If you have read our previous post about what off road diesel is, you know already that it is the same fuel as regular diesel but it can only be used in vehicles that don’t use the main roadway systems. The reason for this? This fuel isn’t taxed the same way was as regular diesel because of it is used strictly off road. There is a tax on standard gas you buy at the pump which is then used to maintain roads and bridges.

Vehicles that use off road diesel are mostly in the construction and farming industries. Here is a list of those vehicles you may see buying and using this specially categorized fuel:

• Cranes
• Large Trucks
• Fam Use Only Trucks
• Bobcat Tractors
• Bulldozers
• Agricultural Machinery
• Large Earth Movers
• Dump Trucks

Physically, off road diesel is dyed red so that inspectors can tell if an on road vehicle is trying to circumvent the rules and save money on fuel. On road diesel is clear in color. The law is strict when it comes to this topic.

If a person is caught using off road diesel in the on road vehicle they will be hit with a $10 per gallon penalty or $1000 (whichever is greater). Criminally that person would be looking at a class one misdemeanor if caught with up to 20 gallons. Anything above 20 gallons is a class six felony. Read more about that here

Repeat offenders could possibly face jail time. It’s best to have the right fuel for the right vehicle and avoid any legal issues.

You can have your off road diesel delivered to you in the Central Virginia area by out very capable staff. We will schedule an appointment and show up in a timely manner. Petroleum prices change of a daily basis so it is best to give us a call to ask about today’s pricing. Prices can be locked in if delivery is scheduled immediately. Call us at 434-845-0971 now

You may’ve heard the term “off road diesel” before and wondered what it is. In this post, we will explain exactly what off road diesel is and how it differs from regular diesel.

Essentially, off road diesel is the same thing as regular diesel but the difference is that it has not been “road taxed”. This diesel is used for construction vehicles, farm vehicles, heating oil boiler fuel and basically anything that doesn’t require it to traverse a public paved road.

The road tax we are talking about is a special tax that is included when you purchase diesel from a gas station for vehicle that is mainly driven on public roads or highways. This fuel is naturally cheaper since it does not include any state or federal taxes.

The fuel is dyed red so that it will not be misused as a way to get around taxes. If authorities catch a person using off road diesel for their every day transportation vehicle there are severe fines. The fine is listed exactly as follows:

“The amount of the civil penalty for any act described in subsection A shall be the greater of $1,000 or ten dollars per gallon of fuel, based on the maximum storage capacity of the storage tank, container or storage tank of the highway vehicle, watercraft or aircraft.” Virginia law code § 58.1-2265

It only makes sense not to add a roads tax to fuel that will not be used on the main roads. It may seem like aa small amount on a gallon by gallon basis, but when you are talking about thousands of gallons it can be a huge amount.

You can find out more about this type of tax here: Virginia Road Tax Fees

The National Fire Code categorizes off-road diesel as a Class II combustible liquid. Any fuel with a flash point lower than 100 degrees Fahrenheit is combustible. The flash point of diesel is normally estimated to be between 126 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 160 degrees. It is therefore categorized as a Class II combustible.

You can order off road diesel from us by calling 434-845-0871 or using this page to contact us

Off-Road Diesel Delivery

There are two different types of diesel fuel. There is on-road diesel fuel and there is off-read diesel fuel. So what’s the difference? We will take a look in this post.

On-road diesel fuel is for cars and vehicles that typically drive on the paved roads and highways as well as byways. The type of fuel they require can be found at most any commercial gas stations.

Off-road diesel is for vehicles that spend most of their time in dirt. Vehicles like tractors, construction equipment and even generators use off-road diesel fuel.

The reason these two have become separated is simply because of tax laws. The off road diesel is not taxed whereas on road diesel is taxed. The on-road diesel taxes help pay to maintain the very roads which they use. Since off-road vehicles don’t use paved roads, they are exempt from this particular tax.

Dye

The off-road variety has a red dye added to it and is often called red diesel. This helps inspectors hold everyone accountable and make sure no funny business is going on with their operation. Regular on-road diesel is clear and is often referred to as just “clear diesel”.

Essentially they are the same exact product and burn the same way. The red dye is not harmful to your engine and is completely inert.

Delivery

We can deliver your fuel today. We deliver to the Greater Lynchburg area and surrounding counties.
Call today at 434-845-0971 we will be happy to serve you.

