OT: Getting Ag Diesel off the farm

Let's say I live in town and I add a 756 diesel to my collection.

There are all kinds of rumors flying around about road vs. agricultural diesel... Like, if you use ag diesel in an road vehicle (or vice versa), you'll ruin the injector pump because of some additive the govermnemt makes the supplier put in. They want their tax money.

So, can I wheel my 756 up to the diesel pump at the local Hess station and fill 'er up, or do I need ag diesel? If I need ag diesel, how do I get it? Even if I can legally keep a bulk tank on my property (residential zoned), I won't use maybe 10 gallons a year unless I find some land to work. Not worth it. Right now I can get fuel off the farm, but that won't last forever.

There is no differance besides the red dye.

Its all clear diesel in the pipleline to the terminal. The dye is injected as you are loading the tanker truck.

My recommendation is when you need fuel, purchase road diesel from a high volume station. That way you’ll be assured you’re getting fresh fuel. Also you’ll be getting fuel blended for the season (no worry about fuel gelling in cold weather, etc.)

Yeah - you'll pay a bit more on account of road taxes. But for your expected usage you’re talking perhaps $10 more a year vs. buying ag diesel.

Incidentally as dhermesc points out there’s no physical or chemical difference whatsoever between road and farm diesel except the red dye. Your 756 will like road diesel just fine!

Actually (at least in my area) the off road diesel is still the old 500 ppm sulphur type. Most of the on road diesel is the new ultra low sulphur type but some truck stops still have both types.

The biggest difference is about 30 cents a gallon. Throw a bottle of diesel fuel additive in with it also from a farm store like TSC, Rual King if you have thoes in your area. I think it was in Jan. 2007 the sulfer content was the same for on road and off road diesel. I have had to run to the pump and fill the tank in the back of my pickup before with off road when I ran the tank out at the shed and was not able to get fuel untill the next day.

First of all, it depends where you live. Here in New York at present, we have three different diesel fuels. All different, it's NOT just the color. In some other areas, it differs.

Heating oil grade is what farm fuel was until a year ago. It has the most lube in it, but is now illegal to use in any engine. It is dyed red.

Now, farm and off-road diesel is medium-sulfur with less lube, but not as low as on-road ultra-low sulfur. It is also dyed.

Highway ultra-low sulfur fuel is legally required to have a lube additive put into it - to make it safe for older mechanical injection pumps - like your's.

The main question is - since additive is expensive, are you always going to trust there is enough put into your highway fuel?

Stanadyne Roosamaster, Bosch, and CAV all call for fuel that has enough lube to make no more than 460 microns. The number is just a measure of metal wear. The lower the number, the less wear. So, mechancal pumps are designed for "460 micron" fuel. All the low-sulfur fuel AFTER the additives are put in - is rated 520 microns. That causes excessive wear according to tests.
That's why there are so many fuel-lube additives on the market for diesels.

Cheap insurance is to just add some two-stroke oil to your diesel. It is the most cost-effective way to ensure your fuel won't cause premature pump-wear.

Add two-stroke oil at a 200 to 1 ratio, and it brings "520 micron" fuel down to 360 microns. That is pretty cheap insurance.

Stanadyne lube additive does the same when added at a ratio of 1000 to 1 - but it's expensive.

Round here off-road is about $0.40 cents cheaper per gallon. I believe the off-road is still 500ppm sulfer.

I think I may start using 2-cycle oil in my fuel too. I have heard it is good stuff and cheaper than specific additives.

CT

The red dye is so the tax man can tell if the taxes have been payed or not.As in road use tax.If you buy fuel at a station and it is not red.You are paying road use tax.Red you are not paying road use tax and can not use it in anything that runs on the hiway.Taxes thats all there is to it.Ag use is a misnomer. Its either off road or road use.

Difference is taxes and the dye. Fuel is the same for the most part.

Find a local station that sells "off road diesel"

They are there, especially in rural areas.

Gene

I"m going to school to work in the refineries and there is a difference. Off road is required to be ultra low sulfur. Off road is not required to be ultra low sulfur diesel. It"s all for emmissions purposes. The sulfur is used as a lubricant even though the stuff they use now isn"t as good they say it is.

I checked the Chevron site today (10-23-09) and they show their dyed diesel to be the 500 ppm sulphur type and still show the low sulphur diesel 50 ppm sulphur as well as the ultra low sulphur diesel 15 ppm to be available.