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Thread: fuel color question

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
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    Grand Rapids MN 55744
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    1,648

    Default fuel color question

    Howdy
    Has anyone seen diesel fuel that is a bright (almost) day glow yellow/green????

    Is this some new color they are playing with or did my local guys use some strange additive?

    I have 10 gallons in cans for my tractor and never really looked at it until I started to dump it in....just about crapped myself thinking that it was ANTI-FREEZE I bought the fuel about a month ago. It should be off-road number 1...but it might be hiway number 1....?

    Thanks!
    Conley
    1996 Chvy 3500 CCDWLB 6.5 Heathed, NO vac, marine injctrs, ARB bumper, BIG pipe, 3" lift, bright lights, bypass oil system.
    1986 Chvy 6.2 M1009 blazer RAM AIR, Headers, Custom interior
    2001 Chinook RV, V10 gas
    1974 John Deere 1530 diesel tractor
    1993 John Deere 455 Diesel lawn mower
    1967 GTO, 1989 Honda Transalp
    2009 VW Jetta TDI, flashed and piped, 6speed, fun car!
    1998 6.5 suburban, stock, daughter's
    1993 6.5 3500 CCSWLB GM8, Heathed, big exhaust, gauges, Son's

    1984 6.2 ATS turbo 3500, SCDWLB - Son's
    3 kids, 1 wife, 1 dog
    Gunsmith, Tactics Instructor, Fabricator USMC 87-93 Semper Fi!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Jax Florida
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    415

    Default

    If they use any percentage of bio-diesel that could turn the color greenish, add in the red off road dye and it could really look strange.
    93 GMC Sierra 2500
    6.5L TD 5 spd Manual trans Sold

    97 Chevy Silverado CrewCab K3500 Dually
    6.5L TD Auto


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Pauline, SC
    Posts
    618

    Default

    I hauled it for the last 10yrs, it's that color here, it's the ULSD, even the red is ULSD here, it's all that is coming through the pipe.... SC area anyway...
    1993 Chevy K3500

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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Bar Nunn, WY
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    193

    Default

    It looks like you describe here in southern MN also. I think the color is in part due to the mandated bio diesel here in MN as mentioned above. It's more noticeable in the summer when the percentage of bio is higher.

    Jay
    2023 Tahoe 3.0l diesel
    2013 Harley Switchback
    2021 Ram 2500 6.7l (sold)
    2018 Chevy Traverse (sold)
    2021 Silverado 3.0l LM2 (sold)
    2019 GMC Sierra 6.2l (sold)
    2019 Colorado ZR2(sold)
    2017 2500HD CC D/A (sold)
    2015 1500 CC High Country 6.2l (sold)
    2010 Chev 2500HD CC D/A (sold)
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    2005 Harley Ultra Classic (sold)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Grand Rapids MN 55744
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    1,648

    Default

    This stuff looks like it would glow in the dark when I poured it on some snow.
    Figures the bean juice would do something like that to screw us up!
    1996 Chvy 3500 CCDWLB 6.5 Heathed, NO vac, marine injctrs, ARB bumper, BIG pipe, 3" lift, bright lights, bypass oil system.
    1986 Chvy 6.2 M1009 blazer RAM AIR, Headers, Custom interior
    2001 Chinook RV, V10 gas
    1974 John Deere 1530 diesel tractor
    1993 John Deere 455 Diesel lawn mower
    1967 GTO, 1989 Honda Transalp
    2009 VW Jetta TDI, flashed and piped, 6speed, fun car!
    1998 6.5 suburban, stock, daughter's
    1993 6.5 3500 CCSWLB GM8, Heathed, big exhaust, gauges, Son's

    1984 6.2 ATS turbo 3500, SCDWLB - Son's
    3 kids, 1 wife, 1 dog
    Gunsmith, Tactics Instructor, Fabricator USMC 87-93 Semper Fi!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Jax Florida
    Posts
    415

    Default

    Actually the Bio-diesel is good, it relubricates the fuel, when they stripped out all the sulfur they lost the lubrication, and gives back some of the power.
    93 GMC Sierra 2500
    6.5L TD 5 spd Manual trans Sold

    97 Chevy Silverado CrewCab K3500 Dually
    6.5L TD Auto


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    klamath Falls, Oregon
    Posts
    131

