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Off road diesel

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Barry Rooks

07-26-2007 02:56:29

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I just purchased my first diesel tractor and have a question. We have around here what's called "off road diesel". You do not have to pay Highway taxes on it and they have it tinted red. Is this safe to use in my Ford 3000 diesel?

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Barry Rooks

07-26-2007 14:37:10

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to Barry Rooks, 07-26-2007 02:56:29

Thanks guys, The sign where I bought it also says High sulfur which sounds like what I need for a 1970.

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DennyF

07-26-2007 14:31:40

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to Barry Rooks, 07-26-2007 02:56:29

It is my understanding that sometime next year or in 2009, it will become illegal to use #2 heating fuel in offroad and Ag equipment. All must begin using only Low Sulpher diesel.

Can't recollect if it's a PA reg or a Federal one, though? Been using heating oil for as long as I've operated "off road" diesel equipment. No problems.

If not mistaken, all the stations in my area now only sell the new Ultra Low Sulphur stuff for on-road use.

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john in la

07-26-2007 18:26:19

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to DennyF, 07-26-2007 14:31:40

That is a federal EPA rule. I can not remember the date but true high sulfur (5000 ppm of sulfur) will become a thing of the past like leaded gas is. Low sulfur (500 ppm) will become the new off road diesel and will have to be dyed red. Ultra low sulfur (5 ppm) will be the only diesel legal for use on the highway.
We are in the faze in years right now that allows all refineries to upgrade their cat crackers and get up to new standards.

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DennyF

07-26-2007 19:37:25

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to john in la, 07-26-2007 18:26:19

Sounds about right.

Had an article about it, threw it away. Figure the heating oil folks will notify us that after a certain date they can no longer fill our 300 gal. skid tank with heating oil. Guess we could always just put the hand pump in one of the furnace tanks. ;o)

We'll probably have to find a new fuel supplier because the dealer only supplies heating oil, unless the same sulphur standards will be applied to home heating oil, as off road fuel?

Bound to be a subject of considerable discussion, the closer we get to the changeover date.

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Brian in MA

07-27-2007 05:19:49

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to DennyF, 07-26-2007 19:37:25

That was my understanding, only ultra low will be used at all, even as heating oil in homes. I agree, we will all know about it and blame many problems to it when it happens.

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Jerry/MT

07-26-2007 11:14:18

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to Barry Rooks, 07-26-2007 02:56:29

Amen to what Rod just wrote. Don't think because your tractor was "designed to run on high sulphur fuel" that there is some kind of benefit to the engine for doing so. As Rod implied, the lower the sulphur the better it is for your engine because of the reduction in sulphurous and sulphuric acid in the water condensate found in the crankcase. If you are a worry wart about pump lubricity, put some Stanadyne treatment in the fuel. It won't hurt and it might help if your pump is marginal.

I believe the the lower heating value (LHV~ BTU/lb) for the new fuel is a bit less than the low sulphur fuel that preceeded it but we are talking about something on the order of 0.25-0.50 %. Unless you really keep close records and accurately measure each tank fill, you won't notice that difference.

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RodInNS

07-26-2007 06:24:50

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to Barry Rooks, 07-26-2007 02:56:29

Dyed will work just fine. The dye has no effect on the fuel system. Around here they just dye the new ultra low sulfur. The only difference I've noticed is a slight decrease in fuel economy.... which may or may not be due to the ULSD.
The plus side of the ULSD that often isn't pointed out is that there will be very little of this sulfur cast off into the engine's oil.... hence, if there is condensation present, or any other form of H2O.... there will be a lot less sulfuric acid created in the oil. Less acid means longer engine life and longer oil change intervals. The only problem I've heard about with the change to ULSD is some leaking seals on some pumps... and that may simply have been blamed on the ULSD when the problem was there anyway, although it is possible that a different lubrication package in the fuel could cause the seals to swell. Generally I think ULSD is a good thing, albeit a more expensive fuel.
Worry not about the dye.

Rod

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Brian in MA

07-26-2007 11:49:37

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Re: Off road diesel...the next step in reply to RodInNS, 07-26-2007 06:24:50

Use whatever is easiest and cheapest. In our area, No. 2 off road fuel (heating oil) is dyed ultra low sulfur fuel. I have heard that the lubrication is slightly lower, BUT Stanadyne tests have shown that the bio diesel blend (5% bio diesel, 95% ultra low sulfur fuel) improves lubrication better than the "high" sulfur fuels of old. Also, this combination seems to improve fuel economy. Just something to throw into the mix. I use cool-aid (red dyed off road fuel) in my 4600, 5600 and 2120, so far so good.

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john in la

07-26-2007 05:57:49

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to Barry Rooks, 07-26-2007 02:56:29

The question that pretains here is not is it safe to use but is it legal to use. Either way the answer is YES because you will be using it in a tractor.
The red dye is put in the diesel to show that no road tax has been paid on the fuel. This allows the DOT to check trucks to make sure they are using taxed diesel.

They make 3 grades of diesel for general use right now and a premeium of each grade.

High Sulfur; Is for off road use only and must be dyed red. This diesel is on the way out per EPA rules.

Low sulfur; Can be used in all vechicals 2006 and older; may also be dyed red for off road use.

Ultra Low Sulfur; Can be used in ALL vechicals; this is the diesel all big truck stops sell; may also be dyed red for off road use.

For me I try to buy the highest sulfur diesel I can find for my diesel tractor because it is old and was built to run on the higher sulfur fuel. While the station manager may not know; if you get the name and # of his fuel jobber you can call him and ask what diesel is being sold in your area. Is it just dyed Ultra low sulfur or is it really high sulfur diesel.

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Larry NCKS

07-26-2007 05:38:22

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to Jim.UT, 07-26-2007 02:56:29

There are different qualities of diesel fuel, both hiway and off road. If you get a good quality off road fuel, it's exactly what your tractor was designed to burn.

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Royce TN

07-26-2007 03:09:22

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Re: Off road diesel in reply to Barry Rooks, 07-26-2007 02:56:29

It's safe Barry. We've been using it in our 1958 Ford 801 Diesel for years. The only difference is the red dye, which is added at the distribution center according to my Exxon dealer.

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