According to my extensive knowledge of the subject (ie three minutes on Wikipedia) Diesel fuel consists of six grades; #'s 1-6. As the number increases the fuels become cheaper, more viscous and more powerful.


So, thinking out loud; if you can fabricate a custom fuel system to heat up and burn vegetable oil, why couldn't a similar system burn #3 or #4 fuel oil?

I know that DHRA rules forbide the use of #3 fuel oil, so it has to be beneficial.


On the other hand, where can you even get #3 fuel oil? Are there even any applications for anything between #2 and #6? Diesel electric locomotives?

 

The only one I've dealt with or even seen around besides #1 &#2 is Bunker C Fuel Oil, #6
I wouldn't wish it on anyone, the stuff is almost tar.

 

I know that #6 is too thick, but there has to be #3 or 4 somewhere...

What do railroads run off of?

They have to do something with the stuff...

 

Diesel locomotives run on #2. Tow and push boats uses #2. At least the ones I was on did.
Big (and I mean big) industrial diesels (ie, ships) uses the thicker grades of fuel, like bunker C.

MikeyB

 

In SoCal you might be able to run goo all year, but not up here. Look into your owners manual, the engine was designed for #2. The original compression ignition engine ran on pulverized coal driven into the engine with hammers. Needless to say, it didn't get much past proto type stage, but you can go thick if you can find a supply. That diesel motorbike, I've heard, can run on JP8. Filter your used oil and blend it in up to 5% as per cummins. That's just under 2 gallons a tank. Make biodisel. (And your wife says you don't cook)

 

The idea was that with a veggie oil conversion set-up, you could heat up the goo and be able to run it year around virtually anywhere.


But it looks like nobody has anything other than #1, #2, and #6, which is a pity.

I think that #6 is a bit too heavy...

 

It's would be hard to get #6 in small amounts. When I dealt with it it didn't go though a meter but rather was sold by the ton.
It was used just like you are thinking of, the storage tank was heated.

 

I think that you have to heat #6 to around 200 degrees before it flows though, right?

A bit out of range of what we have, unless we used exhaust heat or very beefy electrical systems.


Maybe a mix between #2 and #6 or something... I'm right in thinking that there would be benefits, correct?

 

Beagle, I'm starting to worry about you ...... again.

You are starting to think too much.

 

I read that the SR-71 Blackbird ran something like #6. They filled the wings with it and let the air friction heat it up to liquid. It also took longer to leak out of the seams in the tanks.

 

Sometime back the area highschool had to shut down because the furnaces that heated the fuel for the main furnace failed.I have heard that whatever they use is heavier than gear oil.

 

I still am fascinated by the idea...

The heavier the fuel, the more power and the lower price. If I can heat my fuel up to 180 degrees, then I want to get some Bunker C for $.40 a gallon and blend it with #2 to the point that I can keep it thin enough to run it!

Mo power man, mo power!