Mercedes Mullins
Kerosene, also known as #1 diesel fuel oil, is a lighter diesel oil than regular diesel, which is designated as #2 diesel fuel oil. Kerosene has a lighter viscosity value, which makes it burn at a hotter temperature in an engine. It is a useful additive to diesel fuel in winter, as it helps to change the cold-weather handling temperatures of diesel fuel. Kerosene can also be used to lower emissions, as it burns cleaner than #2 diesel fuel. However, some people have concerns about its dry burn damaging fuel pumps.
Characteristics and Values
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Kerosene is also called | #1 diesel fuel oil |
| Regular diesel is also called | #2 diesel fuel oil |
| Kerosene has less energy value than #2 diesel | 135,000 BTU per gallon vs. 139,000 BTU for a gallon of #2 |
| Kerosene burns drier than #2 diesel | Less lubricity |
| Kerosene can be mixed with diesel fuel to | Lower emissions |
| Kerosene can be mixed with diesel fuel to | Improve cold weather handling temperatures |
| Kerosene has a | Lighter viscosity value |
| Kerosene has a | Higher sulfur content than diesel fuels |
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What You'll Learn
Kerosene is a #1 diesel fuel oil
Kerosene is also known as #1 diesel fuel oil, while regular diesel is typically referred to as #2 diesel fuel oil. Kerosene is a lighter diesel oil than #2, which is why it is designated as #1 diesel. This lighter weight means it contains slightly less energy—approximately 135,000 BTU per gallon compared to 139,000 BTU for a gallon of #2 diesel. Kerosene has a lower viscosity, a lower flash point, and burns drier with less lubricity than #2 diesel. This can potentially lead to concerns about burning out rings and damaging fuel pumps.
Kerosene is highly refined, which contributes to its higher price. It is sometimes used in diesel engines, particularly during winter, to improve cold weather handling. Mixing kerosene with diesel fuel offers several advantages. For instance, blending ten percent kerosene with diesel fuel can lower the cold filter plugging point of the mixture by five degrees. Additionally, kerosene is said to burn cleaner than #2 diesel, resulting in lower emissions.
The interchangeability of kerosene and diesel fuel is a topic of discussion. Some people consider the two similar enough to use interchangeably, while others highlight potential issues. Kerosene has a lower energy value, so burning a gallon of kerosene would result in less total heat than burning a gallon of regular diesel. However, kerosene's lighter viscosity can make it burn at a higher temperature in an engine.
Kerosene is also known as Jet-A fuel, which is kerosene filtered for aviation use. Stoddard solvent is another product derived from kerosene, although it lacks sufficient lubricants to function effectively in a diesel engine's injection system. Overall, while kerosene can be used as a diesel fuel, it is not a perfect substitute and may require additional considerations for long-term use.
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Kerosene burns at a hotter temperature
Kerosene, also known as #1 diesel fuel oil, is often considered an alternative to regular diesel fuel (#2 diesel fuel oil). It is derived from petroleum and is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. Kerosene has a lower viscosity than #2 diesel, which means it burns at a hotter temperature in an engine.
The advantages of using kerosene are particularly notable during winter. Kerosene doesn't gel as quickly as diesel in freezing temperatures, which is beneficial for engines in cold climates. Mixing kerosene with diesel fuel can lower the cold filter plugging point of a diesel blend. A blend with 10% kerosene, for example, will lower the filter plugging point by five degrees.
However, kerosene has less total energy than #2 diesel. Burning a gallon of kerosene will produce less total heat than burning a gallon of regular diesel. Kerosene also has less lubricity, which can damage fuel pumps. Additionally, kerosene is a harsher fuel that can reduce engine power.
While kerosene burns at a hotter temperature, it is less fuel-efficient and provides less power. Therefore, it may not be a suitable alternative to diesel fuel despite its advantages in cold weather conditions.
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Kerosene can be mixed with diesel fuel
Kerosene, also known as #1 diesel fuel oil, is a lighter diesel oil than #2 diesel fuel oil, which is the standard diesel used in engines. Kerosene can be mixed with diesel fuel, and doing so has several benefits. Firstly, kerosene burns drier than #2 diesel, with less lubricity, which means it can help lower emissions. This is particularly useful in very cold weather, as kerosene can change the cold-weather handling temperatures of diesel fuel. Mixing in about 10% kerosene will lower the cold filter plugging point of a diesel fuel blend by about 5 degrees. This is because kerosene has a better cold filter plugging point (CFPP) than diesel fuel, allowing it to pass through a filter at a lower temperature than untreated diesel fuel.
