If you are in Texas, and maybe other states, you can now run red-dyed diesel over the road to save 44 cents per gallon, which adds up when you have big bus tanks.
My concern would be that it is fine if you stay in Texas, but if you travel to other states and get your tank dipped, would you be fined? The fine, I believe, is $10/gallon, so you had better pray you don't get caught with a full tank.
Also, if you filled up with red diesel and then filled up again in another state with a half or quarter tank, will that red dye still show up? I am sure traces will remain for quite some time, since you never really run your tanks completely out of fuel...I hope.
To me, it is not worth taking a chance, and I am unsure of this temporary law. As I read it, it may apply only to agricultural use, not to Bus Nuts like you and me, unless you have agricultural plates on your bus.
If you are afraid of red fuel buy home heating oil you can buy both in Texas but the red stuff is easier to find at stations in Texas.I filled up with red fuel 3 times, the fuels come from the refinery almost clear the red dye is added at the loading dock.1 station told me it was for trucks only but I was about full anyways so he said go ahead and top it off.A taxing authority is not going to stick a tank in RV anyways ,I haven't saw one of their check points set up 20 years ,fill it it up 220 gals at $.44 cents that is almost a 100 bucks
Home heating oil (#2 fuel oil) will run in most diesel engines, but it's not a good idea. If the cetane is too low, it hurts performance, and if the pour point is too high the fuel can gel at low temps, which can be a problem in cold climate. #2 can be treated with cetane additives to increase cetane, and blended with kerosene to lower pour point. Don't know what they sell where you guys are, but back in the day here in NY metro area a lot of the diesel fuel being sold at service stations and truck stops was straight #2 oil, some of it very poor quality.
The refining process now for diesel has changed the cetane is very low now, it causes problems with EGR, Cummins and Cat sell a cetane booster for their engines it added to price of fuel I poured 2 qts in the CC with the ISX Cummins @ almost 15 bucks a qt every fill up. In the 50's and 60's we would buy #1 diesel for all the kerosene burning stuff on the farm. # 1 fuel is still used in the winter mix diesel. LOL the new LSD diesel will evaporate almost as fast as gasoline
President Trump signed the executive order at his Nebraska rally, temporarily allowing tax-exempt red-dyed diesel on all U.S. highways.
Does that mean that if I have a CDL, I can run red-dyed diesel in my bus? Asking for a friend. ;D
Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher RVConversions.com on October 06, 2026, 01:25:42 AMPresident Trump signed the executive order at his Nebraska rally, temporarily allowing tax-exempt red-dyed diesel on all U.S. highways.
Does that mean that if I have a CDL, I can run red-dyed diesel in my bus? Asking for a friend. ;D
Find a station that sells it and go for it,or catch a fuel truck going through the gate you at and he may even cut you better deal for cash,Sonnie would pay the guy filling the generator tank to top his Eagle off with fuel,I was there one time
Quote from: luvrbus on October 06, 2026, 02:15:10 PMFind a station that sells it and go for it,or catch a fuel truck going through the gate you at and he may even cut you better deal for cash,Sonnie would pay the guy filling the generator tank to top his Eagle off with fuel,I was there one time
I filled my tank before I got here at $5.65/gallon. My 235 gallons should get me to your place, and I will fill up after I return from vacation for $2.00 per gallon. ;D
Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher RVConversions.com on October 06, 2026, 06:20:10 PMI filled my tank before I got here at $5.65/gallon. My 235 gallons should get me to your place, and I will fill up after I return from vacation for $2.00 per gallon. ;D
Dream on fuel will level off at about $4.00 a gal and you will think you are getting a bargain. It will take 2 years to refill the SPR presidents have used up,if we can borrow the money
The dye persistence is a legitimate concern. In Canada you never have to worry about buying dyed fuel because our government guards access to it like the crown jewels. Not so in Helena 15 years ago. I swiped my card, started pumping, wandered around a bit, finally read the sign on the pump and it turned out I had already added 75 gallons of red fuel. So I kept on pumping - not much to lose at that point.
Then I worried about it for months. I've never been dipped in my entire life but there's always a first time. Probably 8 months (and some refills) later I was doing some work on the diesel heater and I could still see the dye in the fuel. I wouldn't want to guess how long it lasts but one refill isn't going to clear it.
Quote from: bobofthenorth on October 09, 2026, 08:13:49 PMThe dye persistence is a legitimate concern. In Canada you never have to worry about buying dyed fuel because our government guards access to it like the crown jewels. Not so in Helena 15 years ago. I swiped my card, started pumping, wandered around a bit, finally read the sign on the pump and it turned out I had already added 75 gallons of red fuel. So I kept on pumping - not much to lose at that point.
Then I worried about it for months. I've never been dipped in my entire life but there's always a first time. Probably 8 months (and some refills) later I was doing some work on the diesel heater and I could still see the dye in the fuel. I wouldn't want to guess how long it lasts but one refill isn't going to clear it.
Here the DOT is not going to check a fuel tank on a RV or truck,in the past a tax authorly for a state would set up a check point sometimes in a farming area . I haven't saw one those in 25 years.I have had supposed to be red fuel come clear from my fuel supplier and would call him ,he always told me he forgot to dye it but I would be billed for red fuel.In the USA we are supposed to be able to buy 3 grades 1,2 and #4 but you cannot buy # 4 because all the diesel engines are Teir rated for LSD and # 1 fuel a is winter fuel all it is # 2 with gasoline added to prevent some jelling and truckers have been doing that for years they don't paying the price for a jelling prevention additive. You get LSD # 2 fuel only here in the US for fuel and heating oil ,it is hard to find diesel now that is 15% bio fuel.My old Eagle always left the shop with Red fuel then 600 miles it got a tankful of the clear ,the same as the farmers and their Blue Birds headed south,one farmer from Kansas with a Blue Bird had an extra filter to take the dye out ,I never tried that .Red fuel must be legal to use in trucks with the Texas Farm plates you see a lot of pickup and trucks using the red fuel pumps in Texas
Here in Tok Alaska heating oil at the pump isn't dyed!