• Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      It is not uncommon for semi trucks and other heavy haul vehicles to be checked. They can frequently hold several hundred gallons of fuel. So there’s a real cost saving using off-road diesel. Though if I remember correctly fine is $10,000 for the first offense so that wipes out your savings pretty quickly.

        • Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Yeah last time I checked off-road diesel was about 50 cents cheaper than on road diesel. So 50 cents times 100/200 gallons, can save you some money. Especially if you do it regularly. And I totally didn’t check to see if it was worth running in my diesel truck, you have no evidence.

          Oh and for when they check, it is usually at DOT weigh stations. If they decide to do a random check or they see something wrong with your truck. They will do an inspection and usually dip a tank. Or at a traffic stop, it is usually only a state patrol that bothers, but if you’re unlucky enough to get pulled over in a semi truck. It is not outside the realm of possibility the officer will decide to dip your tank.

          • Ricky Rigatoni@lemm.ee
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            8 months ago

            Hmmm. So if you’re a regular driver who’s driving a small diesel car or SUV they might never think to check the fuel.

            • Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              Yep it’s very unlikely that they would ever dip a tank on a private vehicle. I’ve heard of a few people getting their diesel pickups checked, but it’s very uncommon. It’s also much harder to do you can’t directly dip the tank because of anti-siphon devices. You have to open the petcock on the water separator/fuel filter. So you have to know where that is you have to have a little container to catch the diesel in and you’re much more likely to get messy. It is not worth a police officer’s trouble really.

              I’m definitely put off road diesel in my pickup truck a few times. Mostly when I was short on fuel and needed to get to town. Though I have known a few guys who run it regularly without consequence. Though it was mostly due to convenience opposed to tax invasion. They’re already on the ranch there’s already diesel fuel there and sometimes the boss is letting you fill up for free or more likely they are the boss.

              I definitely wouldn’t pull up to an off-road diesel fuel pump and just pump it into my truck. That’s a little too obvious.

    • spare_muppets
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      8 months ago

      About as often as they check how many gallons of gas you pumped.