I just paid $4.75/Ga for kerosene. As I'm filling the heater I notice a sticker that says "Use Kerosene or No. 1 Fuel Oil". In my quest to learn what "No. 1 Fuel Oil" is I find this chart on wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_oil

<TABLE class=wikitable style="MARGIN: auto"><TBODY><TR><TH colSpan=5>Table of fuel oils</TH></TR><TR align=middle><TH>Name</TH><TH>Alias</TH><TH>Alias</TH><TH>Type</TH><TH>Chain Length</TH></TR><TR><TD>No. 1 fuel oil</TD><TD>No. 1 distillate</TD><TD>No. 1 diesel fuel</TD><TD>Distillate</TD><TD>9-16</TD></TR><TR><TD>No. 2 fuel oil</TD><TD>No. 2 distillate</TD><TD>No. 2 diesel fuel</TD><TD>Distillate</TD><TD>10-20</TD></TR><TR><TD>No. 3 fuel oil</TD><TD>No. 3 distillate</TD><TD>No. 3 diesel fuel</TD><TD>Distillate</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>No. 4 fuel oil</TD><TD>No. 4 distillate</TD><TD>No. 4 residual fuel oil</TD><TD>Distillate/Residual</TD><TD>12-70</TD></TR><TR><TD>No. 5 fuel oil</TD><TD>No. 5 residual fuel oil</TD><TD>Heavy fuel oil</TD><TD>Residual</TD><TD>12-70</TD></TR><TR><TD>No. 6 fuel oil</TD><TD>No. 6 residual fuel oil</TD><TD>Heavy fuel oil</TD><TD>Residual</TD><TD>20-70</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

So "No. 1 Fuel Oil" is the same as No. 1 diesel? From what I read at another site, this is the stuff you get at any filling station:

http://www.answers.com/topic/diesel-fuel-1

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has categorized diesel fuels into three general groups. The need to categorize these fuels results from the varied uses of diesel engines, which are designed to operate efficiently on one of the standard diesel fuels. See also Diesel engine.

No. 1-D is a light distillate, similar to kerosine, for engines where frequent load changes and speed changes (truck, tractor engines) are essential. This fuel has a flash point greater than 100°F (38°C), with a minimum cetane number of 40. This fuel is believed to be particularly suitable for cold-weather operation. See also Kerosine.

No. 2-D is a medium distillate fuel with a lower volatility and higher density than No. 1-D. This fuel finds use in heavier-duty engines, for example, railroad engines, which operate at uniform speeds but with heavier loads than encountered during the use of No. 1-D. The flash point is greater than 125°F (52°C) and the minimum cetane number is 40.

No. 3-D is a heavy distillate fuel with the highest density and lowest volatility of the three diesel fuels. It finds use in low- and medium-speed engines such as marine engines and electric power generation engines, which operate under sustained loads. The flash point is greater than 130°F (54°C) and the minimum cetane rating is 30.

If all this info is correct, it's worth about $2.25/Ga here. If it's wrong there goes $20 down the tubes, and the risk of unintended results.

Is this info correct???

TIA, Mike

 

That info is correct.

Kerosene is supposedly more refined than #1Diesel to remove more sulfur etc. Some kerosene is sold as "deodorized" although the difference between that and #1Diesel is slight by my nose. The deodorized stuff does seem to burn with less smell than standard kerosene. The difference between Kerosene and #1 low sulfur Diesel fuel may be negligible now. Kerosene is usually sold in containers but some places have it in bulk. #1 Diesel as you know is available in many service stations.

You paid more for Kerosene but maybe it won't smell as bad when burned. Try some #1 sometime and let us know...

 

Next fill-up! This heater is a monster, looks/sounds like a jet engine. By the time I get tools out, I'm down to shirt sleeves. LOL

I never did determine fuel capacity, other than it being over 11 Gallons. That $4.75/Ga was in bulk. OUCH!!!

The thing stinks anyway. The design is well known for carbon monoxide output. I'm intrigued by the different fuel's BTU content. I'll be watching it's operation even more closely.

 

Kerosene's heating value, or heat of combustion, is around 18,500 Btu/lb, or 43.1 MJ/kg per the wikipedia. Another site lists kerosene as 135622 Btu/gal making it similar but not equal to that of diesel. The same site lists "generic" diesel as 138205 Btu/gal.

Per Exxon the BTU content of No. 2-D diesel fuel is typically about 130,000 BTU/Gal and #1 Diesel is about 95% of that which is: 130000 x .95 = 123500 BTU/Gal. Maybe Exxon runs their fuel blends a little light on energy content to save them money??? That would work with us Joe Blow public people but industrial plants have their fuel stocks tested.

This site is fun to play with but they don't list the different grades of diesel fuel which are not the same. They may use an average figure and how they come up with an average is???
http://www.shec-labs.com/calc/fuel_e...quivalence.php

You can use the ENERGY answer to see what conversion factors they use.

 

small kerosene heaters can be used in the home. I don't know if I'd want to burn fuel oil or diesel in my home, other than thru the furnace. Smell may be overwhelming.

 

I run a "torpedo" style heater in the morning for about 30 min till the waste oil burner comes up to heat, and use a 50-50 mix of biodiesel and D2 in it. Smells better, and doesn't "burn" my eyes.

 

most diesel that you buy at the station is number 2 and in the winter time it is cut with number 1 (stove oil) to keep it from geling so to get number 1 you will probably have to go to a fuel distributor and ask for number 1 diesel or stove oil which are the same thing regular number 2 diesel will not burn very well in your heater

 

4.75 a gallon. are u buying the kesosene in a container or at a station. I buy it at a station for 2.25 per gal

 

That was at one of the few rental yards that still carries it. They store it in a bulk tank, filled a couple jerry cans for me. The yard I bought from last year was out this time. The guy there told me $6 a gallon if they had it. I guess that's another argument for the propane heaters: I can get my 20 lb bottle filled for $15 to $20.

Diesel is running just over $2.50/gallon here for the Ultra Low Sulfer product. Might turn into some expensive solvent if it does not work. On a bright note, a bud with the same style, but newer heater has #1 & #2 diesel along with a heavier (?) fuel listed on it. I'm going to drain the Kerosene before I experiment. If it does not burn to my liking, the Kero goes back in.

 

I gave it a try today. The heads up comparison shows no discernable difference. I'm still in the evaluation mode, more observations later.

 

Thanks for the update!

 

Usually burners designed for number one diesel/heating oil or Kerosene smoke a bit with number two diesel/ heating oil. Some, though, are able to handle the different fuels.
For others who can't use fuels interchangably, most manufacturers offer different jets for the burners or replacement burner assemblies to use lower grade fuels.

 

With the mild winter we have had overall I heard that heating oil prices would drop,,,Sounds like a price ripp off to me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,This is suppose to affect K-1 kero too,,,,,,,,,