If you go about on the internet, you can come across a forum question like this:
In most cases, the responses are mixed. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll be OK,’ said half of the people. “Watch out for ________,” the other half will warn.
Regular diesel is referred to as #2 diesel fuel oil, whereas kerosene is referred to as #1 diesel fuel oil. Some people believe it is similar enough to conventional (#2) diesel fuel that they may try to use it interchangeably. What would motivate them to do so, and what problems may they face?
What Makes Kerosene What It Is
The qualities of kerosene determine what happens when it is burned. Because kerosene is a lighter diesel oil than #2, it is referred to as #1 diesel. Because of its smaller weight, it has somewhat less energy roughly 135,000 BTU per gallon vs. 139,000 BTU for #2.
Aromatic compounds are often concentrated in #2 and heavier diesel fuel oils; kerosene does not have extremely significant levels of them. This is one of the reasons why #2 diesel burns drier and with less lubricity than kerosene.
Drier burn
The most prevalent worry is kerosene’s dry burn, which can harm gasoline pumps. In comparison to #2 diesel, kerosene has extremely little lubricity. When running on kerosene, gasoline pumps without lubricity suffer a lot of wear and may burn out. Additional wearable pieces, such as rings, gaskets, and valves, are mentioned by some. Adding some automatic transmission fluid to the kerosene is a simple cure for this. In this case, 2-cycle oil can also be used.
Hotter burn?
Some will argue that kerosene burns hotter than #2 diesel, resulting in worries about rings being burned out. Others argue that because kerosene has a lower energy value, it will not burn at a higher temperature.
The fact that kerosene has less total energy than #2 is undeniable. However, having less total energy simply means that a gallon of kerosene produces less total heat than a gallon of standard on-road diesel.
Kerosene has a lower viscosity than gasoline, which allows it to burn at a higher temperature in an engine.
Cutting Diesel with Kerosene
Kerosene can be combined with diesel fuel for a few advantages. Kerosene is particularly beneficial in the winter for modifying the cold weather handling temperatures of diesel fuel. The rule of thumb is that adding ten percent kerosene to a diesel fuel blend lowers the cold filter plugging point by five degrees. It may be more cost effective to use kerosene as a mixer than than a cold flow polymer in extremely cold climates.
To reduce emissions, kerosene and #2 are mixed together. According to the theory, kerosene “burns cleaner” than #2, resulting in lesser pollutants.
Can you mix diesel and kerosene for a heater?
Before using diesel in a kerosene heater, there is no need to add anything to it. However, many people claim that using chemicals improves their performance.
- Isopropyl alcohol: For each 5 gallon can of diesel, add 40ml (a little more than 1/8 cup) of 91 percent isopropyl alcohol. I’ve also seen far greater alcohol-to-diesel ratios advocated, such as 80ml per gallon.
- Kerosene: Kerosene and diesel can be mixed in any ratio and burned in your heater. The most common recommendation is to use a 1:4 ratio (1 part kerosene to 4 parts diesel).
Keep in mind that you should always have a backup plan in case of an emergency. Other emergency home heating methods can be found here.
Do you have a kerosene heater that runs on diesel? What advice do you have to offer? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below.
How much kerosene do you add to diesel?
To improve winter fuel operation, kerosene is combined with diesel fuel. Depending on the severity of the cold weather, kerosene blended diesel fuel is mixed in ratios ranging from 80 parts diesel to 20 parts kerosene to a maximum of 50 parts to 50 parts combination. While kerosene has a similar igniting quality to #2 diesel fuel, it is too thin to be used as a standalone engine fuel and lacks the lubricating properties of heavier #2 diesel. The vehicle owner or operator can combine kerosene with diesel fuel.
Can you mix diesel and heating oil?
Both fuel and heating oil are available. No. Regular gasoline should not be used in your oil tank because it will harm your furnace and cause other issues. Pouring diesel fuel into the tank can tide you over until a delivery arrives if you’re on the verge of running out of heating oil or have already run out.
What burns cleaner diesel or kerosene?
