Steve Barker wrote:

On 11/2/2010 2:47 PM, EXT wrote:

"Pete C." wrote in message
ster.com...

Steve Barker wrote:

That "store bought" fuel may not wanna flow when it's 20 below. Heating
oil is straight #1 diesel.

Heating oil is #2 diesel, not #1 (Kerosene). I have 34 years of
experience with oil heat to confirm that.

You won't find that at the pump.

Yes, actually you will. Kerosene #1 pumps are relatively common.

And the
mix you do find at the pump will not burn as hot and may cost you by
using more and causing excessive build ups in the furnace.

Sorry, you are entirely incorrect. #2 fuel oil and #2 diesel are exactly
the same other than the red dye and taxes, #1 kerosene is always the
same and has a little less BTU content per gal then #2, but that's about
it. None of them will cause any sort of buildup any different than your
normal heating oil.

Actually, you are wrong, in some areas. I contacted a number of oil
companies regarding using home heating oil in a standby generator. The
answers that I got back was that in some areas where they don't have
enough volume to justify separate products they use standard diesel fuel
for both. In other areas where there is a large demand for both
products, they are different products. Diesel fuel for engines has
higher standards and specifications to meet, especially in the cetane
rating (Similar to octane rating in gasoline) as the engine must be
protected for long life. In these areas the heating oil is a low grade
product as it is only intended to burn in a furnace, so they will sell
you some poor quality crap that is not as refined. So diesel will be
fine for your furnace, but heating oil may damage your engine. Red dye
is added to heating oil and to off-road diesel for use in farm tractors
and/or construction equipment, and this is what I ordered for my standby
generator.

i WASN'T going to try to explain it to him. after all, he does have
twenty seven some years experience jockeying fuel around. (like that
makes him an expert).

Please note exactly where in the US the home heating oil is normally
something other than #2. I lived 34 Years in CT where oil heat is the
norm and every area supplier supplied #2 that was the same as the
on-road #2 other than taxes and dye. Only big commercial buildings used
lower grade fuel and those have other grade numbers like #4.