Kerosene powered Briggs and Stratton?

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SecondMonkey

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I was just browsing through the engines at smallenginewarehouse.com and noticed this B&S engine that runs on kerosene. Being the B&S geek that I am, I'm very curious about that. They say it's an 8hp block but is only rated at 5.8hp on kerosene.

My first question is why? What's the advantage to using kerosene? The only thing I can think of is that it doesn't go bad.

Secondly, does anybody know what makes it different than a gas engine? Different carb? I'm thinking it would be cool to convert my generator to run on kerosene since it doesn't go bad.
 
I believe that a lower compression ratio would be appropriate for a kerosene engine to avoid knock.
Also kerosene would not atomize as efficiently as gasoline so the combustion efficiency would suffer.
I would also suspect more fuel dilatation of the engines oil with kerosene for fuel through a carburetor, so more frequent oil changes would be in order.

The poor atomization and possibly lowered compression ratio would result in a lowered engine output I believe.

Rickey.
 
Oh I just noticed
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Rickey.
 
Would a kerosene be closer to diesel in terms of fuel? hence be sparkless ignition, and need higher compression.

I do recall my grandpa using kerosene in his diesel powered tractor... //?
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Kerosene has an octane of around 25 or less, so yes, lower compression.

Some possible reasons for it's use...it keeps longer, it's safer to store and transport and in some places taxed a lot less than gasoline. They are probably intended primarily for foreign markets. In parts of the world, tax is well over 1/2 the total price of vehicle fuel.

P2E2F , good question.

If there was enough lubricity for the fuel pump and injectors, I think a diesel would run on kerosene OK (any experts?).

Kerosene in a spark ignition engine is used like an extremely low grade gasoline. There is no high pressure injection system like a diesel so low compression and sometimes pre-heating of the fuel mixture is done. Engines were commonly run on kerosene in the first 1/4 of the 20th century.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/reader_rides/1271681.html
 
There are outboards that run on Kerosene. A few that run on JP4 as well.
Kerosene engines are for countries that have a hard time transporting gasoline to remotes sites.
Third world countries, locations waaaaay out in the sticks, and high poverty areas(Bangaladesh) have easier access to kerosene, and it's a cheap fuel. Safer as well, for iffy storage facilities.
 
Interestingly, on the Briggs website they state that kerosene should not be used in any of their engines and if you do it will void the warranty.
confused.gif
 
Off topic, but my grandfather had an old Farmall tractor. It ran on kerosene or the white drip gas from the natural gas wells on his property. He never spent a penny on fuel for it. He would drain the tanks by the wells and pour it in. I seem to remember it had somewhat less than 5-1 compression.
 
Quote:

If there was enough lubricity for the fuel pump and injectors, I think a diesel would run on kerosene OK (any experts?)

Click to expand...


Yep, it's all about lubricity.

When the CEO used to have a helicopter, the diesel guys would raid the half empty drums after he left site.

When I worked in transmission, the diesel guys quickly worked out that Transformer oil (expensive) made a very cheap diesel substitute. Some cut it with kero.

Sir Harry Rocardo made some of the first 200hp tank engines running kerosene (186 c.i. per cylinder). He run crosshead pistons, and ran the fuel/air underneath the piston before induction to ensure complete evaporation.

0.45lb/hphr in the late 1920s with less than 5:1 compression and carbies is an exceptional feat.
 
I'd bet you would only get a few pulls out of that kero fueled briggs before the spark plug fouled.
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Joel
 
Engines that are designed for kerosene are 'export only'.
Manuals etc. 'over there' are written for the particular country those engines go to.
The outboards that are designed to run on jet fuel are 'military only'. To the best of my knowledge.
 
Back when I was a bad kid, I tried running my 3.5HP Clinton minibike on kerosene. With a little carb. adjustment, it ran reasonably well, though obviously not as much power as with gasoline. On a cold start, I had to give it a little squirt of starting fluid to get it going. The "diesel" exhaust smell really impressed my friends!
 
I own a 1941 John Deere Model "A" tractor that came from the factory as an "All Fuel" model designed to burn distillate, kerosene, etc. This type fuel has a very low octane rating, my Jonny Popper has 4.45:1 compression ratio to avoid detonation. The intake manifold is heated by the exhaust manifold which is all made as a one-piece casting with the exhaust portion surrounding the intake portion. This tractor has a one gallon tank for gasoline which is used to start the engine, then switches over to the main fuel tank to burn whatever fuel you choose to run. #2 diesel doesn't burn real well unless it is cut with some gasoline, #1 stove oil works fine as well as kerosene. I have never had access to any type of didtillates. Don't forget to turn the fuel off and let the low-octane stuff burn off when you shut it down.

I'm curious how the kerosene fueled B&S engines heat the fuel and how hard are they to start?
Joe
 
Two head gaskets, three-way fuel valve, small pint or less tank for gas, large tank for kerosene.

Start engine on gas, run to temp, apply light load switch to kerosene.
Same thing with shut-down. Switch back to petrol for a few minutes kill it.

Ken

I ran a tecumseh for a few month on kerosene. Sold it to a guy uses it to run slitter.
 
Originally Posted By: Lazy JW
........my Jonny Popper has 4.45:1 compression ratio to avoid detonation.
Joe


I do so love those old Poppin' Johnnys.

I remember one old timer who ran his farm equipment on "drip gas" from the liquid separator on his gas well. It would build up during the winter when equipment was idle and temps were cold, and when planting time came around he had a big old tank of nasty smelling low octane garbage to burn. Oil company would send out a truck every so often to check the liquid levels in the storage tank, but it never got high enough for them to pump it out. I know they knew where it went, but I just don't think they cared.
 
I still have the instructions from an old Briggs manual on how to convert one of their engines to either diesel fuel or kerosene, as I did when I was a kid for a go-cart I had(also dad had a bulk tank of diesel fuel).

As I remember two head gaskets were required and a special spark plug (not J-8). It ran just fine with less power but it smelled all grown up.

We also still have an old Deere "A" with the small tank for starting and the main tank designed for kerosene or whatever was available. You had better remember to switch it back over to gasoline before you shut it down if you ever wanted to start it once the engine cooled down. I had many revolutions on the flywheel.
 
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