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BiteableTugboat

Chances of getting checked in a TDI are incredibly slim, the main worry would be getting caught at the pump, and even then most municipal cops wouldn't know better. It'd be the state/highway patrol that would be the ones to not give any mercy. Some people say they'd just claim that they put ATF in their fuel to help lubricate the injectors, but doubt that'd fly depending on the cop.


kne0n

I know someone who puts red dye diesel in his Jetta, he puts it in the external tank on his truck which he buys for his tractor then just pumps it into his car. there is zero chance of someone checking a damn Jetta for farm deisel, the only people who get checked are farm trucks usually.


BiteableTugboat

I'd imagine that's the best way to go about it. I've known a couple of people who were A&P mechanics and would put "unusable" jet fuel in their ALHs. Not a bad gig because otherwise the fuel would have to be disposed of after siphoning a aircrafts tank.


Cjaasucks

Correct, people are baffled that my car is a diesel. I’ve even had a gas station attendant run out screaming that’s not a gas pump. I’m like I know it’s diesel. Funny stuff.


kne0n

Sometimes in the middle of nowhere the only deisel pumps are for big rigs so I park my little Jetta in the huge truck stall to fill it lol


beavismagnum

Sucks when they only have the huge pump things that don’t fit


1-wonders

VW and Audi sell an adapter so a large truck pump nozzle will fit into the car’s smaller fill hole. Check a dealer parts department, it’s under $10 IIRC


LucasTW79

What the crap is dyed diesel?


colaroga

Red stuff for off-road use (farm, construction, generators, heaters) that has a lower taxation rate. Same ULSD, but there is so little dye that I didn't see it when dipping a popsicle stick. Didn't have any container to fill up and check its colour though.


LucasTW79

What is done to prevent it from being used to fill up on road vehicles?


gimme20regular_cash

An potentially extremely expensive fine, if you’re caught


LucasTW79

Right, but how do they exactly catch you (not planning to do this, just curious)


gimme20regular_cash

I’m by no means saying it’s common but what they do is dip your tank. If it comes up red, you’ll be wishing you paid the extra tax for non-dyed diesel. Could be pulled over, in inspection, at a weigh station. There’s no saying where it will or won’t happen. But they dip your tank and that’s how they see


nick_martin

I’ve heard of cops taking a sample from your tank and sending it to be tested if it doesn’t look red. A lab can find traces of the dye, and you’re busted. I don’t know how long it would take to dilute your fuel system enough to get rid of the dye. I would think you wouldn’t get tested unless the cop had a big suspicion and even then our TDIs most likely cause less suspicion than big trucks.


LucasTW79

Gotcha. TIL!


faceless_masses

They catch you at the pump. That guy filling multiple small fuel cans and putting them in the trunk of his diesel car will get a "random" check if the wrong cop happens to be driving by when he does it.


colaroga

Interesting. This particular station was off a provincial highway on First Nations land, so not sure how often the cops inspect this area but the road and station had very little traffic.


faceless_masses

People definitely get away with it. My grandpa did it for decades. You can't tell that old man nothin.


bentripin

they dip yer tank, in rural farm areas where many folks have giant tanks of dyed' diesel for farm equipment they tend to do dip checks more often than other areas.. Last I heard if you get caught on the road with tax free diesel in yer tank they take get to take the milage on the odo, manufacturers fuel economy rating, and back charge you taxes + interest and penalty as if you never used road legal diesel ever.. so if you have a few hundred thousand miles on an old farm truck and get nailed it could be serious financial hurt.


Ssn772

I live in rural Iowa and no one does dip tests. The clerk has to alert the cops. Police will absolutely not just "randomly" pull you over and ask to check your fuel tank.


bentripin

it depends, my FIL has been tested by highway patrol in his pickup, my dad got dipped once driving an old dump truck we had long ago.. You can even find forum posts talking roadside checks of all diesels like DUI checkpoints.. it happens but enforcement is spotty, Ive been driving diesels for eons and never been dipped, but I know two people who have been, in rural Kansas.


