|
|
04-30-2011, 03:57 PM
|
#1
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 617
M.O.C. #9380
|
Green Diesel Fuel
OK, so I'm used to seeing green diesel signs and green diesel pump handles, and I've even grown accustomed to seeing green faces across from me at the pumps when people watch the price thingy go round and round like a rabid squirrel.
Today though, in Texas at a Valero station, I actually pumped green diesel fuel. At first I'm thinkin', could this be Chicago on St. Patty's day? Then I realized, no this is Texas! The dew point is like a half degree below the current temp and it's April 30. Not Chicago!
What's up with the green diesel? I've heard of pink 'farm diesel' but green?
|
|
|
04-30-2011, 04:08 PM
|
#2
|
Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,750
M.O.C. #7560
|
Green sometimes clear diesel fuel is for on the road use only. The pink or red diesel fuel is for off-road use only (farm, heavy equipment or any vehicles/equipment use not for over the road use)! I have seen some people use the pink/red in their pickups and if they ever get pulled over by the DOT and they test their fuel they are in some really big trouble with some really sizable fines! You have to watch closely at some stations now because some (BP is one) that have the green coverings on their pump handles and are NOT diesel! Almost put ethanol in my TV one day at a station because they had green covers on their gas handles also. Caught it just intime!
|
|
|
04-30-2011, 05:06 PM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Paola
Posts: 5,739
M.O.C. #4961
|
In Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana you will see some stations that are pumping green colored diesel. It is road diesel. I guess the people making it just like green. You also have to watch anymore at the pumps because those green handles are not necessary diesel.
__________________
Dennis & Linda Ward
Paola, Kansas
Montana 3735MK Legacy Edition
1200 watts of Solar
|
|
|
04-30-2011, 08:02 PM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
|
You do have to really watch at the stations because there is no uniform pattern for the diesel pumps. I always double check the pump visually and I usually smell the pump as a second check.
As far as the diesel being green.... The stuff I pump has always been either almost clear or a definite green. As others have already pointed out that is normal on the road fuel. I've fueled up at stations where they have the off road diesel (pink or red) pumps as wel as the regular green on the road stuff. Just make sure you don't fuel up with the pink.... We were checked at Quartzsite a couple of years ago. The AZ DOT was conducting the testing. They stuck a long clear plastic tube down our filler. Didn't see them giving tickets to anyone but I didn't stay too long.
Travel safely, Dennis
|
|
|
05-01-2011, 12:44 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location:
Posts: 992
M.O.C. #7128
|
I guess we are used to the greenish color in the fuel here in Texas and think nothing of it anymore. How ever, we do, in some areas, celebrate St. Patty's day.
|
|
|
05-01-2011, 04:12 AM
|
#6
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Texas City
Posts: 5,736
M.O.C. #7673
|
X2, 3 & 4 on checking the pump to make sure it's diesel. After one time of picking up a green handle only to learn about half way to the filler tube (gut feeling - thank you) I found out it was 87 octane regular.
Now, I look at the green handle, look at the words to see if it says diesel, then make my move. I never noticed the color, but I know that the pink/red is off road use only.
Thanks for shaking the memory again.
|
|
|
05-01-2011, 08:13 AM
|
#7
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
|
Hmmm, how are y'all noticing the color of the diesel? I usually put the pump into the tank filler hole and unless it overfills or I slop it around when removing the pump from tank there's no way I'm going to see the color of the diesel.
I haven't smelled it but guess maybe I should start doing that, just in case. I guess diesel smells oily while gasoline does not? What's the odoriferous (is that a word?) difference? In other words, what does diesel smell like, oil?
|
|
|
05-01-2011, 09:41 AM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Down the Road
Posts: 5,627
M.O.C. #889
|
I've noticed up north I typically will see green fuel when the station has switched over to their summer blend. I admit that I am one of those that will fill the tank to the very top of the fuel neck every time - easy to see the different colors of fuel.
|
|
|
05-01-2011, 12:28 PM
|
#9
|
Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,750
M.O.C. #7560
|
|
|
|
05-01-2011, 02:05 PM
|
#10
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
|
OK, that makes sense. I do usually fill it to the top, especially if prices are going up or I think they will be. So I do see the foam. However, I suspect the reason I've not noticed a green color is I'm a bit color blind. Not totally but enough I might not notice the green unless it's a pretty vivid green.