The most common fuel oil is kerosene, followed by diesel fuel. Diesel has a larger paraffin/wax concentration and produces more BTUs (heat) than kerosene. Kerosene, on the other hand, is frequently utilized at extremely cold temperatures since it does not thicken as easily as diesel. During the winter months, some individuals add a little kerosene to their diesel fuel to reduce the temperature at which it solidifies. Due to the road fees that are added to the price of diesel fuel, kerosene is normally less expensive than diesel. Despite the fact that diesel fuel has more BTUs than kerosene, the latter burns cleaner.
Can diesel be used in kerosene stove?
A typical question I get is whether alternative fuels like diesel may be used in a kerosene heater. Running out of kerosene on a chilly day or night is a significant annoyance, and you often don’t want to or can’t go out and get more because you’re snowed in. This is what I discovered after conducting extensive investigation.
Is it possible to use diesel in a kerosene heater? Yes, however it depends on what kind of diesel you’re using. Diesel, unlike kerosene, does not burn effectively in its liquid form, reducing the heater’s effectiveness. The particles that evaporate from it when heated provide the heater’s fuel; nevertheless, these particles may be hazardous.
You now have a better understanding of the dangers of feeding diesel to a kerosene heater. But, in the absence of kerosene, what else can you put in it to keep your house warm? Continue reading to find out more.
Is jet fuel a kerosene?
Aviation fuels are fuels that are used to propel planes. Four different aviation fuels are distinguished on a basic level:
Jet fuel (also known as JP-1A) is used in civil aviation turbine engines (jet engines and turboprops) all over the world. This is a light petroleum that has been finely refined. Kerosene is the fuel type. Jet A-1 has a flash point of more than 38 degrees Celsius and a freezing value of -47 degrees Celsius. Jet A is a similar kerosene fuel that is typically exclusively accessible in the United States.
Aviation fuel is blended with extremely minute amounts of numerous additives after it has been refined. These additives, among other things, keep the gasoline from igniting uncontrollably, preventing deposits from developing in the turbine, and keeping the aviation fuel from getting electrically charged. In aviation fuel, there are also chemicals that restrict the growth of microbes. Other additives help to keep the jet fuel from freezing: At cruising altitude, the air temperature is frequently below -30°C (-22°F), and aviation fuel freezing might be fatal. Under the designation Jet Propellant 8, NATO military aircraft utilize the same airplane fuel with even more sophisticated additions (JP-8).
Jet fuel is subject to very extensive, internationally regulated quality criteria due to the high demands of aircraft engines.
Military jets use this type of aviation fuel. Because it is more flammable with a flash point of 20°C and a freezing point of -72°C (as compared to -47°C for Jet A-1), this special blend (grade Jet B, also known as JP-4) of about 65 percent gasoline and 35 percent kerosene is used in regions with particularly low temperatures because it is more flammable with a flash point of 20°C and a freezing point of -72°C (as compared to The engines, on the other hand, must be able to run on these aviation fuels.
Aviation gasoline is abbreviated as avgas. This aviation gasoline is often exclusively used in older piston engines found in sports aircraft and tiny private planes that require high-octane leaded fuel. These standards are met by Avgas, which is a leaded gasoline with a 100 octane rating. Only avgas is used globally.
Does kerosene or diesel burn longer?
Because kerosene has a lower viscosity than diesel, it burns hotter. This can assist heat the house, but it can also cause issues if the heater isn’t designed to manage heat that’s hotter than regular heating oil heat. The heat from a kerosene heater may readily heat a standard home in a warm environment if your furnace is suitable for kerosene, according to “The Decatur Daily News.” When diesel is unavailable, kerosene heating oil K-1 is typically utilized; nevertheless, it is more expensive than its diesel cousin. Installing a fuel oil heater also makes it comparable to standard No. 1 heating oil, which is useful if you choose to swap oils later.
Can I use fuel oil in a kerosene heater?
This is strictly for educational purposes; heating oil or any other sort of oil should not be used in a kerosene heater.
Kerosene is a light grade of diesel oil, sometimes known as No. 1 in the industry. Heating oil, often known as No. 2, is thicker and less flammable than kerosene. Heating oil will smoke and generate foul smells when used in a kerosene heater. It will also leave unburned deposits on the wick and burning mechanism, necessitating more frequent cleaning and maintenance. While heating oil may work in a kerosene heater, it does not appear to be worth the effort.
