For you guys that have been checked, can you tell me just what went down?

I mean, here you are and some clown starts messing around with your truck. He's playing with the fuel cap and about to take some fuel!

If you just walk up on this scene what keeps him from getting hurt? If he approaches you what does he say? Does he need something more than a badge to "search" your tank?

Fill me in. Sounds like a touchy situation.

 

If we respected the constitution, its obvious what would happen (or wouldnt). but I think they do indeed have the power to search for red fuel even if you tell them you do not consent to a search.
What powers may or may not differ between actual revenue agents or state police, I dont know.
Really youre not saving much between 5$ road diesel and 4.80 dyed fuel. as the price goes up, the difference is minimal unless youre buying in a large quantity.
But even if you dont run red fuel, its good to know your rights.

 

if they swab your tailpipe I think they get residue from the dye. only rumors of dipping here...

 

how much cheaper is the off road diesel?

 

$.50 a gal

 

Depends on the state. National average is 56¢/gal
Here's a map http://www.api.org/statistics/fuelta..._July_2008.pdf

 

FWIW: I was told that this last week, the Ohio Highway Patrol (or equivilant tax guys) were dipping tanks on US 20, between WoodVille and Fremont. They had a big sign along the road, "All Diesel trucks must stop".

Does anyone know what % of red fuel can be detected? IE: if someone were so [cheap/ballsy/stupid] to run red fuel, how many tanks of the clear stuff would be needed so as to make the residual red fuel undetectable? What if one buys his fuel in bulk and there's a bit of cross-contaminaton on the delivery truck from when he filled the farmer's tank down the road?

I've heard that the fines are outlandish, if one is caught.

 

they dont have to open your tank at all they can detect it with the engine running and the fumes out the tailpipe

 

There's been a number of threads on "getting caught with red fuel" on this board, the fact that they can detect the dye in very low percentages, even via a sniffer on the tailpipe or wiping the inside of the pipe. However:

No one has answered the question, "How long does it take for it to go away, once the fuel system is contaminated?"

What if a fella buys a used truck from someone who ran dyed fuel, even once? Is he liable to get snagged by the Fuel Gestapo for as long as he owns it?

 

Raspy, I got dipped once. It was by a uniformed State Trooper in a marked patrol car. He pulled me over on the interstate here, handed me a pamphlet, got my license and told me he was going to check my fuel. He pulled a small hand operated vacuum pump out of his trunk and drew up a sample from my tank. After looking at it he returned the fuel to the tank and that was it.

 

Department of Revenue pull over all diesel on a stretch of counrty road, had a spotter, and when we turn on the next road(it was a T but due to construction everyone one had to turn right and no one could go straight). Anyway, they waved down you truck and a guy came up said what they were doing, gave a pamphlet, I asked what if I said no, he said I would get a 1000$ fine, so I said yes, I passed, off I go.

 

They can but few states have the equipment to do so.
Most just use the simple suck a sample from the tank method.

From what I've read it takes running a tank of red fuel almost to empty then refilling 5-7 times with clear fuel to flush the red out.

On edit:
Talked with the researcher at work who has been working with the IRS to make off road fuel enforcement easier. He said one gallon of red fuel will dye 100 gallons of clear fuel enough to get you busted and that even though lab tests can detect even smaller percentages they usually don't bother with citing folks for it.

 

how much used motor oil does it take to get that nasty red stuff out?... I bet they would cr#p their pants if they dipped me right now; 15 gal of filtered BLACK

 

and Infidel, it looks like I have a few posts to catch up to you! Where do you live?

 

yeah my fuel is always black, so no red for me...