Red Diesel

When I had the freelander, that tank was dipped at the weigh bridge on the A66/A1 junctions. After the VOSA guy has his speech read out to me about it being “a random spot check”, and me arguing the fact that EVERY single vehicle was a 4x4 of some sort and it wasn’t “random” at all. He looked over the moon when he pulled out green diesel and went to bring a police officer over. After being asked why I was driving on Irish plant fuel (apparently that’s green), they were both made to look rather silly when I pulled out a bottle of green 2 stroke oil that I added to each tank.

I know people who do run 2 tank systems, very easy on defenders, and also some who just run on red diesel (even standard cars). I just can’t see that it’s worth the effort and hassle when using veg oil or “bio diesel” is usually cheap enough. A few years ago red was 58p round here, it’s now 80p and over at some places.

mick 1986 said:

When I had the freelander, that tank was dipped at the weigh bridge on the A66/A1 junctions. After the VOSA guy has his speech read out to me about it being “a random spot check”, and me arguing the fact that EVERY single vehicle was a 4x4 of some sort and it wasn’t “random” at all. He looked over the moon when he pulled out green diesel and went to bring a police officer over. After being asked why I was driving on Irish plant fuel (apparently that’s green), they were both made to look rather silly when I pulled out a bottle of green 2 stroke oil that I added to each tank.

I know people who do run 2 tank systems, very easy on defenders, and also some who just run on red diesel (even standard cars). I just can’t see that it’s worth the effort and hassle when using veg oil or “bio diesel” is usually cheap enough. A few years ago red was 58p round here, it’s now 80p and over at some places.

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When they say "random", they are talking about the place it is done being random.
Once the place has been selected, most of the diesel vehicles that pass by will be pulled into the lay by for testing. Obviously, vehicles with known propensity for fuel abuse will be prioritised at busy times. This will include trucks, and 4x4s, which are often used by farmers, or farm workers, who will have access to a red diesel tank at the farm.

The 2 tank business is unlikely to work these days, they will inspect the vehicle, and if 2 tanks are found, they will test the fuel at the filter.
Agree completely, it isn't worth the candle, even if you are using ordinary fuel. The price difference is now comparatively small, and the penalties if caught are enormous, especially on a repeat offence.

Colthebrummie said:

If your work base is only 20 miles away, how come your spend so much on fuel?

Col

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He drives a defender lol.

get yourself a 125 scooter/motorbike 100 mpg and road tax is 18 pounds.
well thats what i did

Echoing a couple of the replies; it won’t do your engine any harm, but it will land you in a world of **** if HMRC dip your tank.
Bye bye vehicle, hello big fine!
They carry very sensitive gizmos that can detect all manner of substances in fuel; heating oil was the favourite round our way for a long time.

They are utter bastards the HMRC's police ect. Britain is going down the route of totalitarianism I have zero faith in this country now rape gangs young children raped by the dozen ect back to the diesel dont do it not worth the hassle now. I used to run red in escort 18 d did not know what a fuel station was but that was when red was 17 p a litre . Not now 80 p a litre. They will take the car if you have not got the money there and then. Cold winter night driving rain ect not worth the risk . Then again I know guys that have used it all there life and still do. I myself have never been dipped I am 47. Got sensible after I got married. Theres still a bit in me says **** them lol. It's a gamble I know farmers that are 80 and there dad was dipped once in his lifetime year ago but he has never been . So bud it's your call

When telewest were laying cables close by, there plant operators were selling 25l drums for £5.
A ‘friend’ of mine had a Talbot Express van travelling 40mile a day, used red for a month and piston came through the block,
Coincidence?

I see VOSA dipping tanks at the vosa station near me all the time, don’t risk it.

Either get a new job, different car or use public transport.

Stick to red in your tractor or forklift etc

johnlad said:

When telewest were laying cables close by, there plant operators were selling 25l drums for £5.
A ‘friend’ of mine had a Talbot Express van travelling 40mile a day, used red for a month and piston came through the block,
Coincidence?

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Coincidence.

Red diesel is the same fuel as white diesel, with a tiny quantity of marker added.

Years ago, red diesel was a lower quality fuel than DERV, known as gas oil.

Now, it is the same fuel, because modern tractor and plant engines have the same sophisticated electronic control and emissions systems as cars.

It will do no harm to engines, it will do a lot of harm to your wallet when they catch you.

johnlad said:

When telewest were laying cables close by, there plant operators were selling 25l drums for £5.
A ‘friend’ of mine had a Talbot Express van travelling 40mile a day, used red for a month and piston came through the block,
Coincidence?

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A lot of the farmers I used to work with got fed up with their red being nicked from the storage tanks, by the local caravan utilising nomadic travellers.
So they loaded up the tanks with any old crap they could find, used sump oil, brake fluid, you name it, in it went.
Shortly after, there was a spate of Transits being abandoned after the engines blew up.
The fuel thefts stopped after that.

Radjon said:

local caravan utilising nomadic travellers

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AKA thieving parasites.

Rodeo Joe said:

AKA thieving parasites.

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That’s another phrase for them!

I worked with someone several years ago who had a side job helping to manage a farm. He put enough red in to cover his miles on the farm driving round it in a pickup only. But made sure he kept a log of his work and miles against dates so he could point this out as it was also his road vehicle. He also kept receipts from the fool station for normal diesel which had the reg plate printed on it. At the time he'd been checked twice and found to have a mix of red on each ocasion. Once explained and the logs passed over they understood. His phone was full of emails and pic's of his work. The second time he was pulled over they remembered him from several years before, because when he first got out some unused bullets from rabbit control fell out of his door. He had his guns and they were checked by someone at the same time. He's licensed correctly for them. But it was a first for that to happen they said.