    Default

    In many parts of the country, the color is important. One color for road worthy vehicles which includes road taxes. Another color for Farm/Ranch use only. Meaning, for equipment that doesn't put the rubber on the roads. If you get caught with the farm fuel on the road, it can be very, very expensive when the government finds out.
    Eddie
    ---------
    2007 GMC Sierra Classic 2500HD CC/LB (LBZ)
    211,000 miles / DVD player
    Kennedy Diesel Tuned Computer
    Manually extended towing mirrors
    Winter Grill Cover/screen
    Tough Country front bumper
    12,000# Warn Winch
    KC Fog Lights
    KC 130w Driving Lights
    Bradford Built Flatbed
    Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bags
    More things covered by crochet than I'll admit.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Sheridan, Oregon
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    189

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    Not to mention the time it takes to get the red dye out of your tank. I used some a couple years ago to get me to the station to fill up and my fuel is still red. Now mind you I don't drive all that often but after at least 12 to 15 tanks later it still is red.

    As for the bio, I had to put some in one time and my mileage went through the floor. Going from 19.8mpg to around 12 was a shocker when doing a 110 mile commute a day.

    John
    2004 Chevy K3500 CCLB DRW Duramax. Stock.

    1992 Sea Ray 300DA. 30 plus foot Express Cruiser on a trailer. 13,500# boat and trailer and 69' of combined length rolling. Over length/width permitted load.

    SOLD-95 GMC K2500 SLE 6.5L TD, Relocated PMD to bumper #9 res., Custom Lowes special induction tube, Triple gauges on the pillar EGT, Trans, Boost, High Idle Mod, TCC-Lock up Mod, Custom Back up camera, DIY Manual Wastegate Controller, 4" from down tube to 5" stacks, Vac Pump Removed,2007 wheels, WMI by Cooling Mist 8gph @3psi 11gph on demand

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Jax Florida
    Posts
    415

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jhornsby3 View Post
    Not to mention the time it takes to get the red dye out of your tank. I used some a couple years ago to get me to the station to fill up and my fuel is still red. Now mind you I don't drive all that often but after at least 12 to 15 tanks later it still is red.

    As for the bio, I had to put some in one time and my mileage went through the floor. Going from 19.8mpg to around 12 was a shocker when doing a 110 mile commute a day.

    John
    I have never heard of bio dropping fuel mileage, increasing it because the fuel has more power I have seen.
    93 GMC Sierra 2500
    6.5L TD 5 spd Manual trans Sold

    97 Chevy Silverado CrewCab K3500 Dually
    6.5L TD Auto


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Posts
    786

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 93GMCSierra View Post
    I have never heard of bio dropping fuel mileage, increasing it because the fuel has more power I have seen.
    Depends on who was doing the blending. If the bio was garage made B100 than anything could have affected the mileage. If the fuel was not washed (methanol removed) the B100 could have up to 20% methanol in it. Properly processed bio has a slight loss in power density (about 5 %) from #2 but will allow you to add timing negating much of that loss.

    If you bought the bio as a commercial mix, B5 - B15, a cheap trick used by some of the blenders is to get rid of their #1 stock left over from the winter as the base for their blend. This may have been the situation here. Have encountered kerosene in the fuel as late as mid August when buying B10 in New York.

    As a general rule, properly blended B10 should have little or no effect mileage wise but does negate the need for any lubricity additives. Just keep an eye on your fuel filters.

    Bill
    91 Buick Roadmaster/Avant 6.2 NA conversion (gone but not forgotten)
    94 Cadillac Fleetwood (sold)
    08 Aerolight 23TT
    06 Vortec Max Silverado CC SB (sold)
    10 Avalanche (electronic quagmire but love the truck)

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2000
    Location
    Hawaii/Arizona
    Posts
    257

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    I agree 100% with John. I stopped using bio about four years ago because it seemed to have less power than standard diesel, cost more and it provided less MPG. I check my fuel mileage every tank full when I am pulling my 5th wheel and there is absolutely no doubt that bio is a bad deal. I generally drop at least two MPG with bio.
    *2006 Chevy, 3500, 4X4, DRW, (LBZ) D/A, CC, LT, 252K Miles, 19.5" Wheels, Mag Hytec Transmission Pan and Differential Cover, SS Grill Guard, Racor 2 micron aux fuel filter, 100 Gallon Aux Fuel Tank, using Edge Evolution, Predator Diablosport, Kennedy ECM tune, Fitch Fuel Catalyst.