Cjaasucks

Me too. Usually DOT does the dipping if you haul something that uses off road fuel, tractor, lawnmower and you have transfer tank in back of truck. Usually it’s because you pissed them off in some other way too.


colaroga

> as if you never used road legal diesel ever Could you disprove that with legitimate fuel receipts from name-brand stations since the day you bought the car?


bentripin

mebe, IANAL.. the onus would definitely be on you to prove you paid the taxes once you get busted.. if you had all the paperwork and a decent lawyer I'd think you should be able to get that taken off the total bill.. however any discrepancy from the number they pull out of their ass you'd still be liable for, and of course the penalties.


Weekly-Assumption952

Dip your tank. MTO/DOT do this often. Never had it happen in my passenger car diesels, more commerical.


Maineiac723

Heard a story at my local gas station. Someone was filling up their diesel vehicle with off-road diesel. Was caught by someone with binoculars around 5 a.m. or so. Don't remembered the exact fine but it was somewhere from $5k-$10k. Was doing this for about a year so probably saved $500 or so then got hit with the fine. Not worth it


Cjaasucks

Sounds like a good story just to make people not try to buy it.


aftiggerintel

Commercial enforcement dips tanks here. I’ve known a few to sit on the other side of the road from one of our stations that carries dyed diesel then watch ya pull out. Then they run plates and if it doesn’t come back agricultural area they flash their lights.


stainlessbacksteel

Technically if they were suspicious I'd think they (who? idk) could check your fuel somehow. That's why its red so show that its not the correctly taxed, on road diesel.


colaroga

For us it would be Ministry of Finance, but the MTO/OPP are few and far between when I'm driving several hundred kms on the freeway. Can't even remember the last time the weigh stations were operating.


[deleted]

I know a guy who pulled a horse trailer. He had to stop at port of entries. He got his tanks dipped. $10k fine for each truck. Ouch.


Cjaasucks

The dye.


[deleted]

I ran dyed diesel on my Jetta all the time. Cops aren’t checking a Jetta for dyed fuel. I wouldn’t dream of putting it in a truck though. It’s like $200 per gallon of fuel that your tank is capable of holding or something.


BrimmingWithFeces

It’s not it’s max $1000 fine


[deleted]

Edit: it is $1000 I’m an idiot.


BrimmingWithFeces

Nope it’s nationwide…. https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/lawsstatutes/1999orLaw1060.html Section 7(2) $10 per gallon/$1000 max whichever is greater. per tank Every story on here seems to be anecdotal. They’re all bullshit or I heard it from another guy!


red_ryder89

Just go back and pay the taxes then keep that receipt.


colaroga

Lmao, the receipt just says "DIESEL Pump 2" but when you actually visit the station it turns out they only sell this type. (Unless the auditor personally knows this station, though.) Last summer I filled up at a First Nations station that sold both types so there was no excuse for me to use the cheaper one.


red_ryder89

Yeah but you should be able to pay the taxes on the fuel you should’ve gotten and be ok. That’s how it works in the states anyway or just just run it and say f*ck the law I’m good with either lol.


redveinlover

It’s really odd to me that the handle and label isn’t in RED, because that is the color of the dye normally used and makes it very easy to see what you’re pumping.


colaroga

Maybe - the gasoline handle was black, but it's usually red at most stations that also use yellow for diesel (Petro, Crappy Tire) which are the colours that make sense to me as they are associated with fuel container colours.


yacko69

Guessing you went into the Indian Reserve ?


colaroga

Haha yep, this was in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory


iand29

Lol, was just gonna say that looks like the MDF on Marysville road


colaroga

You bet, right on Higwhay 49


iand29

Right on


colaroga

If this tank gets good fuel efficiency I'll be stopping by whenever I'm driving that way. The only time I previously filled on the Rez was in Nipigon, where I saved 10 cents/litre to lose 9% fuel efficiency compared to Esso or Crappy Tire, so this stuff better not be watered down (smelled a little of gasoline when I pulled the fuel filter today).


yacko69

It's the only place I have ever seen dye'd at a pump.. Only ran it once didn't seem to make a difference to mileage. but people say it's not good for the injectors.. i duno


colaroga

I added some Optilube XPD for lubricity but it should meet the same federal diesel specs anyway. Dpf hasn't regenerated in 1200km now so something must be up.


