Diesel Or Kerosene

Ron Musgraves

Exterior Restoration Specialist
Staff member
Keep using Diesel fuel. Some problems that will occur are that soot will build up on the burner coil and water moisture will build up in the fuel tanks. These problems can be minimized by using a product called Red Devil. This Product must be used CONSISTENTLY or it will not help. It is not an overnight cure for these problems. You must use it with frequency or not at all.
I purchase Diesel fuel for 90 cents a gallon with no road taxes from Phoenix Fuel. I am a lucky person to live in a metropolitan area. They have pumps throughout the city. Each of my rigs have 110 gallon tanks. This is due to D.O.T. regulations that state a rig can only carry 110 gallons of fuel. If you are in a rural area, you can transport up to 600 gallons of diesel fuel on a D.O.T. approved trailer but you must obtain a permit.
De-scaling your burner and draining your fuel tanks are small problems compared to the problems connected with kerosene use. Kerosene has a higher flash point than diesel. It is also more expensive (by approximately 50 cents a gallon. An increase of 64%) and much more dangerous. Kerosene is not readily available and must be stored at specific temperatures. Certain OASHA regulations ban the use of kerosene. Other major corporations have adopted these policies as well and also ban the use of gasoline and kerosene. I realize your machine may not burn diesel to run the motor but keep in mind, some companies will only allow machines run entirely by diesel fuel.
A special note when working inside of buildings, you MUST use propane. Any machine can burn propane as an alternative fuel. I am not suggesting that you use propane when working outdoors, but as far as environment and conditions, there is no better fuel.
From someone who has years of experience with this kind of work. I am always willing to give useful advice to those starting out in the business and I always look for ways to improve my company as well.
 
Kerosene actually has a LOWER flashpoint than diesel because it vaporizes easier than diesel.

Flashpoint is the temperature at which vapors are produced to allow for a momentary flash of flame.

Repectively both diesel and kerosene have a minimum flashpoint of 100 degrees F.

Why MUST you only use propane when inside a building?
The products of combustion are carbon dioxide, water vapor and excess air. These are present in both fuels.
 

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propane burns cleaner than gasoline. OSHA regulations say that you cant use gasoline in enclosed areas. propanes emmissions are better by a long shot.

diesel & kerosene are the same, kerosene is a purer form of diesel. they are the same product.
 
Ron,

I didn't realize you were referring to propane engines in that last post - my mistake. I would agree that diesel and kerosene are the same product in that all petroleum products are chemical compounds that make up crude oil each containing carbon and hydrogen. However kerosene is classified as a No. 1 fuel oil while diesel is classified as a No. 2 fuel oil. They each contain very different physical characteristics such as pour point, cloud point, viscosity etc...

No 1 fuel oil (kerosene) is the preferred fuel for vaporization type burners while No. 2 fuel oil (diesel) is suitable in a basic oil burner design as the nozzle breaks up the oil into tiny droplets which evaporate quickly into a vapor.

It is at this point that kerosene has an advantage in that it vaporizes easier than diesel allowing for a more complete burning of the oil. Result = Cleaner.

I guess if local transporation restrictions and comparative cost were not a factor it might be worth considering.
 
i always use Kero...... b/c i think it's a better cleaner burn.... i may be wrong......i buy the kero all the time b/c where i get my gas they have a kero pump and i fill up there ...if i want die... then i got to travel 10 mile 1 way to get it so im a kero man .........just my take here ,,,,,,,,,,,............
 
Heating oil, Kerosene, Propane etc.

"The best way to compare energy prices is to calculate the price
per BTU, a unit of heating value, for each fuel.

* Heating Oil contains 138,690 BTUs per gallon.
* Natural Gas has 100,000 BTUs per therm. It takes
1.4 therms to equal the heat content of one gallon of heating oil.
* Kerosene has 131,890 BTUs per gallon; 1.05 gallons equals the
heat content of one gallon of heating oil.
* Propane has 91,500 BTUs per gallon; 1.52 gallons equals the heat
of one gallon of heating oil.
* Electricity has 3,413 BTUs per kilowatt hour (kwh); 40.6 kwh equals
the heat content of a gallon of heating oil.

*********************************************************
The above information was found at:
http://www.americandistributing.com/economic.html

(One might consider the source biased since they sell heating oil,
actually I think it is pretty accurate!)
http://www.oilheat.com/factecon.htm
**************************************************

I believe that diesel has a higher BTU,s content per gallon than both
kerosene, and home heating oil, diesel definitely is NOT the cleanest
burning of the 3.

There is a wealth of information available online about heating oils etc.
Try a search for "heating oils" btu per gallon etc.
 
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Our primary unit runs on propane. Genset and boiler.

Our other system runs on off road Premier Fuel (Amoco Oil), supposed to be cleaner than K-1. Engine and burner.

Both chassis engines are gasoline.

Dave Olson
 
Andy,

If you’re read my posts you just said the same thing. I said kero is cleaner and more efficient fuel. I said when waying your options I prefer diesel. I said it burns dirtier and you have more problems with it, but regulation requirements on gasoline and kero inside industrial setting are prohibited. (So you are restricted.)

You and I are on the same page, maybe we just don’t share the same idea that I’m willing to handle the problem and lower cost associated with diesel over kero. (This is not a fact-arguing topic.) It’s my personal preference. If you believe kero is better to burn in your machines then you have measure the cost and liabilities for yourself and make a decision.
 
Ron,

We are on the same page. As I said I didn't realize you were referring to propane engines in your first post. I also thought you meant to say the flashpoint of kero was lower than diesel (you typed higher). No arguement here, if I can't find kero, I burn diesel too.
 
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