What Is Diesel?
Diesel Engine Road Vehicle (DERV), also known as white diesel, is a liquid fuel used to power road vehicles. It is suitable for any diesel engine but is mainly used by businesses with vehicle fleets or those transporting goods and passengers over various distances. Unlike some other fuels, DERV is subject to a government duty tax.
DERV has similar properties to other diesel fuels, like Red Diesel, so it’s important to know the different tax rates and rules when choosing fuel. For example, Red Diesel has a lower tax rate because it is a rebated fuel, but it is illegal to use it in road vehicles.
DERV Key Facts
DERV is known by a variety of names including; diesel, white diesel, road diesel, ULSD (Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) and road DERV.
DERV stands for Diesel Engine Road Vehicle.
DERV isnt white it’s amber/green in colour and will be clear and bright.
There are two different grades of DERV: summer and winter.
What is the price of DERV?
Diesel prices change every day because of the global oil market. That means we can’t post fixed prices online.
Other factors can also affect prices. For example, the amount you need and your location can influence the cost. It’s best to talk to a reliable supplier who can check the current price for you.
Where Can You Buy Bulk DERV?
Are you in search of Diesel? Our committed sales team is available to assist you in placing bulk DERV orders while securing the most advantageous pricing. At Oilfast UK, we leverage our expertise to ensure that you can consistently trust the reliability of each delivery.
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Oilfast UK Supplies Fuels And Lubricants Across The UK.
We offer a wide range of fuels to the commercial market. We cover Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales and provide competitive prices for Red Diesel, HVO fuel, Industrial Heating Oil, Lubricants, DERV, and Licensed AdBlue.
We understand every business is different, which is why we offer unrivalled personal service from start to finish. Our committed sales team is here to answer any questions you may have about our product list. After you order your products, our delivery drivers will provide a first-class service and get your oil out to you promptly, at the agreed time and place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you interested in DERV/Diesel? We’ve put together a series of FAQs to give you a better understanding of the product.
If you have more questions, simply get in touch!
What is DERV?
DERV is another name for white diesel, the same fuel used in cars, vans, trucks, trains, and HGVs across the UK. It’s a crude oil distillate and is used worldwide.
What does DERV stand for?
DERV stands for Diesel Engine Road Vehicle. The fuel industry often uses the name to differentiate white or road diesel from red diesel, a tax-rebated fuel reserved for off-road use.
Is white diesel also called DERV?
Two main types of diesel products are sold in the UK: DERV (Diesel Engine Road Vehicle) and gas oil (red diesel).
Gas oil is subject to a lower tax rate than DERV, so it can only be used in off-road vehicles, generators and heating applications.
DERV is taxed but isn’t subject to the same usage restrictions as gas oil. The fuel and oil industry regularly uses the name DERV to differentiate between the two fuels.
What colour is DERV?
DERV isn’t white, despite it sometimes being known as white diesel.
It’s amber/green in colour and will be clear and bright. Some countries mix dyes into DERV to better differentiate it from other fuels.
Are there different grades of DERV?
Yes, there are two different grades of DERV: summer and winter.
The critical difference between the two is that winter-grade diesel contains additives, making it better adapted to work in colder temperatures. Without these additives, DERV is prone to “waxing, ” where paraffin crystals form in the fuel and can cause serious issues.
What is DERV used for?
DERV is most commonly used as a road fuel to keep cars, vans and motor fleets moving. It’s currently the most widespread road fuel in use in the UK.
Is red diesel the same as DERV?
DERV and red diesel are chemically the same product but they have different uses.
DERV is the most common diesel form and is widely available at forecourts and petrol stations across the UK. Users can drive in and top up their cars, vans or trucks, business users purchase their DERV in bulk and store it onsite to allow easy access.
Red diesel is the same fuel but blended with a red dye to mark it out as for off-road use only. It’s illegal to use red diesel on the roads.
Does DERV contain FAME?
Yes, DERV contains a percentage of FAME content.
Changes to the RTFO (Road Transport Fuel Obligations) in 2019 increased the percentage of biofuel content in fuel from 5% to 8%. This biofuel content is typically FAME, or Fatty Acid Methyl Ester, a biofuel with similar characteristics to DERV but with a far lower environmental impact.
FAME brings issues that negatively affects diesel over time:
A shorter shelf life
Cold weather performance diminishes as FAME is more prone to waxing (gelling)
Increased water content in diesel as it absorbs moisture from the air
Risk of diesel bugs, that degrades the fuel and block filters and fuel lines
Given the above, fuel maintenance is required.
Who can buy DERV in bulk?
As long as there is a way to store the diesel safely, in line with relevant diesel storage regulations, then anyone can buy DERV in bulk. An RDCO form also needs to be completed confirming to the supplier you are allowed to use the fuel.
How should DERV be stored?
The safest way to store diesel at your premises is in a bunded tank that’s both accessible and sheltered from the elements.
How long can DERV be stored?
Diesel degrades in quality over time due to several factors, mainly from the FAME and ester content. We recommend storing DERV or red diesel for a maximum of a year without taking steps to preserve its quality. After this point, diesel bugs, moisture retention, sludge build-up and waxing can take its toll on your vehicles.
DERV can be stored for an extended period if you take precautions to maintain fuel quality. This includes regular checks on your storage, testing the fuel and draining any build-up from the bottom of the tank.
Can DERV/Diesel become contaminated?
There are two main types of diesel contamination: physical and microbial.
Physical – this includes synthetic or organic matter entering your diesel. In outdoor tanks, this will be plant debris, small insects or rust in a metal tank.
Microbial – where fungi and bacteria grow, increasing moisture content and sludge build-up. These microbes feed on hydrocarbons degrading the fuel as the bacteria multiply.
Can you clean contaminated DERV?
Yes – polishing your fuel can resolve minor fuel contamination onsite by pumping the fuel through a high-pressure fuel polishing machine, forcing your fuel through several fine filters until all traces are removed.
It can be uplifted for polishing offsite and recycled back into the market, potentially giving you payment.
What alternatives are available to DERV?
Renewable diesel replacement Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is the lowest-emission diesel replacement fuel available.
HVO is different to other diesel fuels. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil is an eco-friendly alternative to other traditional types of diesels. HVO fuels have been reported to reduce carbon monoxide and dioxide straight from the initial usage. It slashes CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%
How do I deal with a fuel spillage?
If only a small amount of DERV has been spilt its important that you attempt to prevent further spillage and then as quickly and safely as possible try to remove the fuel. If in an enclosed space be careful as the fumes can be toxic.
For a large amount of DERV being spilt you should get in touch with a professional company to handle the spillage. It vital that you attempt to quickly deal with the spillage to minimise damage to the environment.
Spills leave your business at risk of receiving a hefty fine as well as the clean-up costs and possible damage to your businesses reputation.
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