Fechino Files: Types of Diesel

Words: Steven Fechino

Photo Credits: Steven Fechino, parema


Fuels in our business are an expensive part of operating equipment. I am sure most of us have calculated daily usage and know what fuel we use in each piece of equipment. For example, do you use off-road diesel, kerosene, number one, or number two diesel? Does one piece use Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), and another piece not use DEF? Fuels are simple but still have specific uses.
Diesel fuel and kerosene are similar fuels; both are products of refining crude oil. Kerosene is refined first, then diesel fuel. There are different versions of diesel fuel that many are familiar with.

Off-Road Diesel

Off-road diesel fuel, once formulated with a higher level of sulfur, no longer has the high levels of sulfur of days past. As the engine burns the diesel fuel, the combustion results in fine particulates that are a contributor to internal engine corrosion and higher levels of air pollution. Sulfur is still a byproduct of the refining process but is now at much lower levels, reducing air pollution globally. The difference now between off-road diesel and number one or number two diesel is that you do not pay a wheel tax for the fuel, so it is less expensive, and it has a red dye in the fuel that stains the tank it is being used in. The Department of Transportation folks do not find it cool if you happen to get caught with red dye in the truck’s operating fuel tank (not a transfer tank) you are driving on the road if by chance you were inspected.

The difference in cost will vary depending on how far you are from a supplier, but here are some “rough numbers.” The federal tax on a gallon of diesel fuel is roughly a quarter ($0.25); individual states can charge up to $0.50 additional tax (rough number, can be less, can be more). The tax is used to maintain the roads, which is why when you are not covering the tax, it is then actually considered tax evasion, a bit over the top if you ask me.

If you get caught running the wrong fuel, the government has a dyed fuel enforcement program, and the fines are unbelievable, $0.10 per gallon up to $1,000.00 (roughly because amounts are constantly changing). If you have two tanks, double it.

If you make the mistake of putting off-road fuel in your truck, you can contact the Department of Revenue in your locality and fess up. Getting rid of the stain is much harder to do, and it lasts a long time. I know this because we tried to sell a truck that once had dyed tanks, and it was easier to change the fuel filters and remove the tanks before the sale.
Exceptions to the off-road fuel laws apply when it is for use in parts of Alaska (in limited circumstances), for government, non-profit, agricultural, construction, or educational facilities when the organization acquires a license from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service).



Diesel #1 and Diesel #2

Diesel fuel has two grades, #1 and #2. I live in Tennessee, where we typically only use Diesel #2. The difference is Diesel #2 is considered a warmer temperature diesel fuel. Diesel #2 is a bit less expensive, however, in colder climates, this fuel will not perform well because it will gel in the tank at or around zero degrees and begin crystallization at around 12 degrees below zero (about a 20-degree difference from Diesel #2), meaning your injector pump will not be able to push this through to the injectors and therefore it will not run your engine. Diesel #1 will burn more efficiently, handling temperatures down to about 12 degrees below zero, making it a clear choice for winter usage.

If you ever get caught in a low-temperature weather event and become concerned that your fuel will freeze, there are additives that can be purchased at any local auto parts dealers that you can add to your fuel based on how many gallons you have in the tank. As with all fuels, keeping a full tank is recommended. If an additive is not handy, but number one diesel fuel is available, you can mix 25% number one and 75% number two as a way to get through a cold snap.


Diesel Exhaust Fluid

Diesel Exhaust Fluid, or DEF, is an additive that all of the newer larger diesel engines require to run. DEF is a mixture of water and urea that is applied to the exhaust system to reduce harmful exhaust gasses and maintain allowable emissions. If a driver wanted or had to operate a vehicle or piece of equipment without DEF, an engine would lose efficiency and one of the engine's computers could switch the performance to limp mode. Though drivable, performance would be poor, and damage to the vehicle could result.


Diesel Engine Delete Kits

Diesel engine delete kits are very popular even though they are considered illegal under the Clean Air Act. Government agencies are able to measure vehicle exhaust in the field and determine if an engine has been deleted. Fines and penalties can result from a deleted engine. If you delete it, be careful.

Even with all of this, off-diesel in properly labeled tanks can help you save money and actually possibly deter a thief from stealing your fuel off of a job. Diesel engines have become so dependable in our industry that anything we do to operate them with quality fuels at a better economic punch is worth the look. Fuel tanks are color-coded: yellow is diesel fuel, red is gasoline, and blue is kerosene. It is critical that you label the outside of the cans with a marker or sticker even though the cans will be labeled because putting the wrong fuel in the wrong container might be expensive and dangerous.


Kerosene and Diesel Fuel

Kerosene and diesel fuel have the same molecular makeup, therefore in some cases can be used in place of diesel fuel or vice versa. As I write this, we are seeing outside temperatures at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but before we know it, we will be digging out the torpedo heaters to keep temperatures manageable on our jobs. Here is something I do because I have older torpedo heaters: this works for me, so check it out for yourself first. For the past few years when I needed to use a heater inside a space, I began using diesel fuel instead of kerosene. It is easier to get, cheaper, and really the biggest reason is that it does not give me such a headache because of the kerosene fumes. Kerosene will burn hotter and sometimes longer than diesel fuel, but that is not something I have had a problem with.

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