However, there are some drawbacks to using kerosene in a diesel engine. Kerosene contains less total energy than #2 diesel, so burning a gallon of kerosene will produce less heat than burning a gallon of regular diesel. Kerosene also has less lubricity than diesel fuel, which is already a concern due to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD). As a result, metal components in the fuel system may fail prematurely. Kerosene also contains less cetane than diesel fuel, which can lead to hard starting, longer warm-ups, and heavy white smoke.
While kerosene can be mixed with diesel fuel, it is not always a cost-effective solution. In most cases, treating the fuel with a cold flow improver additive is a more economical option. To determine the most cost-effective solution, several factors need to be considered, including the cost difference between kerosene and diesel fuel, the blending ratio, and the cost of additives.
In conclusion, while kerosene can be mixed with diesel fuel to gain certain benefits, such as improved cold-weather performance and lower emissions, there are also some drawbacks and cost considerations to keep in mind. It is important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages before deciding whether to mix kerosene with diesel fuel.
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Kerosene is useful for changing cold weather handling temperatures
Kerosene, also known as #1 diesel fuel oil, is a lighter diesel oil than #2 diesel fuel oil. This means it contains slightly less energy, with about 135,000 BTU per gallon compared to 139,000 BTU for a gallon of #2 diesel fuel oil. Despite having less energy, kerosene has a lower viscosity, which causes it to burn at a hotter temperature in an engine.
Kerosene is extremely useful for changing cold weather handling temperatures in diesel fuel, especially in winter. It has a lower freeze point than heating oil, only beginning to gel at around -40 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas heating oil starts to gel at 16 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes kerosene much more suitable for colder environments and a must-use in places with significantly below-freezing temperatures.
The rule of thumb is that mixing ten percent kerosene with diesel fuel will lower the cold filter plugging point of the blend by five degrees. This makes kerosene a cost-effective additive in very cold weather, as it is cheaper to use as a mixer than a cold flow polymer. Additionally, kerosene "burns cleaner" than #2 diesel fuel oil, so mixing the two can help lower emissions.
While kerosene is a useful additive to diesel fuel, it is important to note that it does not have high levels of lubricity, and its dry burn may damage fuel pumps. Therefore, while it can be mixed and burned with diesel fuel, it is not similar enough to replace diesel fuel completely.
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Kerosene is a powerful solvent
Kerosene, also known as paraffin, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid derived from petroleum. It is a powerful solvent with a wide range of applications due to its ability to dissolve other petroleum products and its low risk of combustion compared to gasoline.
One of the key uses of kerosene as a solvent is in the petroleum industry, where it is used as a synthetic hydrocarbon to simulate crude oil in corrosion experiments. This involves placing a hydrated crystal in kerosene to prevent dehydration and maintain the crystal's colour. Additionally, kerosene serves as an effective adhesive remover, especially for challenging substances like mucilage or adhesive residue on glass surfaces. It can also be used to clean bicycle and motorcycle chains by removing old lubricants before relubrication.
Kerosene is also valued as a solvent in the PUREX extraction process, where it helps reduce radiolysis. However, it is gradually being replaced by dodecane and artificial hydrocarbons like TPH. In solvent extraction, kerosene can be separated from aromatic hydrocarbons through methods such as using methanol, DMSO, or sulfolane.
When it comes to mixing kerosene with diesel fuel, it is important to note that kerosene has a lighter viscosity and burns at a slightly lower temperature due to its lower energy content. This makes it useful for lowering the cold weather handling temperatures of diesel fuel blends during winter. Mixing kerosene with diesel fuel can also help reduce emissions, as kerosene burns cleaner.
While kerosene is a powerful solvent with various applications, it is important to be cautious due to its polluting nature and associated health risks. The World Health Organization recommends against its household use due to the high levels of harmful particulate matter in kerosene smoke.
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Frequently asked questions
Kerosene is also called #1 diesel fuel oil, whereas regular diesel is #2 diesel fuel oil. Kerosene is a lighter diesel oil than #2, which means it contains slightly less energy.
Kerosene is an acceptable fuel for most diesels. However, it is recommended that you add a fuel additive such as Mystery Marvel Oil or PowerService.
Kerosene can be mixed with diesel fuel to lower emissions as it burns cleaner than #2 diesel. Kerosene is also useful in changing the cold weather handling temperatures of diesel fuel.