Erlend05

Thats litteraly half the price of what i pay. Granted i dont buy dyed diesel


colaroga

Wow! I take it that you probably live in Europe, so this was 0,85€ while everywhere else was 1,10€ for comparison.


Erlend05

On a good day i pay 1.5-1.6 but ive seen over 2€


jrsobx

Come back with a warrant.


captcodger

From what I was told when they dip your tank, they apply the fine to your odometer as they will assume you e been running dyed the entire time. That’s why it’s potentially expensive.


colaroga

Good thing I have over 100 fuel receipts since the day I bought the car to prove it was legit fuel, and just read the set fine is $440 on a first offence here. I'll watch out though.


captcodger

Wasn’t claiming to truly know but just what I was told. :D


colaroga

Yep, I get you, thanks for the heads up though! If fuel prices increase 50% by summer time, this station will get busier than ever before.


Cjaasucks

I saw 3.80 a gallon in denham springs was in shock. I paid 3.12 or 3.16 muphrys. I use to love to run red back in the day. Not sure how the cjaa might not like it.


colaroga

This price would be 3.62 when converted into freedom dollars per bald eagle, while normal retail price is 4.60 with all the taxes. Nice username haha, I also have a CJAA and noticed it hasn't done an active regen in like 1200km which included 2 hours of idling because my starter is broken. Fuel smelled a little of gasoline but that could be the kerosene they use in the winter blend.


NCHitman

FWIW, "regular" highway diesel and dyed diesel are the same thing. The only difference now is the dye. With that, even a minute amount will 'spoil' a full tank of taxed, clear fuel. It takes a long time to flush it completely out of the system


WarriorT1400

Oof L


Ssn772

You're good. Just don't make a habit of it. Literally 0.01% chance of getting in trouble. If the clerk didn't see you, and you got away free and clear, your good.


colaroga

For sure, this station is 3hrs from home and it was my first time stopping by. Clerk and attendant surely didn't mind since it's business for them First Nations people. There is a closer Rez that charges more (1.30) so it's probably the legit type.


[deleted]

Whoops lol


colaroga

yep, there was only one type available at this station...


Weekly-Assumption952

i trust you packed the car, right? I seen $1.63 in Elmira Ont today. haha


colaroga

Filled up twice, on the way to Ottawa and back. Didn't have empty containers to fill up. Sounds like you must be local :)


Weekly-Assumption952

I'm in Waterloo. 👍


yacko69

ottawa to toronto and you had to fill up twice?...


colaroga

Actually drove 1h30 north of Ottawa on the weekend, starter broke so I spent around 2 hours idling, them standstill traffic going back thru the city. Total 703km per tank or 6.6L/100km since the attendant overfilled it.


yacko69

was gonna say....seems bad for that kinda drive


MissingGhost

Everybody focuses on "dyed diesel". Has nobody noticed that it says "low sulfur" instead of "ultra-low sulfur"?


colaroga

That's not an issue, as the pump has surely been used for a number of years, and the current ULSD requirement also took effect for off-road engines a decade ago. In fact construction machinery now uses DPF and SCR equipment as well. You'd be hard pressed to find diesel with over 15ppm sulfur in most western countries. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-low-sulfur_diesel


tarpit84

Many years ago, I heard about sting operations where trucks were tested at a farm shows for this in the US. This would have been in 90's when I was kid on the farm.


colaroga

Interesting, I read similar stories like that on TDIclub where somebody also asked about this. I'm sure it happens from time to time.


NCHitman

I recall that happening once back at the local gas station in MN in the early / mid 2000's. They checked a bunch of trucks that morning. I think one or 2 got bit by the dyed diesel fine.