Red Deisel

[Graham Lunn]

Someone I know was suggesting using Red Deisel in his car. He has a farm and pays around 20p per litre. he has it delivered in bulk at 1000 litres a time.

Apart from it being illegal (!), does anyone know anything bad about using red deisel in a modern deisel engine?

[Graham lunn]

so is the message that if the car you run has ever had red diesel in the tank that you may as well continue to use it on the basis that it doesnt do harm to the engine and is half the price - and you are going to get nicked if stopped anyway?

[graham lunn]

and from what I have read once you have any red deisel in your tank may as well continue because there will be a trace forever and a day

[graham lunn]

The thought of buying a car that has been run on red diesel worries me too. I run a number of diesel mondeo taxis which are let out to drivers on a weekly basis, it would not surprise me if any one of them puts red diesel in and then hands the car back! One lad has already been told his car exhaust smells like a chippy! I have had a car stolen and that was found a week later with red diesel in its tank

the fuel lines on newer cars are clear, or near enough, and you can see any discolouration but if their is some chemical trace element left behind then you are definitely stuffed.

[Graham Lunn]

An update is that I know of someone who ran their modern diesel on red for many, many miles with no ill effects at all, was seen filling their car with red diesel, reported to HMRC who paid a visit. The fine was £500 payable immediately or the car would be confiscated and an additional payment on the estimated lost duty that should have been paid.