If someone were to put red dye in his/her d-max all the time could it cause problems that normal diesel #2 would not? Let's say for instance someone ownes a D-max that is for construction use only and never drives on a public road. Would it cause a problem with the injectors or other vital engine parts?

No.

...again, No.

I believe it's just good ol #2 with red dye in it.

I believe it's just good ol #2 with red dye in it.


Actually, its high sulfur #2 (greater than 500 ppm). And for those with a catalytic converter, you could plug it up. But don't fear, soon all #2 will be less than 500 ppm and road diesel will be 15 ppm. Ahhh... The enviromental wacko lobbyists at work! I read somewhere that a 747 jet plane at take off pollutes as much as an average car does driving 5600 miles! WTF!! Who's polluting?!?!

Absolutely no. There is beaucoup amounts of bad info out there about red dye.

There is beaucoup amounts of bad info out there about red dye.


I hope you were agreeing with me Coyotekid. :exactly: You're right about the bad info out there.

I can vouch for what goes on at my location, I work for a refined petroleum products pipeline, and we have federal guidelines we have to follow for testing, injecting the dye, etc. before it is pumped. Otherwise the feds are all over us if "product" is pumped off spec. (in otherwords, it's my azz on the line when I sign the paperwork to the test results). It's my job to know what is and isn't legal road diesel fuel.

In CA, sulfur is the same.

Ours here is the same, comes from the same tank at the refinery, just when you want red they turn the die injector on.

I say that even when used for construction use you will still be on public roads to get to and from where ever you are working. Just don't get caught the fines are steep and really not worth the hassle.. Good luck

When I asked the question I did my best to phrase it so that there are NO moral/legalities. And I know it's your (GMC2500HD) obligation to not support illegal use of fuel, and I respect that. That's why I asked the question the way I did. Just currious;)p Thank You all for putting that myth to rest.

quote "I say that even when used for construction use you will still be on public roads to get to and from where ever you are working."

Not if it's moved on a lowboy;) sorry I'm just being a smart arse:lol:

I was in Alaska in May and met a gentleman there that used it all the time. I got the impression the only time undyed fuel went into his pickup was if he ran low and had to stop at a station. It is a different world up there. Only there two weeks and probably heard the comment "The worst thing they evere did was make this a state" a dozen times. I wasn't hanging out in bars that the bureaucrats were tho.:D

i live in alberta and we are legally allowed to run dyed diesel in farm registered vehicles. i have run nothing but dyed for 150,000 kms. most with mods. no problems because of it so far.

:clap: :thumb: Thank You all for your information. That's what I needed to hear

I know commercial T/T rigs fall under special DOT rules, that require them to submit to all types of inspections, including checking the fuel. The same rules do not apply to POV (private owned vehicles). Don't think that your gov't would not attempt to streeeeetch their authority in order to search POV. Through first hand knowledge I know it is done daily. There is ths thing called the Constitution, that has an amendment about searches. It guarentees protect from searchs (other than extregent circumstances), except with a warrant--which requires probable cause.

Prob. cause is not the simple fact your engine is diesel! If they truly had the authority to check it, you could not refuse them nor stop them. Attempting to stop them would result in jail for you, and your veh. still being search. I have 'heard' of fines for refusing them, but have no first hand knowledge of any actual refusals nor fines for doing so. I do have first hand knowledge of many POV that allowed the search, got busted, and fined $1000+.

If you give up your rights, pretty soon you won't have any.

I know commercial T/T rigs fall under special DOT rules, that require them to submit to all types of inspections, including checking the fuel. The same rules do not apply to POV (private owned vehicles). Don't think that your gov't would not attempt to streeeeetch their authority in order to search POV. Through first hand knowledge I know it is done daily. There is ths thing called the Constitution, that has an amendment about searches. It guarentees protect from searchs (other than extregent circumstances), except with a warrant--which requires probable cause.

Prob. cause is not the simple fact your engine is diesel! If they truly had the authority to check it, you could not refuse them nor stop them. Attempting to stop them would result in jail for you, and your veh. still being search. I have 'heard' of fines for refusing them, but have no first hand knowledge of any actual refusals nor fines for doing so. I do have first hand knowledge of many POV that allowed the search, got busted, and fined $1000+.

If you give up your rights, pretty soon you won't have any.


You can refuse if you want, but there is a $1,000 fine for refusing (at least in our state).

It is more of a civil/regulatory thing than a criminal matter. You comply to vehicle inspections don't you? What about when you get a ticket for no taillights? You have to look at it more like a regulatory function than them conducting a "search" of your property.

You can refuse if you want, but there is a $1,000 fine for refusing (at least in our state).

It is more of a civil/regulatory thing than a criminal matter. You comply to vehicle inspections don't you? What about when you get a ticket for no taillights? You have to look at it more like a regulatory function than them conducting a "search" of your property.

Negative. It is a search...period. You can call a apple a orange, but it is still a apple. I realize it is civil, but it still is the GOV'T doing it. It still should require a warrant----unless you fall under the commercial DOT regulations. I would be interested in seeing the RS (revised statue) that applies to it.

