offroad vs onroad diesel

[nxski]

I've been noticing signs for offroad and offroad diesel and the offroad diesel is about 10 cents less per gallon. Does anyone know what the difference is? This isn't No1 and No2 because some stations will have all three types available (one station even had No1 and No2 for both onroad and offroad diesels)

[mararmeisto]

Unless it means something else, I would suggest the offroad variant is coloured/marked and not subject to road tax (which is why it's cheaper).

It's also illegal to use it on public roads, and that would include secondary and dirt roads that are maintained by the province/state.

At least, that's how it works here in BC, and I imagine it would be very similar elsewhere in Canada/US.

[nxski]

aha! That makes sense. Although if they sell it at a gas station how do they control if it's used on roads or not? Is it the colouring that the police can somehow check?

[doodah]

Yes

[mararmeisto]

aha! That makes sense. Although if they sell it at a gas station how do they control if it's used on roads or not? Is it the colouring that the police can somehow check?

Marked fuel is usually purple. Station attendants are supposed to monitor/ask at fill up.

[LeeHammy]

I run purple whenever I am at the cardlock. Never been checked. Even if I was the ticket will be less then what I have saved by using it so no big deal.

The police apparenlty can check by holding a litmus paper of sort infront of your tailpipe and if your running purple it changes colour indicating so. Never heard of anyone having this done though.

[FalcoColumbarius]

They often dip a white rag down your filler pipe and see what colour the rag is when they pull it out. Simple but affective. They also read these forums, incidentally.

Falco.