[DaleCook]

I needed some fuel for our shop heater at work so I pumped some out of our semi truck and I noticed how dark it was but didn't think much about it. So today I need to top off 2 other diesel cans so I pumped some more from another one of our semi truck and the fuel was normal color. Is their such a thing as blue fuel or is it an additive or what's the purpose? I live in Alaska and we have a fuel truck that comes by every other night to top off our 10 trucks and alot more refer trailers. Thanks guys.

 

[ArcticDriver]

Are you operating a Gov't fleet or special tax-exempt vehicles?

 

[TundraHauler]

Our off-road diesel that we use in our fleet of heavy equipment is darker in color than on-road diesel we use in our trucks (bright yellow). It looks similar to the darker fuel in your photo. Any chance that may be the case? I'm not sure what the difference is as far as additives.

 

[bugman]

Off road diesel is usually dyed red to distinguish it from regular diesel with is a yellowish green color. Some say it resembles Mountain Dew.

As for the color blue, I believe it is just the additive that they put into it. When I am running 2 stroke oil which is blue my diesel has a blue tint to it.

 

[ArcticDriver]

Blue dye is added to Gov't Fleets that are tax exempt but are used on public roadways.

If it were a fuel additive then its odd that some of your fleet would have it and some wouldn't.

Here ya go:
http://www.kendrickoil.com/what-is-the-difference-between-clear-and-dyed-diesel/

 

[DaleCook]

We got ahold of our bulk supplier and they told us it was the difference between #1 & #2 diesel fuel. Come to find out we don't even have off road deisel fuel up here in Alaska.

 

[outlawdiesel]

So, what is #1 & #2 diesel?

 

[ArcticDriver]

We got ahold of our bulk supplier and they told us it was the difference between #1 & #2 diesel fuel. Come to find out we don't even have off road deisel fuel up here in Alaska.

There are a couple of interpretations of "off-road" diesel fuel (State of AK DEC called it "non-road").
https://dec.alaska.gov/air/anpms/ulsd/ulsdhome.htm

when ULSD (15 ppm Sulphur) was first introduced to the market, it was still possible to purchase "off-road" diesel (500 ppm Sulphur). That "off-road" diesel was phased out of AK in 2010.

The term "off-road" diesel today is still used but refers to non-highway use. Currently, AK charges $0.08/gallon tax on diesel. If it is used for off-highway then you can file for a refund of $0.06/gallon of that tax paid. There is also a fully tax exempt user group that receives the full $0.08/gallon refund. This group includes federal and state agencies.

The blue dye added to Diesel is a method to quickly identify if someone is attempting to use non-taxed fuels on public roadways in an attempt to evade paying taxes.

 

[DaleCook]

From what our supplier said the #1 was the dark fuel and #2 was the normal lite yellow fuel.

 

[DaleCook]

Thanks articdriver, that's great info. I let our business know about the tax break on the fuel that we run thru our refers and they had no idea.