tas5e

First let me state that I know it is against the law. However, I am curious if any one has run high sulfur/off road diesel, the kind we use for tractors (red diesel) in a I6 or V6 CDI or bluetec?

stickygreen

Here in CA, the red "offroad" diesel is ULSD...only difference is the red dye and lack of road excise tax.

If it is indeed the old #2 diesel, the inline-6 CDI should have no problem with it, but I wouldn't use it on a v6 cdi or bluetec.

Diesel Benz

The same at my place in Europe, even the oil for house heating is low sulphur but has no lubricants and the cetane index is not good for engines.

The CDI should accept 50 ppm sulphur content while the V6 requires "sulphur free" fuel, in practise max 10 ppm, a typical value for ULSD being significantly less. Meaning I agree with the advice above.

tas5e

Thank you for the insight.

vettdvr

The fuel you use is really based on the conditions. After Katrina with emergency fuel requirements and a Presidential declariation of disaster area, off road diesel was used in some trucks on the road. This off road fuel was dispensed through the normal fuel system and road taxes paid. But this was clearly red diesel. Many emergency vehicles ran this fuel and didn't even know it was off road diesel. However cetane ratings with lubrication requirments might damage your vehicle. With life saving equipment red fuel was better than no fuel. So the off road fuel might run in your vehicle, but might also cause damage to the vehicle. If you are in a real emergency you might consider it otherwise just use the correct fuel.

dieselsrule

Starting in the fall of 2007, in our area off road and on road are the EXACT same fuel, about 1-1/2 gallons of red dye is added to the tanker at the refinery. We purchase fuel by the tanker load (7200 gal) and add a lubricity additive, which costs $.01/gal. we run over 100 pieces of equipment, and have very few injection problems.