where can i get blue dye for diesel?

[jimi]

After an evening's quiet reflection I am yet again bemused bu AWOL's vitriol!

However it does hoighlight an interesting point of perception, ie the definition of "nearest" , personally I always look on it as the closest in time rather than distance as the crow flies, because time is the variable that tends to matter! So , for me, in sailing the "nearest" is the closest in time using a safe navigable route and maximising tidal advantage. This of course means that my "nearest" ports may vary depending on time of departure, weather and wind direction. I rather suspect I'm not the only sailor to think like that!


Anyway back to the initial question, I'm still in two minds as to whether to chance Ostend with Red diesel or make 18 trips to the Shell garage to fill up with white ;-)

 

[maby]

After an evening's quiet reflection I am yet again bemused bu AWOL's vitriol!

However it does hoighlight an interesting point of perception, ie the definition of "nearest" , personally I always look on it as the closest in time rather than distance as the crow flies, because time is the variable that tends to matter! So , for me, in sailing the "nearest" is the closest in time using a safe navigable route and maximising tidal advantage. This of course means that my "nearest" ports may vary depending on time of departure, weather and wind direction. I rather suspect I'm not the only sailor to think like that!


Anyway back to the initial question, I'm still in two minds as to whether to chance Ostend with Red diesel or make 18 trips to the Shell garage to fill up with white ;-)

Unless you get it pretty close to empty first, all those trips to the garage will not make you legal. Personally I don't much like Belgium anyway, so we'll just play safe and go to France. There seems to be little evidence that you would be running a serious risk provided you keep your receipts.

 

[johnphilip]

There's never an Alchemist when you need one. Or is it a magician? How do you make red dye disappear?

Many cameras have settings to eliminate red.eye

 

[maby]

You can't get rid of it - that's the idea of it!

There are ways of getting rid of it - there used to be a thriving cottage industry in Ireland devoted to stripping it out. The process does involve some quite nasty chemicals and, if you get it wrong, you can do serious damage to your engine. You certainly cannot do it in the boat's tank, so you would be looking at a process that involved somehow buying several tens of gallons of red diesel plus a variety of chemicals that are not in common use, getting them home, brewing it all up in a big tank, making sure you get it right, then disposing of the rather nasty residues and taking the treated fuel to your boat. All this without arousing the interests of the police.

I guess that it may be worth while if you have access to large amounts of red completely tax free, but if you are having to buy it from a marina at 60/40 tax it's very questionable if it is worth the effort!

 

[sailorman]

After an evening's quiet reflection I am yet again bemused bu AWOL's vitriol!

However it does hoighlight an interesting point of perception, ie the definition of "nearest" , personally I always look on it as the closest in time rather than distance as the crow flies, because time is the variable that tends to matter! So , for me, in sailing the "nearest" is the closest in time using a safe navigable route and maximising tidal advantage. This of course means that my "nearest" ports may vary depending on time of departure, weather and wind direction. I rather suspect I'm not the only sailor to think like that!


Anyway back to the initial question, I'm still in two minds as to whether to chance Ostend with Red diesel or make 18 trips to the Shell garage to fill up with white ;-)

well i have just filled my car at tesco & got 40 lts in cans, all with the tesco 5p discount voucher as well. the full 100lts worth, saved a whole £5 note

 

[sarabande]

if you filter red diesel through cat litter or Fuller's Earth, it removes the colorant. I cannot say whether it removes the recondite tracer elements though.

I've found that if you put red diesel into a transparent plastic bottle and leave it accidently in the sun for a month or so, then the colour deepens to almost black. It would be fun to try exposing red diesel various wavelengths to see if the die degrades.

 

[Marmalade]

We've had no problems in Belgium - always had red in the tanks. My understanding is that the problem (if any exists) is with "marked" fuel - don't think the colour makes a difference.

 

[Tranona]

We've had no problems in Belgium - always had red in the tanks. My understanding is that the problem (if any exists) is with "marked" fuel - don't think the colour makes a difference.

But the colour is the "mark"! Lack of problem is because the Belgians have backed off their stance pending a decision from the European Commission on the UK position.

 

[sailorman]

But the colour is the "mark"! Lack of problem is because the Belgians have backed off their stance pending a decision from the European Commission on the UK position.

also some rich Belgians are also seeking redress, i am told