On long road trips to remote places, especially off of Interstates and US Highways, I will pay very close attention to what the pumps say thanks to this thread. Off road diesel, never heard of such a thing!
 
#27 ·
here in NYS the use of off road (dyed) in an on highway vehicle is taken very seriously. The IRS is who conducts the checks. fine is $1000 for every gallon of the fuel tank capacity! Friend of mine got caught, had 2-120 gallon tanks on his truck! he did not pay a $240,000 fine, but paid enough that he is no longer in the trucking business. as someone else said, no jeep or pickup truck will ever get tested, the only problem would be if they actually watched you pump the fuel into your vehicle. I work in the petroleum industry, and use of dyed fuel will cause no harm to the vehicle, actually, years ago there was a product called "diesel king" which was a red dye that claimed to turn regular diesel into premium fuel, it was available in cans to be added when fueling, or was sold to fuel stations pre mixed into the diesel.
 
#28 ·
I own a skid loader and I notice a difference when I run ULSD Off Road Diesel vs On road ULSD Diesel. The difference is the off road fuel tends to smoke more out of the tail pipe. I was also told that the off road diesel may not have the additives that are in standard on road ULSD to help with lubricity that went away with the Standard Diesel fuel that went away around 2010 before ULSD was mandated.
 
#31 ·
Police screw you here for that but then no filling station sells it either. They are ALWAYS doing spot checks on 4x4, vans & trucks at the side of the road but I am in an agricultural area. They sit at the side of the road, flag you in, dip the tank & if you're using red diesel, tow the truck to a compound then crush it after a week if you've not collected & paid a massive fine
 
#32 ·
Remind us again where you're at so we can stay away. Sounds like a hassle even when you're running the correct fuel.
 
#36 ·
Worried only about a diesel getting dipped and the authorities not even knowing your JGC is a diesel? How 'bout if you have a 3.6 or a Hemi .....there's always 'Purple Gas'. It was 93octand when it was rare to find anything over 91.
There was a fuel station near Fairmont Hot Springs that sold it at the regular pump island for boats...was nice getting it for the motorcycle....and once or twice for the truck. Never worried about getting dipped.
 
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