OK to use diesel fuel in kerosene heater?
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I've never tried it but I heard you get a lot of smoke and soot that way.
You can't find pump kerosene anywhere near you? I've got a gas station nearby where I get it five gallons at a time for about the same price as diesel.
You can't find pump kerosene anywhere near you? I've got a gas station nearby where I get it five gallons at a time for about the same price as diesel.
Don't do it!
Been there, done that, made a mess. The diesel will burn, but in a very short time, it will heavily soot the inside of the heater. Plus, the flame is lower, (even on a high setting) and you'll get less heat from your heater). Additionally, as it burns, the soot starts to rise from the stove and drift through your house.
Trust me, you're much better finding a reliable source of kerosene - even if it costs more, you'll be better in the long run.
Been there, done that, made a mess. The diesel will burn, but in a very short time, it will heavily soot the inside of the heater. Plus, the flame is lower, (even on a high setting) and you'll get less heat from your heater). Additionally, as it burns, the soot starts to rise from the stove and drift through your house.
Trust me, you're much better finding a reliable source of kerosene - even if it costs more, you'll be better in the long run.
Oh, and you're getting a smell from yours? Mine smells only for a minute at startup on kerosene. I just bring it outside to top it off and start it out there, and bring it in after about a minute. I get no smell this way.
You might need some maintenance - the guy who runs End Times Report has a lot of kerosene heater info. He's also nuts but I just stick to the kerosene pages and that helps preserve my sanity
You might need some maintenance - the guy who runs End Times Report has a lot of kerosene heater info. He's also nuts but I just stick to the kerosene pages and that helps preserve my sanity
If you're getting a smell after a minute or two of steady burning, something is wrong with your heater. Check to make sure the wick is adjusted properly and is clean. Sometimes the ends burn to a hard carbon and need to be trimmed which is a job best done outside the house.
I've got 4 fan blast kerosene heaters onsite during the winter months that I use the dyed diesel that we buy for our forklift in.
I've been using diesel in them since new and never had an issue with them.
No it's not the right fuel but it works and is cheaper than kerosene.
I've been using diesel in them since new and never had an issue with them.
No it's not the right fuel but it works and is cheaper than kerosene.
I wouldn't do it if I were you.
Kerosene is kerosene. K1 is de-sulphated and it's known to burn very clean.
Running diesel in wick type kero stoves/heaters may generate more CO than you'll like, and also very, very sooty (if you ever managed to get it going).
Your wick will soot up(crust up) very, very quickly if you run diesel in a kero type heater.
Q.
Kerosene is kerosene. K1 is de-sulphated and it's known to burn very clean.
Running diesel in wick type kero stoves/heaters may generate more CO than you'll like, and also very, very sooty (if you ever managed to get it going).
Your wick will soot up(crust up) very, very quickly if you run diesel in a kero type heater.
Q.
Nope, bad idea! (you won't like the soot and general mess!
Winterized ULSD will work in a torpedo/salamander heater, but I wouldn't try it in a kerosene heater.
JHZR2
Staff member
ULSD will still have 5-15ppm sulfur and more aromatics. No way.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
I've got 4 fan blast kerosene heaters onsite during the winter months that I use the dyed diesel that we buy for our forklift in.
I've been using diesel in them since new and never had an issue with them.
No it's not the right fuel but it works and is cheaper than kerosene.
.
Yes, you are correct, for the old type "jet" heaters, diesel will work, especially in a shop setting (or on the sidelines at a Football game). But I think OP is talking about a kerosene heater with a wick.
I had two of those kind when I lived in Alabama and I tried burning diesel in one of them. Huge mess and bigger headache cleaning them afterward.
For a cheap experiment on what will happen, get a kerosene "Hurricane" lamp and fill it with diesel and light it. The globe will soot up in minutes until it's nothing but a black mess, (I've done that too).
I've got 4 fan blast kerosene heaters onsite during the winter months that I use the dyed diesel that we buy for our forklift in.
I've been using diesel in them since new and never had an issue with them.
No it's not the right fuel but it works and is cheaper than kerosene.
.
Yes, you are correct, for the old type "jet" heaters, diesel will work, especially in a shop setting (or on the sidelines at a Football game). But I think OP is talking about a kerosene heater with a wick.
I had two of those kind when I lived in Alabama and I tried burning diesel in one of them. Huge mess and bigger headache cleaning them afterward.
For a cheap experiment on what will happen, get a kerosene "Hurricane" lamp and fill it with diesel and light it. The globe will soot up in minutes until it's nothing but a black mess, (I've done that too).
You might want to google search in your area for a bulk fuel distributor. If you can find one local, you could fill a barrel with Kerosene pretty cheap, much cheaper than buying it by the gallon at ACE hardware.
Hope I'm not jinxing but so far I've been able to get pump kerosene from a Hess Station about 7 miles from me. The price was less than half of what Lowe's charges for their 5 gallon can of kerosene. I use the 5 gallon blue plastic kerosene canisters to fill up. I have 3 of these 5 gallon blue kerosene canisters. If this winter is like last years I'll be filling them up a lot
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Whimsey
Whimsey
Use city data.com and you can find a few places that sells Kero for less then the chain stores.
Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
You might want to google search in your area for a bulk fuel distributor. If you can find one local, you could fill a barrel with Kerosene pretty cheap, much cheaper than buying it by the gallon at ACE hardware.
GreeC is right. We buy our kerosene in 55 gallon drums from our local fuel supplier. Perhaps the OP doesn't need 55 gallons of the stuff, but the price comes way down if purchased in that quanitity.
Trying to burn diesel MIGHT work, but most of the kero heaters burning diesel give off soot, hurt the eyes and can't be good for the lungs. (Of course, breathing burned kerosene probably isn't that healthy either)
You might want to google search in your area for a bulk fuel distributor. If you can find one local, you could fill a barrel with Kerosene pretty cheap, much cheaper than buying it by the gallon at ACE hardware.
GreeC is right. We buy our kerosene in 55 gallon drums from our local fuel supplier. Perhaps the OP doesn't need 55 gallons of the stuff, but the price comes way down if purchased in that quanitity.
Trying to burn diesel MIGHT work, but most of the kero heaters burning diesel give off soot, hurt the eyes and can't be good for the lungs. (Of course, breathing burned kerosene probably isn't that healthy either)
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