Posted: August 19, 2024
What Is The Difference Between On-Road & Off-Road Diesel?
Not all diesel fuel is the same
If you drive a standard car, you (hopefully) know to avoid the diesel fuel pump that you may see when you’re at the gas station filling up your vehicle’s tank. That type of fuel is reserved for very specific types of vehicles and equipment and can actually be harmful to a typical, everyday car.
The different types of diesel fuel
Even though you may notice the diesel fuel option at your gas station, you may not know that there are actually two types of diesel fuel:
- On-road diesel fuel: This may be obvious, but on-road diesel fuel is used to power vehicles that drive on a road. This type of diesel fuel is mainly used by trucks, public buses, school buses and other commercial fleets of vehicles.
- Off-road diesel fuel: Equipment that requires diesel fuel, but stays off of a road should use off-road diesel fuel. You can power and fuel generators, agricultural equipment as well as moving and lifting equipment found on construction sites with off-road diesel fuel.
How on-road and off-road diesel fuel differ
On-road and off-road diesel fuel differ in what kind of things they power. On top of that, here are some additional elements that differentiate the two types of fuel:
- Off-road diesel fuel has a red dye that on-road diesel fuel does not have.
- Off-road diesel fuel is generally less expensive than on-road diesel fuel thanks to the fact that it is not subject to the same taxes.
What on-road and off-road diesel fuel have in common
Both on-road and off-road diesel fuel make the engines that they are powering more efficient, are considered clean and environmentally friendly and allow a vehicle to maintain a speed of 65 miles (or under) per hour.
Properly storing diesel fuel
Properly storing diesel fuel is the same whether you are using on-road or off-road diesel fuel. Here are some proper storage tips:
- Only store your diesel fuel in portable tanks that have been approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT), Underwriter Laboratory (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM).
- Decrease your chances of microbial growth in your diesel fuel by treating it with stabilizers and biocides.
- Once the diesel fuel that you have had on hand has hit the 30-day mark, you should add new fuel and a stabilizer to it.
- To reduce the risk of flammability, follow the guidelines that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Fire Code (IFC) have put in place.
- Keep your diesel fuel supply in a dry place that doesn’t get hotter than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Your storage location should also be a safe distance away from any heat sources such as furnaces, water heaters and space heaters. Make sure your fuel is out of direct sunlight as well.
Get your diesel fuel from Fraticelli Oil & Propane
Businesses all throughout Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire have been turning to Fraticelli Oil & Propane for their diesel fuel needs for over 90 years. We can supply your company with either on-road or off-road diesel fuel so that you can keep operations moving. The Fraticelli Oil & Propane professionals will even work with you to design a customized diesel fuel delivery plan that meets your particular diesel fuel needs.
Contact us today to start receiving the reliable diesel fuel services your business needs!