    *2006 Four Winds, Dutchman, 36', RV, D/A, 5500 Kodiak.
    *1993 Harley Davidson, Turbo charged, Springer Softail.
    *2007 Pontiac Solstice.
    *2005 Jeep, Liberty, CRD (diesel).
    *Full-timing in USA, see America first.

    BUY AMERICAN or CANADIAN, NOTHING from CHINA .

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Sheridan, Oregon
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    That was a few years ago, now. For some reason I want to say it was B-20 or something like that. Anyways, I won't use it at all now. I know someone that has used B-100 in his burb and I have his old injection pump in the garage with sensors gone bad in it. And I have seen first hand what B-100 does to the injectors and such after not that long of being used.
    2004 Chevy K3500 CCLB DRW Duramax. Stock.

    1992 Sea Ray 300DA. 30 plus foot Express Cruiser on a trailer. 13,500# boat and trailer and 69' of combined length rolling. Over length/width permitted load.

    SOLD-95 GMC K2500 SLE 6.5L TD, Relocated PMD to bumper #9 res., Custom Lowes special induction tube, Triple gauges on the pillar EGT, Trans, Boost, High Idle Mod, TCC-Lock up Mod, Custom Back up camera, DIY Manual Wastegate Controller, 4" from down tube to 5" stacks, Vac Pump Removed,2007 wheels, WMI by Cooling Mist 8gph @3psi 11gph on demand

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Posts
    786

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jhornsby3 View Post
    That was a few years ago, now. For some reason I want to say it was B-20 or something like that. Anyways, I won't use it at all now. I know someone that has used B-100 in his burb and I have his old injection pump in the garage with sensors gone bad in it. And I have seen first hand what B-100 does to the injectors and such after not that long of being used.
    90% of the issues with B100 is the quality. ASTM standard B100 actually extends the life of the entire system. The electronic DS4s had an issue with fuel clarity and caused some wonky issues with the sensors depending on what the original feedstock was. Soy based was darker and the Canola based fuel actually has a red tinge to it. The optical sensors at times got confused.

    Guaranteed, the injector issues were water and or filter related. Again if the methanol was not washed out completely, the fuel will suck up water like a sponge and you want at least 5 micron or better filters.

    I made my own fuel for about 4 years and never had an issue with 3 vehicles, 2 6.2s with mechanical pumps and an aging Mercedes 5 cylinder. Even extended the life of a fubarred db2 for another 30,000 miles by using B100. But than again, I was very anal about fuel quality and making sure the process went to completion, and all batches were carefully de-meth'd and washed. Pain in the neck, but could produce about 3,000 gals a year (also fed my oil furnace and hot water heater with the stuff) for about 1/4 of the cost of #2.

    Bill
    91 Buick Roadmaster/Avant 6.2 NA conversion (gone but not forgotten)
    94 Cadillac Fleetwood (sold)
    08 Aerolight 23TT
    06 Vortec Max Silverado CC SB (sold)
    10 Avalanche (electronic quagmire but love the truck)

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Jax Florida
    Posts
    415

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by convert2diesel View Post
    90% of the issues with B100 is the quality. ASTM standard B100 actually extends the life of the entire system. The electronic DS4s had an issue with fuel clarity and caused some wonky issues with the sensors depending on what the original feedstock was. Soy based was darker and the Canola based fuel actually has a red tinge to it. The optical sensors at times got confused.

    Guaranteed, the injector issues were water and or filter related. Again if the methanol was not washed out completely, the fuel will suck up water like a sponge and you want at least 5 micron or better filters.

    I made my own fuel for about 4 years and never had an issue with 3 vehicles, 2 6.2s with mechanical pumps and an aging Mercedes 5 cylinder. Even extended the life of a fubarred db2 for another 30,000 miles by using B100. But than again, I was very anal about fuel quality and making sure the process went to completion, and all batches were carefully de-meth'd and washed. Pain in the neck, but could produce about 3,000 gals a year (also fed my oil furnace and hot water heater with the stuff) for about 1/4 of the cost of #2.

    Bill
    Yes this is very true if they wanted to commercially use bio they make sure the quality is perfect it would replace #2 which would be bad for oil...
    93 GMC Sierra 2500
    6.5L TD 5 spd Manual trans Sold

    97 Chevy Silverado CrewCab K3500 Dually
    6.5L TD Auto


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