I did not see a definitive answer to this by doing a quick search of the archives.

It appears that most posters say that kero and Diesel are closely related, but if I'm looking for something which can be used in a Diesel engine and in a Kerosun heater, should I go Diesel or kero or does it not matter?

Note: I am aware of the road tax issue, so that need not be discussed. I need information only on performance characteristics.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), September 23, 1999

Answers

I am trying to decide whether to go with Kerosene! Can you tell me what the road tax issue is about. Thanx for your time

-- thomas saul (thomas.saul@yale.edu), September 23, 1999.

Thomas,

One of the answers on the following thread addresses the road tax issue:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001Ryz

-- Thinman (thinman38@hotmail.com), September 23, 1999.

Thomas, kerosene retailed for non-highway uses has a reddish dye added to it indicating that no highway tax has been paid. Some people say to avoid this red kero and buy "water clear" kero because the red dye supposedly creates noxious by-products as it burns. This is the subject on never-ending controversy.

Brian has a good archive on kero. I'll try to post the URL below.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), September 23, 1999.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 000ryd

link to Brian's fuel archive

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), September 23, 1999.

I'm not sure why the URL or link directly above does not work. To find Brian's archive, go to BigDog's prep forum, scroll down to the categories until you find fuel storage, click on that and go all the way down to the final entry(currently)on fuel storage links.

I imagine there is a more direct way to Brian's stuff, I just don't know it.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), September 23, 1999.

Puddintame (love that handle!) I can't speak for diesel fuel, but a drop or two of kerosene on a sugar lump has been a fantastic cough and sore throat remedy for years. In case you haven't stocked up on cough syrup, folks!

Mother Earth News reader from wayback....

-- Jay Urban (JURBAN@BERENYI.COM), September 23, 1999.

Kerosene can be used to thin diesel fuel in the cold climates. Diesel is not as clean as kerosene and thus will not burn properly in kero heaters and burners. Kerosene can be used, as I have been told, in diesel, but you will use much more fuel.

-- enough is (enough@enough.com), September 23, 1999.

Where can one buy undyed (road grade) kerosene? The gas stations in my area seem only to sell gas and diesel.

-- argh (argh@nowhere.com), September 23, 1999.

I wouldn't want to run diesel thru a kero heater. You could go with a blend or a #1 fuel oil (which is a lighter diesel/heavier kero) which will be available in cold weather locales as Fall approaches. Call an area truck stop and ask. If you go with anything other than kero VENT YOUR HEATER. CO and sulfur is icky stuff.

-- Downstreamer (downstream@bigfoot.com), September 23, 1999.

What type of vehicles burn undyed kerosene and are thus subject to the kerosene fuel road taxes? I figure that if I can find out what vehicles burn the stuff, I might be able to find out where to buy it. (The specs on my new Toyo heater DC100 call for clear, not red, kero.)

-- ardh (argh@nowhere.com), September 23, 1999.

K-1 Kerosene is lighter, produces less btu's per gallon than #2 heating oil or diesel.

In kerosene heaters use K-1 kerosene only, otherwise smoke and odor.

It can be used in diesel engines, fuel consumption is greater as mentioned above, I don't know if there is detonation problem or other problems. It depends on ambient temperature. Check further before using it in your diesel, I don't think you are supposed to do it under normal operating conditions but I don't know.

Anecdote for frame of reference.

In my detached garage I have a 100,000 btuh oil furnace. In cold weather I run it strictly on kerosene because the fuel tank is above grade and the garage is not continually heated, therefore the need for cold start.

Down to 20 F. it will start unassisted with kerosene, but will not with diesel. Have not used #2 heating oil but believe it to be the same as diesel.

IIRC, #2 heating oil produces 146K btu per gallon, with a .75 gph nozzle producing 105k btuh.

Using kerosene I have gone to a 1.00 gph nozzle to achieve similar heat output. The air has to be adjusted to match the fuel and nozzle to eliminate smoke and achieve desired combustion effeciency.

The way I see it:

Diesel engine: diesel fuel or #2 heating oil. Low ambient, below 20 F, 10 percent kerosene should be improvement but get confirmation.

Kerosene heater: K-1 only.

Oil furnace: Any of the three can be made to work. #2 and diesel more economical, more effecient if burner has access to 50 F or better combustion air which is the normal case in a residential unit being run continously.

HTH you narrow down your expected requirements, but get it confirmed.

Regards,

-- Tom Beckner (tbeckner@xout.erols.com), September 23, 1999.

the difference between diesel and kerosene is the amount of sulfonated compounds in the fuel, diesel having more sulfur and more btu, kerosene with less sulfur.

in a diesel engine the sulfonated compounds lubricate the fuel system the fuel injector pump can sustain damage due to inadequate lubrication if run continuously on kerosene, some truck drivers will go to 10% kerosene/diesel in the winter to help with cold starts, more than this they say that there is noticable power loss in the engine.

if you are running an 18 wheeler then you will get your fuel checked sometimes at the weigh stations, sometimes there are spot checks also. if you are using it for a tractor or off road use no problem.

-- al (alco@pathway.net), September 23, 1999.

Thanks for these great responses.

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), September 23, 1999.

First: Kero is called #1 diesel by us folks. You can burn it in the older (pre 90's) diesel engines by adding some clean motor oil to it. It might run in the newer engines but go a little heavier with the oil additive. #2 diesel is burned in engines. Red diesel is called "off road" diesel and is non taxed. Available from farm co-ops etc.. The on road diesel is clear. I wouldn't advise burning any diesel in a heater that is indoors. It smokes a lot when burned. The above posts cover the topic well. The really old diesel engines with pre- combustion chambers will run on just about anything. # 1 , #2, drip (oil/gas well condisate), or a misture of gasoline and motor oil. Vaya con Dios!

-- dozerdoctor (dozerdoc@yahoo.com), September 23, 1999.

Kerosene-aka---JetAfuel--- thats right Jet fuel!!!!!!!

Diesel is cracked way below kero. Flashpoint is the diff.

-- D.Butts (dciiinc@aol.com), September 24, 1999.