The revenuuuers will come for you....

They won't find anything....AFTER they get the warrant!:ro)

Guys I have a locking fuel door. There has to be probable cause to ask for a search, inside of a locked compartment, at least in California. As long as I'm not dripping red dye I will not allow a search. My brother and aunt are both attorneys. I'm not to worried about it. Unless they have red dye sniffing doggs ):h
How funny would that be? It would probaly be a rotweiler named Diesel.

B.T.W. I've had the IRS on my job site and they dipped my tank without asking permission. That same day I ordered a locking cap. Thank goodness I had just returned from a long trip and was pissin clear.

And as far as the moral aspect, I pay the same price for red as i do clear. It's just convenient, they come to me twice a week.

Go at your own risk...if they get a warrant to seach (for reasons unknown to me) there is a HUGE fine...and as for not being able to tell...that BS its DYE and it DYES the tank, fuel lines, injectors and MOST OF ALL YOUR FILTER! We use it in our tractors and construction equipment. And trust me it dyes the crap out of the tank and filter(I have seen it)
but who am I to say whats right and wrong...I have used it before....SO?!?!?

Negative. It is a search...period. You can call a apple a orange, but it is still a apple. I realize it is civil, but it still is the GOV'T doing it. It still should require a warrant----unless you fall under the commercial DOT regulations. I would be interested in seeing the RS (revised statue) that applies to it.

Well, call it whatever you want to, but there are certain rules you must abide by when operating on a public road and there are certain things that must be regulated. This is just one of those things. If you don't like it don't operate on public roads.

If you were operating this vehicle on your private property 100% of the time, then I might could see your point. I know our state won't normally venture onto private property to dip a tank and they won't do it without consent. But vehicles on public roads have a much lower expectation of privacy in general than someone's home, but like I said, I think this is more of a regulatory issue than a "search and seizure" issue.

Once again, you can always refuse the search, and pay the fine for refusing.

The question should be ! who if anyone has been stopped and had anyone
Dip the tank and check for red dye? I have stopped at a Truck check point and asked them to check my weights and they told me to just keep going that they didn't have time to look at small 4 wheel trucks.
I have looked at any threads I could find here or on other boards about red fuel and have not seen where anybody was getting tickets.):h

I've been dipped before on my job site. I parked my truck at my construction trailer and as I was returning from producion to my trailer. someone was standing next to my truck with my fuel door open. Being the supertintendent I am was was like who the F- are you get the F-away from my truck you C-sucker. He whipped out his bagde and said I.R.S. I was totally shocked. Thank Goodness I pissed clear. That day when I got home from work I ordered a locking cap. Now they have to have a search warrent to opened a locked compartment.

Are there any ways to tell you are running dyed fuel other than dipping? I keep hearing that there are, smell, exhaust, stains, etc.
If you run this stuff the only way you get caught is if they dip your tank, right?
I am only asking because I just got a job with a site development company, I'll be learning to run the heavy equipment :ro)
I know one of the company trucks has a fuel tank in back... that has to be a bust! No officer, I don't use that tank! :D
The company owner and his son both have screaming powerstrokes... I wonder if I will get the red fuel bonus?
What if you run 1/2 and 1/2, ya know, a little top off at the job site? Does that show up as much?

If you were to run it, and it dyed your tank, fuel lines, and filter, would they be able to tell by dipping? Is there enough dye in the tank to stain the clear fuel after the next fill up? Can you say "Yes, I did run a tank of off road fuel while we were working up hay last week, I didn't run it on the road", or is that like saying "Yes, I smoked, but I didn't inhale"

They canonly tell if they dip, or crack open your fuel filter. That's the only way. As far as staining....... I doubt it.

In Fl it's about $10k if you get popped, here any vehicle with a gvw of 8k(maybe it's a curb weight of 5K) or more is treated as a "commercial" vehicle, needing at least a class "D" license and your tags expire on 12-31 of the current year instead of birthday.
So technically mamma in her H2 needs a class d or better license but they're hardly checked

I have filled completly up at a local station last year. Had no idea, and neither did they. I called DOT and they had me come and sign some papers. I got a copy and all it stated was that my truck had it in the tank by accident. Local dot laughed and said it happens alot, and after a couple fill ups you cant notice it at all.

I'm possibly selling my 2002 DMAX to my uncle who ownes a ranch and wants to run red dyed diesel through it. The problem is that he was told by his dealer that the 02's and 03's have a red dye sensor in them that will shut the motor down when they detect red dyed diesel. I talked to a dealer here local and they said the same. I really can't believe this though...I have talked to others that run it no problem and if they really did it they would limit their sell of trucks to farmers when the 02's and 03's were made. Anyone have any info on this?

Thanks...

I'm possibly selling my 2002 DMAX to my uncle who ownes a ranch and wants to run red dyed diesel through it. The problem is that he was told by his dealer that the 02's and 03's have a red dye sensor in them that will shut the motor down when they detect red dyed diesel. I talked to a dealer here local and they said the same. I really can't believe this though...I have talked to others that run it no problem and if they really did it they would limit their sell of trucks to farmers when the 02's and 03's were made. Anyone have any info on this?

