Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter

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Thu 17 Jan 2013 09:38
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - EVOMX250

Can anyone help or advise me on my next best decision after a so called family friend borrowed my sprinter motorhome and filled the tank up with red diesel without asking me for permission.

I have trawled the internet and can see that a hefty fine (£500 FIRST OFFENCE) , vehicle impounded , cost to store and recover vehicle plus a calculation that all the mileage expended in that vehicle since I was the legal owner will have the fuel duty charged against...approx 35kmiles in the last 5 years.

The tank will be drained and only white diesel used from now on... however how many tanks of white is needed to wash out the red dye / chemical residue found in agri red diesel ? Some say 3 tanks of white to one tank of red... Does anyone have any ideas ?

I have also read that I could admit to HMRC that red has been used in error , admit the amount of miles travelled in vehicle on red and than pay the excess fuel duty...A form from the Post Office ?? HMRC / VoSA will of course want to know where the red came from , impicating the "family friend" as a possible duty tax evader and checks carried out on all his diesel vehicles (he is a motor trader who used red in industrial space heaters . spray booths).

Can anyone advise ??

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Thu 17 Jan 2013 10:04
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - skidpan

Its not just the dye, red diesel lacks additives used in BSEN590 pump diesel that are needed to lubricate the HP fuel pump and other components in modern Cdi engines. It is also not DPF friendly should your van have one fitted.

So a £500 fine could be a drop in the ocean if damage has been caused which could add up to several £1000's. Suggest you replace the fuel filter and check if there are any metallic particles in there. If there are further investigations will be needed.

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Thu 17 Jan 2013 14:41
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - Collos25

My Uncle uses red diesel all the time on his farm and it has all the additives as as normal diesel its only the colour that is different,many engines that can use red diesel are the same engines that cannot the only difference is in how they are used. One of his latest tractors has a HP fuel pump a DPF and one of his generators has the same ancilliaries.

A trip to Ireland both north and south you will see many illegal filling stations where they take the colour out of red diesel its common practice and the exise dept cannot cope with the volume of trade of these operators.

I guess they are not friends anymore.

Edited by Collos25 on 17/01/2013 at 14:44

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Thu 17 Jan 2013 14:49
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - Dwight Van Driver

Surely if there was a 'stop and dip' by the authorities then your so called 'friend' whose occupation indicates he would know the offence committed, will have had his details taken there and then and will be up for prosecution.?

Or, are you just worried in case your stopped since the incident the fuel was put in and there could be a residue?.

If the friend has legal recourse to red then can the journey use be classed under this.?

If not then its up to you to negotiate with C& Excise/Vosa on the grounds that truth is the best policy even if it hurts at times.

dvd.

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Thu 17 Jan 2013 15:29
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - EVOMX250

Hi dvd,

He wasn't stopped whilst using my van with red , I'm not worried about him , my concern is that I may get stopped in the next 12-24 months whilst using the campervan with normal diesel but get prosecuted for a trace of red which may still be there.....

So my dilemma is , do I approach HMRC / VoSA and declare that red has been used , pay the extra duty etc. and record the incident or pray that I don't get stopped in the next 12 months ( van is only used once a month at best)- I was wondering how much white is needed to dilute the red dye / UV detected chemicals - anyone hazard a guess ??

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Thu 17 Jan 2013 21:54
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - Happy Blue!

Presumably over a period of time the red dye will wash out fairly quickly. When was the last time anyone here (who drives a diesel) was stopped and tested for red diesel?

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Fri 18 Jan 2013 07:24
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - Armitage Shanks {p}

Probably a very small chance but I understand that one has to out a huge volume of diesel has to be put through a vehicle fuel tanlk to wash out enough of the red diesel undetectable. A VERY small trace will show on the equipment, I believe

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Fri 18 Jan 2013 08:02
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - Armitage Shanks {p}

Probably a very small chance but I understand that one has to out a huge volume of diesel has to be put through a vehicle fuel tanlk to wash out enough of the red diesel undetectable. A VERY small trace will show on the equipment, I believe

Fat fingers and early in the morning! Precis = Red diesel is apprently detectable in minute quantities in the range of a very few parts per million. That doesn't help you work out what to do about the position you have been landed by your "friend"..

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Fri 18 Jan 2013 13:16
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - thunderbird

The only places I have seen vehicles being checked for Red Diesel has been at Agricultural Shows and Country Fairs where farmers turn up in their grotty old Land Rovers. Stay away from such places and you should be fine.

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Fri 18 Jan 2013 17:27
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - carr

If this is all you have to worry about then you are one lucky motorist. Obviously any traces of red diesel in your tank must have been there before you bought the van.

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Fri 18 Jan 2013 17:40
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - Armitage Shanks {p}

Stillmight be a slight problem if OP has had it from new.

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Fri 18 Jan 2013 18:55
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - Hamsafar

Don't worry about it, just use it up and then replace with white. If you want to be pedantic, fill a 5 litre container and run empty (or as close as you dare) and put the 5 litres in to go and fill up.

The penalties are quite low, about £100 on the spot fine for first offence if you sign the papers there and then admitting liability, if you want to contest, the vehicle may be impounded as evidence and the cost of that will be passed to you if guilty.

The price rebated fuel for non-domestic heating use is so high now (>95p), I doubt it's woth there while to keep trying to detect people using it.

It's all a bit like the TV Detector van propaganda really.

Edited by Hamsafar on 18/01/2013 at 18:59

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Sat 26 Jan 2013 08:45
Sprinter 311 Cdi - Red Diesel used when I loaned my Sprinter - Simon

Run it down to almost empty, a couple of tankfuls of white in it and the red fuel will be pretty much undetectable. Don't worry about it!

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