Author Topic: Fuel Oil vs Kerosene  (Read 2973 times)

Fudgieghost

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« on: December 06, 2005, 05:14:55 AM »
What is the difference between fuel oil and kerosene?  

Is kerosene refined further than fuel oil?  

Can you burn fuel oil in a kerosene heater or lantern?

Stickjockey

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2005, 05:48:09 AM »
IIRC, fuel oil is heavier than kerosene. Kerosene is closer to diesel.
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peteinct

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2005, 05:48:36 AM »
I'm not sure but I believe kero is more refined than fuel oil. Here oil has to be cut with kero so it doesn't set up in the winter. Up north in Maine they run pure kerosine I've been told by some of the Mainers i work with.

Furnace oil has red dye in it some thing to do with taxes so I don't think it would work for a lantern or indoor heater.

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cfabe

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2005, 05:48:50 AM »
They are similar but not identical. #1 fuel oil is essentially kerosene. #2 fuel oil, which is what's usually used for home heating around here, is heavier than Kerosene.

In a wick or jet type kerosene appliance, it might work. I wouldn't try it in a vapor appliance with a generator (like a coleman lantern or alladin lamp) because it might clog the generator.

cfabe

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2005, 05:50:57 AM »
Road diesel can vary from area to area and winter to summer. Summer in the south it could be straignt #2 fuel oil (with the detergents and lubricants and taxes added, of course) and up in canada in the winter it might be #1. In the midwest you might find a blend of the two.

Azrael256

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2005, 05:54:09 AM »
You'd do best going with exactly what the manufacturer recommends.  Gasoline will work in a Zippo (before you ask: young, stupid, and lucky to have all my fingers), but not well.  Wicks, injectors, burners, etc. are designed with a particular liquid in mind, and will not function at peak efficiency (and sometimes safety) with a fuel of a different viscosity, density, specific gravity, vapor pressure, etc.

Leatherneck

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2005, 06:55:47 AM »
I just ruined a heater wick by using diesel fuel. Replaced the wick and reverted to Kero #1--no more smoky wick. Better stick to clean kero for the heater. In a pinch, I do use kero in the diesel tractor with no apparent problems.

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charby

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2005, 07:05:14 AM »
isn't kero a lot more expensive than diesel?
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cfabe

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« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2005, 08:25:35 AM »
Quote from: charby
isn't kero a lot more expensive than diesel?
Last time I bought it (a couple years ago), it was approxamately in the same price range. This was from a gas station with a kerosene pump. Buying it in containers at a retail store will be more expensive.

charby

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2005, 08:37:12 AM »
Thanks, I thought it was more expensive at the pump than diesel. I understand buying it in one cans at the hardware store would be more expensive.

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280plus

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2005, 09:08:05 AM »
Sulfur content. Fuel oil and diesel have a high content while kero is the cleanest. You can burn kero and even diesel in your furnace but you can't burn diesel OR fuel oil in your kero heater. It's the sulfur build up that ruins your wick.

Home heating oil is not taxable while diesel is. Diesel is dyed red to indicate road use taxes have been paid. I should say that to the best of my knowledge fuel oil and diesel oil are the same product an can be used interchangebly but woe be it to the one who gets caught with undyed heating fuel in their diesel powered vehicle. It makes no sense to burn diesel for heat as the road taxes make it cost more than regular fuel oil.

In a pinch though, (your tank runs dry on friday night at 11 pm) you can run to the gas station and get 5 gallons of diesel fuel and use it to run your furnace or boiler. Kero too.

And just cause I'm a worry wart...

NEVER fill your kero heater in the house. This is how most kero heater fires start.
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mtnbkr

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2005, 09:54:35 AM »
Quote
Home heating oil is not taxable while diesel is. Diesel is dyed red to indicate road use taxes have been paid. I should say that to the best of my knowledge fuel oil and diesel oil are the same product an can be used interchangebly but woe be it to the one who gets caught with undyed heating fuel in their diesel powered vehicle.
Who gets caught doing this?  I've never known any non-commercial diesel users to get checked.  

Chris

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #12 on: December 06, 2005, 10:42:26 AM »
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Who gets caught doing this?  I've never known any non-commercial diesel users to get checked.  

Chris
Around here checking the fuel in the tank is part of the D.O.T. yearly inspection.If a trucking firm or even a farm truck(on the public road) were to be caught w/non red dyed fuel they could be fined.IIRC,diesel for farm use is dyed blue.

Gun Runner

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #13 on: December 06, 2005, 11:23:33 AM »
Quote from: mtnbkr
Who gets caught doing this?  I've never known any non-commercial diesel users to get checked.  

Chris
Farmers, ranchers, loggers, construction workers.  Anywhere you'll find a large percentage of diesel powered pickups you may find someone dipping the tanks.  I've been to enough auctions and seen dipping in progress.

Expect the fine to cost $4,000-10,000+
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K Frame

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« Reply #14 on: December 06, 2005, 06:41:01 PM »
If I'm not mistaken, standard practice is normally to fine the user not only a punishment fine, but to assess taxes on the entire mileage shown on the vehicle's odometer.
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280plus

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« Reply #15 on: December 07, 2005, 01:51:55 AM »
I did some asking around last night and can confirm that diesel and fuel oil are pretty much the same product...
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Moondoggie

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Fuel Oil vs Kerosene
« Reply #16 on: December 07, 2005, 12:10:11 PM »
As far as the penalties are concerned, based upon my over the road trucking experience, I'm sure it varies from state to state.
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