Hmm... Free oil = free heat?

[Nick1911]

Someone is giving away 200+ gallons of (slightly) used hydraulic oil.

...

I sense a metalworking project and free heat for the rest of the winter, pending the approval of SWMBO.

Anyone here run a waste oil heater?

[K Frame]

Just make damned sure that they didn't decide it was a good place to get rid of a few gallons of gasoline they had used for parts washing...

[Nick1911]

The oil was gone before I got to it.

Still like the concept, though.

[Balog]

Is hydraulic fluid a safe to burn? No toxic fumes?

[Manedwolf]

I thought many hydraulic fluids would release dioxins or something if burned?

[Nick1911]

I haven't researched hydraulic fluid throughly, but motor oil (and most other oils) will burn cleanly.  Although counter-intuitive, it all depends on the combustion temperature and availability of oxygen.

Anyway, I wouldn't try it in a ventless heater 

[charby]

I haven't researched hydraulic fluid throughly, but motor oil (and most other oils) will burn cleanly.  Although counter-intuitive, it all depends on the combustion temperature and availability of oxygen.

Anyway, I wouldn't try it in a ventless heater 

Here you go. http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_motherearth/me4.html

[Nick1911]

Here you go. http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_motherearth/me4.html

Yes, I've studied that site extensively over the past 6 months.

Love his burner design, and it's well within the capabilities of my machine shop, but I would essentially cover the thing with a cooling jacket, then circulate the coolant through a radiator in the central HVAC system.

Heat the whole house, keep the furnace in the garage, basement or outside.

The problem is finding a reliable source of free or very cheap oil feedstock.

[charby]

The problem is finding a reliable source of free or very cheap oil feedstock.

Two words: "Summer Stockpiling"

If you are serious I'd start with all the locally owned garages and see if you could get waster oil from them.

[charby]

I thought many hydraulic fluids would release dioxins or something if burned?

I think brake fluid does. Not sure about other hydraulic fluids.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

My uncle just built a new car dealership with a boiler that runs on motor oil.  It's a cool concept.  Free heat in the winter, and free used motor oil disposal all year round.

[erik the bold]

Hydraulic oils are very similar in make up to an SAE 10W motor oil, with anti-foam and anti-wear additive package. They are usually made from a more refined base stock.  Motor oils are designed to run at much higher temperatures.

Refer to the MSDS of the particular brand, if possible, to see what toxins may be incorporated into the additive package.

Stay away from the mineral or vegetable oils, as they have a tendency to eat seals (Buna-N)

[Leatherneck]

Heat the whole house, keep the furnace in the garage, basement or outside.
The problem is finding a reliable source of free or very cheap oil feedstock.

Go for outside. Please. and simply plan to burn waste oil when you have waste oil.

As an augment to your primary system, this should be a very good scheme, if you absolutely isolate your primary heat source (oil fire) from the air you breathe. Keep us posted, please.

TC

[Bogie]

And if you can also set the thing up where you can heat the stuff via solid fuel, you can handle anything.

[Scout26]

And if you can also set the thing up where you can heat the stuff via solid fuel, you can handle anything.

Yep, like floppy disks......