Thanks...
And I also heard that if you have On Star, the cell phone automatically calls the IRS and DOT and relays your location from the GPS!!!

Somehow, I don't think so.:lol:

i have 150,000 kms on my 02 and 95% of that is running dyed fuel. i have yet to have any ill effects on my truck. it is also legal where i live to run dyed in farm vehicles.

I read this entire thread and came to the conclusion,first it pisses me off when people use the red die and know its not right,second have you guys forgot that most filling stations have cameras?third give it time...the government would love the extra income as way of fines!....the reason it's the IRS doing inspections is because your cheating on your taxes,plain and simple. Is the risk worth it?.btw the fine in california is $10,000!

Here's another twist. I read recently that one gallon of sulfuric acid in an 8k tanker load is enough to settle the dye out of the solution. It's supposedly being done by scrupulous operators here in Iowa "costing tax payers millions". What do you think might happen to your fuel system if you sucked up sulfric acid? And I wonder if a few drops would treat a tank full?:rolleyes:

michael,
i don't know if your comment was aimed at me or not but i am legally allowed to run marked fuel

Are there any ways to tell you are running dyed fuel other than dipping? I keep hearing that there are, smell, exhaust, stains, etc.
If you run this stuff the only way you get caught is if they dip your tank, right?
I am only asking because I just got a job with a site development company, I'll be learning to run the heavy equipment :ro)
I know one of the company trucks has a fuel tank in back... that has to be a bust! No officer, I don't use that tank! :D
The company owner and his son both have screaming powerstrokes... I wonder if I will get the red fuel bonus?
What if you run 1/2 and 1/2, ya know, a little top off at the job site? Does that show up as much?

From what I understand if a fine is to be assessed it will be from finding dyed fuel by checking your fuel supply.

As far as stains, they say that the old dyed fuels (especially dyed gasoline) would stain your motor in (and actually around) the carb. They say that the newer dyes don't stain much or as permanently.

If you get caught with it you probably won't be able to get out of them writing you a ticket (because you were actually running dyed fuel, regardless of your story or who put it in there) but you might be able to appeal it later.

As far as running a mix and them not detecting it....well, they have a machine that can probably sniff out a pint of dyed fuel in a full tank. But the guy that dips the tank is probably not going to be able to visibly see that tiny of an amount, so it probably won't ever get ran in the machine.

If you ever do have to run it in your truck then be sure and run the tank as close to empty as possible before refilling it because if you just keep refilling it and some of the contaminated fuel is still in the tank then all you are doing is diluting it.

Okay here's one.... B90 is Brown.... What if you had a 50/50 mix of red and green(brown) and call it B90?

big bird:no.was not directed at any one.I just made a general statement......cheeting is cheeting!I would never risk that myself,but,to each his own.

As the price of diesel and gas goes up this year, more people are going to look at alternatives to save a buck. Guys are driving around the back of Chinese Restaurants and hamburger shacks to get the treasured used frying oil. No road tax on that, yet everyone thinks it's great! Why isn't the IRS slamming thses guys with a $10K fine? They are very public about it, I've read numerous articles where somebody is doing it.

I run low lead 100 octane aviation fuel in my 72 Chevelle SS 454 (last week was $3.30/gal, next week probably $4.00) ... still doesn't make up for the 250 gallons of road tax money I am forced to pay on the pump fuel I put in my snowmobile each year (which never sees the road).

If they test my tank for one gallon it will cost me 339:muahaha: :muahaha: :muahaha: :muahaha: :muahaha:

As the price of diesel and gas goes up this year, more people are going to look at alternatives to save a buck. Guys are driving around the back of Chinese Restaurants and hamburger shacks to get the treasured used frying oil. No road tax on that, yet everyone thinks it's great! Why isn't the IRS slamming thses guys with a $10K fine? They are very public about it, I've read numerous articles where somebody is doing it.



I took a quick look at the IRS regulation about this. People making and using biodiesel are supposed to pony up the same 24.4 cent per gallon tax as petroleum diesel. And it appears that the fine is $1K or $10 per gallon, whichever is greater.

So many sheep, so few really knowledgeable about red dye.

Try mixing 25 gallons of clear with a 2 or 3 gallons of red sometime. You can't even tell the red is there. My point? Red dye most certainly does not "stain" your fuel system for the rest of the century.

If you could get free red diesel would you run it in your truck?

So many sheep, so few really knowledgeable about red dye.

Try mixing 25 gallons of clear with a 2 or 3 gallons of red sometime. You can't even tell the red is there. My point? Red dye most certainly does not "stain" your fuel system for the rest of the century.


Yeah, but the equipment they use to test the samples can detect it waaayyy below what the naked eye would see. But then again, the officers have to "see" something before they will test the sample.

Coyotekid, you are correct the stuff now doesn't "stain" the system. I believe some of the older (aka 1960's era) dyes did stain, however, and that is probably where the myth got started.

If you could get free red diesel would you run it in your truck?

YES... HELLLLL YESSSS. Free is beautiful. Hypothetically speeking I've been doing it for almost a year. Not One problem