The dye is to distinguish fuels by their taxation. Marine diesel is not subject to road tax so is dyed red. That does not mean it is cheaper due to state taxes or supply/demand
"In United States of America, the Environmental Protection Agency mandates use of a red dye to identify high-sulfur fuels for off-road use. The Internal Revenue Service mandates use of the same red dyes, in fivefold concentration, for tax-exempt diesel fuels such as heating oil" BUT- The marine diesel is Low sulfur and the road diesel is ultra-low sulfur. My engine mechanic told me that they were seeing lots of lift pump failures due to low sulfur fuel causing damage to the rubber over time. I am not sure if the difference in low vs. ultra-low matters or it is the general drop in sulfur content that occurred in 1997 when the sulfur rules changed. I doubt there is anything other than empirical data at this point. I don't think you will see any difference in performance, but rubber component lifetime is what you want to look out for. Dave On Mar 12, 2013, at 1:05 AM, Russ & Melody wrote: > Hi Ron, > > I agree with going for the cheaper fuel choice but I hope none of us are > willing to pay extra for a higher cetane rating thinking they are getting a > "better" fuel for the lil' diesel engine. At the speeds we operate our > engines the minimum cetane rated fuels (>42) are just fine. > > Do spend a few bucks on a quality additive though. Since they reduced sulphur > content of diesel our old fuel delivery systems can suffer. > > Cheers, Russ > Sweet 35 mk-1 > > At 02:36 PM 11/03/2013, you wrote: >> All, I sat through a workshop form the Yanmar guru on diesel engines some >> time ago in Newport RI. He claimed that the “truck stop” diesel had a >> higher Cetane rating than the then marine diesel and recommended that we use >> the “Trucker’s fuel” It was more rigorously regulated than marine diesel >> at the time…………both were supposed to catch up at some point, but I still go >> to the local truck stop for my diesel………it’s significantly cheaper as >> well………… >> >> Ron C. >> C&C 38MKIIC….’77 repowered with Yanmar Ygm30 Sail dirve >> Impromptu >> >> From: CnC-List [ mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Martin >> DeYoung >> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 2:27 PM >> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com >> Subject: Re: Stus-List Engine Control Panels >> >> Ø cheaper because it is not subject to the fuel tax - hence the red >> dye. < >> >> Back in the mid 90’s I delivered a Bendytoy 42 to San Diego. The wind was >> light from Cape Flattery to Crescent City California. We stopped in >> Crescent City to re-fuel. The fuel dock only had un-taxed (red dye) fuel >> and at that time the St. of Calif. required you to have a commercial boat to >> use dyed/un-taxed fuel. >> >> We had to flip a $20 to a local fisherman to drive several round trips to a >> gas station that sold diesel. We filled the boat’s fuel tank and the spare >> jerry cans with enough fuel to make it half way to San Diego if the wind >> stayed light. Fortunately the wind soon returned to West Coast, late summer >> normal and we had a good sail for much of that leg arriving at San Diego >> with several hours of fuel left. >> >> Martin >> Calypso >> 1970 C&C 43 >> Seattle >> >> From: CnC-List [ mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Joel >> Aronson >> Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 10:48 AM >> To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com >> Subject: Re: Stus-List Engine Control Panels >> >> Marine diesel should be cheaper because it is not subject to the fuel tax - >> hence the red dye. Of course, the word "Marine" has its own tax. >> >> >> Joel >> 35/3 >> Annapolis >> _______________________________________________ >> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com David Knecht, Ph.D. Professor and Head of Microscopy Facility Department of Molecular and Cell Biology U-3125 91 N. Eagleville Rd. University of Connecticut Storrs, CT 06269 860-486-2200 860-486-4331 (fax)
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