ASK A TROOPER” by Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol
Question: We had a semi truck-tractor and trailer stolen recently and the thief put red fuel in the tanks. We are planning on draining the tanks and replacing the fuel filters on this truck. Is that enough or does the system need to be flushed? I don’t want to get stopped and have red fuel detected in the truck. Are there any guidelines on this? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
Answer: If you do a thorough job when draining the tanks that should be enough to get rid of the red dyed fuel. The clear fuel will flush the lines and filter. When checking for red dyed fuel, it is done by drawing fuel out of the fuel tank. It might be a good idea to have a copy of police report from the theft incident.
For people wondering what red dyed fuel is, here is some basic information. Red diesel is a fuel that is used for machinery and off-road vehicles across a wide variety of industries including farming and construction. This product is just like regular diesel, but is dyed. Fuels are occasionally required to be dyed so that they can be identified. Identification of fuel is important because some are subject to specific fees, taxes, and other regulations from which others are exempt. If violating this, a person would be subject to a fine.
If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).
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