Mixing diesels....

[mrgrumpy2]

My tank is currently about 3/4 full with red diesel....If I wanted to gradually top her up with white diesel would the mixing of colours that cause any problems? My supplementary question is whether there are any mechanical advantages or disadvantages in running a two year old diesel engine on either red or white diesel if I was given the choice? Thanks in advance.

 

[poltergeist]

There tends to be more Sulphur content in MDO, as opposed to ADO (auto diesel), the other difference being only the red dye.

You won't notice any difference by running forecourt diesel, other than the price!

 

[[2068]]

Some people have reported cleaner running / less smoke using the white stuff, possibly on newer engines. I've used both, and couldn't tell the difference on my KAD32's.

 

[realslimshady]

the only difference is the red dye

 

[Tidnock]

did they used to put more anti-foaming in white so they could sell more. They used to have a winter mix with more anti waxing before global warming. One last thing, for some reason, flies are attracted to red spillage but not white, strange but true.

 

[Tidnock]

Oh mixing wont make any difference

 

[pheran]

Some people have reported cleaner running / less smoke using the white stuff, possibly on newer engines. I've used both, and couldn't tell the difference on my KAD32's.

My boat has run on white diesel from new ('cos we're in Holland) and we have found that the sump oil stays very very much cleaner than previous boats running on red.

The poster who claims that red is just white with a dye added is incorrect. There are one or two fuel professionals on these forums who have provided very comprehensive explanations of the differences in the past.

 

[rafiki_]

White diesel is better quality than red, hence runs cleaner (less smoke), and should help the sump oil to last and perform better. Electronic diesels will probably run more efficiently (common rail), as the sensors will note the better diesel and respond accordingly.

I use red, but suffer a bit of smoke at idle, but my engines are pre-common rail.

 

[neale]

The poster who claims that red is just white with a dye added is incorrect. There are one or two fuel professionals on these forums who have provided very comprehensive explanations of the differences in the past.

Not strictly true. Some red can be a lower quality fuel than road white but some, such as that sold by a certain marina on the Thames, is exactly the same with a red dye added. It all depends what the fuel supplier orders. I guess due to cost that 99/100 you will get the lower quality fuel cos it costs the supplier less.

 

[poltergeist]

Diesel for the road (ADO10), tends to be Hydrofined ( a process that reduces/removes Sulphur ) so as to hit a certain max Sulphur content spec.

MDO tends to be less refined/processed as the targets regarding emissions are not as stringent, and while also being coloured red, due to the dye, also as a rule, has a higher Sulphur content.