With the U.S. and most of the world’s economy at almost a standstill, the use of petroleum has naturally decreased. And it has decreased by quite a lot. Since the oil market is “supply and demand” based, the slow down has affected prices. The lack of demand has stifled the supply and now oil companies need to move the product.

Crude oil by the barrel

Take a look at this graph below. You can see what I’m talking about.

The point of this blog post is that now may be the best time to buy your heating oil. It seems counter-intuitive to buy heating oil when things are getting warm and we have a full summer ahead of us. But, we may never see these prices again. And the prices are sure to rise as demand returns once the economy starts flowing again.

Heating oil doesn’t evaporate. So, if you fill up your tank now, it will be the same when it is time to use it again in the fall. In fact, heating oil is good for ten years. It is a very stable liquid.

Call the staff at Sterling Oil to get prices to fill your tank now and save some money, They will be happy to serve you in the greater Lynchburg Area and Surrounding Counties.  We can also take payment over the phone so you there is no need to come by the office.

Oil refinery

Heating and cooling are our specialty. We serve Lynchburg Virginia and surrounding areas. A major part of our business is providing heating oil for those households that require this type of fuel source. In this article we would like to share some facts about heating oil which the reader may not already know.

Production

Heating oil comes from the same petroleum used for automobile oil and to make gasoline. The raw (or crude) oil is heated from between 250 to 350 degrees Celsius. The oil that condenses at this temperature is then used as heating oil.

By Any Other Name

Heating oil can be called by any other name but it is always heating oil. Some of these names are:

• Gas Oil
• Paraffin
• Fuel Oil
• Kersosene
• 28 second heating oil

These nomenclatures aren’t always 100% accurate but they get the message across.

Best Time to Buy

Just like with any commodity, the best time to buy heating oil is when the use or demand is low. So, buying heating oil in the summer is when you are most likely to receive the best price and the service will be fast as well. Usually the price tends to be lower in summer months too.

Safety of Heating Oil

We have gone over the safety of heating oil in other articles. But, let us do so again because we cannot stress how safe heating oil actually is.

Heating oil only burns when done so in a special heating oil burning unit. Therefore, having a tank of heating oil in or around your house is very safe.

Supply and Demand

When refining a barrel of oil, a good portion of it results in heating oil. Every drop of each barrel of oil is used for a purpose. About 20% is used for gasoline and the rest is divided up between petrochemical and oil uses. There is plenty of supply to meet the demand of customers.

According to statistics, around 6 million households in the United States currently use heating oil as their main heating fuel source. Some of these households also use heating oil to warm up their water. This is done in much smaller batches than what you would find with other sources of heat for a water heater. Commercial and industrial buildings are also known to use heating oil for many things.

Benefits of Using Heating Oil

There are many benefits that come from using this heating source. If you currently use it, or you’re thinking of making the switch to it then it is important to think about the many benefits that come with this type of heating source.

1. It is one of the most popular choices to go with when it comes to heating your home, making it a great product to get anywhere that you live.
2. It is much safer to use than many of the other heating sources out there. It can only work within a specific burner and it will not explode.
3. It is more effective at heating a home, making the home much more warm and comfortable for those living within it. This is a plus during those really cold nights.
4. It is more cost effective. The system does not have to work as hard to put heat throughout the home. This benefits everyone.
5. It is better for the environment. Since it is so effective at heating homes, this is one of the best sources of heat that doesn’t put too many emissions into the atmosphere.

Whatever the reason is for switching, this can be an ideal switch for you to make. You do not have to worry about not being able to get the heat that is needed since you’re using an efficient heating source that is getting the job done and making everyone comfortable in the end.

A local heating oil company can come out and provide the system, as well as the oil to your home. This provides you with a way to keep the system running, but not having to do any of the maintenance or filling of the oil system on your own.

Contact a local heating oil company to find out how they’re able to help you make the switch. You may be surprised to find all of the cost savings, as well as efficient benefits that come with the system when you do!

When you are building a home, or looking around to buy a home, knowing how your home will function is imperative. You need to know where the electrical source comes from, what type of water you are going to be dealing with, and how you are going to keep your home warm when the cold weather hits. If you are given the option of building or looking at a home that has heating oil, there are some really good perks to using this type of heating source.

Heating Oil Warms Your House Very Quickly
When you are talking about how fast a house can get to a warm, comfortable temperature when you get up in the morning, nothing can compete with heating oil. It burns hotter than any other heating substance. This means that heating oil is going to be able to heat the air, if you use a furnace, or the water, if you use a boiler, much more quickly, and get that heat circulating around your home in a matter of just a couple of minutes. That means, waking up on a chilly morning won’t require you to walk around the house in a snowmobile suit until the house finally warms up.

