Red diesel

Django x2 · 20 Oct 2011 at 23:42

The thing is, with modern diesels, it's almost undetectable other than dipping. Live near a canal? Knock your self out, the pumps are there at the canal side

aproctor · 21 Oct 2011 at 07:45

Lucero said:
The thing is, with modern diesels, it's almost undetectable other than dipping. Live near a canal? Knock your self out, the pumps are there at the canal side

Several garages near me have pumps next to the "lorry pumps".

Tractors rock up as it is a stones throw from fields and i've filled jerry cans on numerous occassions.

I don't see why people are suprised it is the same as white diesel.

Locky · 21 Oct 2011 at 09:05

Some red derv doesn't have the lubricants of regular Derv and can slowly ruin your FIP.

If you are running an older derv car what the hell knock your self out, Government takes enough from you.(this is joke btw)

BigglesPiP · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:06

There's lots of brands of diesel in the UK which receive a different recipe of additives as they leave the refinery/storage. They also vary depending on the time of year, for example; the use of anti-waxing agents in winter. Red is the same, lots of poeple sell it so there's lots of different kinds, some for cars, some for generators, some for boats...

The only common factor is that if there's no fuel duty on it, it's red. So if you buy red diesel intended for a modern common rail diesel; it will work, and if you buy some rubbish intended for a huge 2 stroke generator; you'll probably not be so good.

Muffin` · 22 Oct 2011 at 21:13

BigglesPiP said:
The only common factor is that if there's no fuel duty on it, it's red.

And it it meets BS EN 590:2009

fadetoblack · 23 Oct 2011 at 08:38

wilber said:
This basically.

Due to the conditions it's kept in (especially old metal tanks found on a lot of farms) it can be quite dirty. Cost is around 75p a little now.

If you are searched for it, they will most likely dip your tank, If they have more suspicion to believe you have been using it they will check your fuel lines and filters.

If found using it illegally they will try and back trace the amount of tax you have dodged, charge you that as well as a fine.

I order 18,000lts every week and pay £0.62 a litre :-)

Jay794 · 23 Oct 2011 at 08:51

Why not just buy a black fuel tank? that way customs can't tell if you're using red diesel by the tip test.....

There is a process that removes the dye but it's only cost effective if you do it large scale

SB118 · 23 Oct 2011 at 08:56

Jay794 said:
Why not just buy a black fuel tank? that way customs can't tell if you're using red diesel by the tip test.....

There is a process that removes the dye but it's only cost effective if you do it large scale

Please explain this, i could do with a laugh this morning.

Jay794 · 23 Oct 2011 at 09:12

I'm not familar with how it's done but you see it all the time in the news, people always get arrested and massive fines for selling red diesel with the dye removed. As I said, not sure how its done but from the pictures I've seen in the news they leave behind massive piles of white crystals

Also saw a statistic that apparently 1/5 people are running their car on red diesel

Fuzz · 23 Oct 2011 at 09:13

The source you get it from also has issues if his usage suddenly changes for the worse.
I live on a farm so have easy access to the stuff and would have no issues with supply myself but would look exceedingly dodgy should our diesel bill suddenly double for no reason!

SB118 · 23 Oct 2011 at 09:44

Jay794 said:
I'm not familar with how it's done but you see it all the time in the news, people always get arrested and massive fines for selling red diesel with the dye removed. As I said, not sure how its done but from the pictures I've seen in the news they leave behind massive piles of white crystals

Also saw a statistic that apparently 1/5 people are running their car on red diesel

no, i was talking about the black fuel tank, how would that stop customs?

aproctor · 23 Oct 2011 at 10:58

Locky said:
Some red derv doesn't have the lubricants of regular Derv and can slowly ruin your FIP.

Considering most agricultural vehicles cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, i would be suprised if they were designed to run on crap fuel.

If it is good enough for a £200,000 combine harvester, it will be good enough for a Audi A3 sportback quattro turbo RS 2.0 TDI.

I'm sure some red diesel is rubbish but the stuff on forecourts in the middle on lincolnshire is unlikely to be used in old boats.

Jay794 · 23 Oct 2011 at 17:10

SB118 said:
no, i was talking about the black fuel tank, how would that stop customs?

Well if red diesel dyes the tank, if you have a black tank they won't be able to see it will they?

TaKeN · 23 Oct 2011 at 17:14

aproctor said:
Considering most agricultural vehicles cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, i would be suprised if they were designed to run on crap fuel.

If it is good enough for a £200,000 combine harvester, it will be good enough for a Audi A3 sportback quattro turbo RS 2.0 TDI.

I'm sure some red diesel is rubbish but the stuff on forecourts in the middle on lincolnshire is unlikely to be used in old boats.

There is a fair bit of talk about how the engines are going to cope with the new biodiesel blend fuel coming in soon. New tractors are common rail these days, lots of the farms and contractors around here have them chipped!

numatic.nathan · 23 Oct 2011 at 17:27

Jay794 said:
Well if red diesel dyes the tank, if you have a black tank they won't be able to see it will they?

Is that a joke?

ash_scotland88 · 23 Oct 2011 at 17:40

Jay794 said:
Well if red diesel dyes the tank, if you have a black tank they won't be able to see it will they?

You know they are testing the fuel in the rank and no the colour of the tank. Go a head and buy a rainbow tank and claim your cars on being fabulous!

blueboy2001 · 24 Oct 2011 at 00:10

If you are going to use red diesel, just use it and accept that if you get caught, you'll have to take the punishment.

Removing the dye is a pointless exercise becuase it also contains a chemical tracer and the specific mavity of gas oil is slightly different to pump diesel so when HMRC dip your tank there are several things they are looking for.

It used to be around 25p a litre when diesel was just under a pound in 2003 when I was working in agriculture. It's shot up in price since then.

Fr0dders · 24 Oct 2011 at 00:53

Jay794 said:
Well if red diesel dyes the tank, if you have a black tank they won't be able to see it will they?

you do realise that the diesel itself is bright red ? like Cherryade ?

They dip your tank and siphon some out to check its colour, black tank or not you've still got Cherryade in your tank lol.

Fr0dders · 24 Oct 2011 at 00:55

blueboy2001 said:
If you are going to use red diesel, just use it and accept that if you get caught, you'll have to take the punishment.

Removing the dye is a pointless exercise becuase it also contains a chemical tracer and the specific mavity of gas oil is slightly different to pump diesel so when HMRC dip your tank there are several things they are looking for.

It used to be around 25p a litre when diesel was just under a pound in 2003 when I was working in agriculture. It's shot up in price since then.

Too true

This is worth a watch :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b016bycy/Panorama_The_Great_Fuel_Robbery/

even without the dye they can still tell.