In the past sometimes the diesel pump has had yellow covers on the handles instead of green but around here I notice yellow is used for bio-fuel, like E85.
|
|
|
05-01-2011, 02:55 PM
|
#11
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: South Shore
Posts: 6,009
M.O.C. #7110
|
I do wish that all stations including truck stops would use a uniform color code on the handles. I have seen colors on the handles and I’m always watching and trying to be very careful. I haven’t messed up and used the wrong fuel yet but hopefully I won’t.
__________________
2011 GMC 4X4 dually CC, 6.6 Duramax with Allison Transmission. Formally 2001 Montana,2007 3400RL Montana, presently 2018 3401RS Alpine.
|
|
|
05-01-2011, 07:23 PM
|
#12
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Savannah
Posts: 270
M.O.C. #7253
|
Gasoline and diesel fuel smell very different. I don't know how to describe the difference in words but if you take a good whiff of both, I doubt you will ever forget the difference. Diesel smells terrible. If you put your nose any where near the filler on your vehicle while pumping diesel you will smell it. On a fairly still day I can smell it 10 feet away from the fuel nozzle when I'm filling up. No matter how careful I am when filling up I also get that smell on my hands. Nothing I know of smells like diesel.
|
|
|
05-01-2011, 07:26 PM
|
#13
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
|
Steve,
The color is pretty subtle. If you are color blind you may well miss the slight greenish shade. Regarding the smell..... to me diesel has a distinct oily odor. Gasoline, of course, has that very distinct gas smell. There is no mistaking the gas. Diesel is less odorous but still very easy to detect. Stick your nose down close to the fill area and test it. You'll quickly detect the smell.
Good luck. Dennis
|
|
|
05-02-2011, 10:50 AM
|
#14
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Billings
Posts: 155
M.O.C. #10477
|
I always thought diesel was colored green to remind us how much green stuff (money) it takes to fill the tank.
|
|
|
05-02-2011, 11:18 AM
|
#15
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location:
Posts: 2,156
M.O.C. #6920
|
Another way I can tell if it's diesel is I'm usually standing in it and it has a noticeably heavier texture on the ground than gasoline.
|
|
|
05-02-2011, 11:22 AM
|
#16
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
|
Thanks Dennis , I love that. Those diesel pumps are fun after a rain
|
|
|
05-02-2011, 11:23 AM
|
#17
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
|
Thanks for the help on the smell. Gas I know the smell of although I thought it smelled "better" prior to taking all the lead out.
I'll sniff next time I'm filling the tank.
Dave, I don't get the smell on my hands. I keep a right-handed glove in the pocket on the driver's door for filling with diesel. I guess I could go sniff that glove. Oddly, although the glove is discolored it doesn't smell up the cab. If it did, it wouldn't be kept inside.
|
|
|
05-02-2011, 11:27 AM
|
#18
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Bakersfield
Posts: 5,316
M.O.C. #15
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by restez
I always thought diesel was colored green to remind us how much green stuff (money) it takes to fill the tank.
|
We bought our first diesel pickup in 1999. At the time diesel was considerably cheaper than gas. If I remember correctly diesel was running about 50 cents per gallon while gas was going for just under a dollar!
Of course as soon as we started traveling diesel started its upward climb and has yet to stop! Bummer!
Travel safely, Dennis
|
|
|
05-02-2011, 04:23 PM
|
#19
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Eastern
Posts: 1,155
M.O.C. #7270
|
Dennis I bought my Dodge in 99 and that was one of the main reasons diesel was cheaper that gas. I'm still trying to figure out "WHAT HAPPENED". I stopped in baltimore to fill up in 01 I think and diesel was 1.67 and I got 10.00$ told the DW I would not pay that much but I had to pay more in pa. Boy love to see those prices again. Still love the diesel!!
Bobby
|
|
|
05-03-2011, 01:56 PM
|
#20
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Silverton
Posts: 489
M.O.C. #11144
|
If I get a new truck (not brand new) I will have to put a sign on the filler door that states: Hey Dummy!! Make sure you put the correct fuel in the tank!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|