Heating Oil is Also Very Safe
When you have heating oil left in a liquid state, you do not have the worry of it going up in flames on you. It simply will not burn. That means that you can safely store your heating oil in a location near to your home. When heating oil is used, a fine mist of the oil is combined with oxygen and put in front of the burner to ignite the necessary oil to warm up your home. Without the oil being separated into that fine mist, it will not go up in flames, even if exposed to an open flame.

If you are looking for a new home, you may seriously want to give heating oil a consideration. It is safe, cost-effective, and it will last a very long time. The perks that you get, especially in areas that get hit with really cold temperatures, make it one of the best options available to homeowners today. To find out more about heating oil in your area, contact your local heating oil delivery company and find out what you would need in order to get your home set up to accept heating oil.

Kerosene is a great way to provide light and heat to your home when the electricity goes out, or if you are trying to live off the grid in a more sustainable manner. However, many people are a bit unsure of how to store kerosene to keep it usable for years. If you go through and keep your kerosene in an area where it cannot get contaminated, and you keep it off the ground and out of the elements, your kerosene could easily last you 5-15 years, if not longer.
Storing Your Kerosene After Delivery

You need to have a way to store your kerosene set up before it can be delivered. Most people use large drums, typically 55 gallon drums, that are quite thick and able to remain airtight when closed. These drums should not be set directly on the floor, but instead, propped up on a few two by fours so that they do not have any issues with anything burrowing up under the drum and chewing on the plastic. The drum needs a tight-fitting lid that will allow you to open it for filling, and a pump to allow you to take out small portions for lamps or other small items.

Your drum should also be blue, much as it would be if you were storing it in a small can, and be made of heavy-duty plastic. Red is easily identifiable as a gasoline can, but should anyone come into your home, barn, or garage, such as a fire official, they will instantly be able to recognize a small blue can, or a large blue drum, as a container for kerosene. Using a metal can has the potential of rusting should any water enter the container with the kerosene, which could leak your kerosene out and cause a contamination of your land, water, and potentially make you sick.

The only thing you need to do is make sure that you are keeping all water away from your kerosene, as this is going to cause it to become unusable after a very short amount of time.

If you are looking for more information about kerosene and its many uses, give your local kerosene delivery company a call. They can help you set up a system to hold your kerosene, so should you experience a power outage, you have the means to at least keep the lights on in your home.

Diesel fuel can be used for a lot of different things, but you do not have the same longevity with diesel fuel that you do with other types of fuel products. Typically, your diesel fuel is only going to remain useable for anywhere from six months up to a year. The lifespan goes down if you are not able to keep the diesel fuel dry and stored in a cool spot. If you want to be able to get the most out of your diesel fuel, then you need to learn how to keep it fresh for as long as possible. Here are some tips on doing just that.

Understanding the Problems with Diesel Fuel Helps You Keep It Longer
The moment that diesel fuel leaves the fuel refinery, it is already starting to degrade. That is why storing it properly is so important. The longer the diesel fuel exists beyond being refined, the more gunk you are liable to have floating around your fuel. If you have the opportunity to use your diesel fuel quickly, then that is the best option in terms of it being clear and safe. Thankfully, when most companies deliver diesel fuel, it already has the additives in it that are going to slow down this process, allowing your diesel fuel to last beyond approximately a month. Continue reading ‘Know How to Keep Your Diesel Fuel Fresh’ »

If you have a wide variety of vehicles on your property, having your own small supply of diesel fuel may be necessary. Diesel fuel powers a lot of different vehicles, aside from cars and small trucks on the road. Should you have large trucks or farming equipment, then diesel fuel is likely an important part of your existence. Here are some of the things you need to know about using diesel fuel.

What Makes Diesel Fuel Different

Diesel fuel engines are created slightly different than gasoline engines. They do not need to have spark plugs because diesel fuel ignites differently, and diesel fuel is also thicker than gasoline. That is what makes diesel an ideal option for larger engines, such as those in trains, combines, boats, buses, and heavy-duty generators.
Over recent years, the levels of sulfur that has been allowed to remain in diesel fuel has been drastically reduced, with the current maximum being 15ppm, or parts per million. This means that no matter what engine you are putting diesel fuel in, it is now burning cleaner than it was ever required to do before. Continue reading ‘Many Engines Aside from Cars Use Diesel Fuel’ »