Any advantages or dis advantages for horsepower if I use kerosene???

If so, what ratio can I safely use???

If not, then what is kerosene good for in the diesel world???

If not, then what is kerosene good for in the diesel world???

Sub-zero temps.

Kerosene has a BTU content of 134k/gal and #2 140k/gal. Diesel is more dense for a given volume so with kero you dont get the HP per gallon like #2.

Now, what I dont know is if the fuel system likes thinner diesel...aka kero. Maybe it is more efficient at atomization or something scientific like that and makes more power that way. I have cut down my fuel in the winter (below 20*) to keep it from gelling but I never really noticed a power difference. Sorry if this is not the answer you are looking for.

Sub-zero temps.

Kerosene has a BTU content of 134k/gal and #2 140k/gal. Diesel is more dense for a given volume so with kero you dont get the HP per gallon like #2.

Now, what I dont know is if the fuel system likes thinner diesel...aka kero. Maybe it is more efficient at atomization or something scientific like that and makes more power that way. I have cut down my fuel in the winter (below 20*) to keep it from gelling but I never really noticed a power difference. Sorry if this is not the answer you are looking for.

Thanks...not sure what kind of response I wanted. Guess I just needed info into Kero and why someone would use it.

Thanks for the response!!![coffee]

Kerosene, like Jet-A, is a dry fuel with very little lubricating properties. Has a lower gelling point than diesel so it used during winter months in very cold climates. As Matego stated, also contains less BTU's than diesel so there could be a slight loss in power and fuel economy.

If your going to use kerosene in a warmer climate I recommended two stroke mixture oil for lubrication.

Also if it's dyed for off road use only that another issue to deal with (the tax man).

MikeyB

If you want to run straight Kero I would advise going with at the least a 5% clean lube oil mix. This will bring the Kero's lubricity up in line with #2 diesel and provide about the same or more BTU's.

I have run 1/2 Bio and 1/2 K-1 for several tanks and noticed no difference in anything other than funny looks from the gas station attendant watching me try to get within hose reach of the K1 pump...

What's the point of running K-1, other than maybe a mix in the winter for anti-gelling properties? It's drier and has a lower BTU, both negatives compared to #2 Diesel...what am I missing?

What's the point of running K-1, other than maybe a mix in the winter for anti-gelling properties? It's drier and has a lower BTU, both negatives compared to #2 Diesel...what am I missing?

The point is: Kero is often discounted in some of the warmer months or left at the same price which can be up to $1.50 less per gallon than #2 diesel fuel.
With a Kero/oil mix you can still save a signifant amount of money vs #2.
With a Kero/oil mix you can match or exceed the BTU's of #2 diesel and have fuel with more lubricity to offer.

For off road use....of course.

Thanks. That makes sense. Wasn't thinking about it from the $$$ standpoint.

The point is: Kero is often discounted in some of the warmer months or left at the same price which can be up to $1.50 less per gallon than #2 diesel fuel.
With a Kero/oil mix you can still save a signifant amount of money vs #2.
With a Kero/oil mix you can match or exceed the BTU's of #2 diesel and have fuel with more lubricity to offer.

For off road use....of course.

Do they dye it??

No. Kero is usually clear as water.

If you buy Kero at the pump it is dyed. Also Kero is not drier than #2 the viscosity is lower.

I checked the pump today and the Kerosene here is as much as diesel.

LOL, here Kero is almost 50 cents higher than #2, and that is after the fuel tax is added to Diesel.

You don't think they are jabbing us Illinois guys, eh?

K1 here is $3.15 a gallon. Of course this will go up in the winter due to people buying it for heating purposes.

K1 here is $3.15 a gallon. Of course this will go up in the winter due to people buying it for heating purposes.

WOW! It finally came down to 4.499 here, of course heating season is just around the corner, I am sure it will go back up.

The point is: Kero is often discounted in some of the warmer months or left at the same price which can be up to $1.50 less per gallon than #2 diesel fuel.
With a Kero/oil mix you can still save a signifant amount of money vs #2.
With a Kero/oil mix you can match or exceed the BTU's of #2 diesel and have fuel with more lubricity to offer.

For off road use....of course.

Kero is more than $1 more than #2 here... I will be adding Amsoil Cold Flow Imporver for my hunting trips (before winter mix is blended)..

If you buy Kero at the pump it is dyed. Also Kero is not drier than #2 the viscosity is lower.

I have never seen on-road Kero at the pump dyed (but have read that it is supposed to be.. so keep your kero receipt).... Either way, Kero is less lubricious and needs #2 with it or lubricity additive..

Dodge says to only run straight #1, kerosene, below -10*F..

What percentage would you cut the summer blend diesel with kerosene for winter? It gets pretty cold here in the winter sometimes.

It just depends on how cold it gets. Here in Idaho it gets blended between 20 and 30%... Montana gets up to 50%... If its going to be continously below -10 then 100%... You can make your own "chart" based on -10 is 100% and somewhere around 20-25* is 0%...

Here in north Iowa during the winter the standard mix is 70% #2 with 30% Kerosene and that mix is good until some where around -10 to -15 below zero.

Montana gets up to 50%...Hardly any stations in Montana, or the rest of the country for that matter, use a kero blend any more.
Anti-gel additive is cheaper, easier and works better. Down to -30F.
Friend who drives a fuel tanker tells me the concentrate anti-gel additive they use takes only one gallon to treat 10,000.

with the mileage difference Kero needed to be 25 cents less than diesel to be worth it. That was went diesel was 2.50 a gal and in a VW rabbit truck so I would need to crunch #'s again. Use one quart of 2 stroke oil per tank and it will be fine. Over the summer kero will be about a dollar less than diesel so there is some savings. Also by me its all clear with no dye. but they put the short hose on the pump for a reason. Best to fill jugs and bring it home and do your fueling there.

In my area the cheapest I have seen Kerosene in the last 6 months was today at $4.14, diesel is at $3.74.

I use K1 to make our winter biodiesel blend. A B80 with virgin soy biodiesel and a heavey dose of antigel (about 1%) takes us down to 10 degrees.