Heating oil in diesel cars?

Question

Heating oil (A.K.A. Kerosene or Parrafin) is 28 second oil, whereas diesel (red or white) is 32 second (redwood scale) The viscosity (and lube properties) of heating oil can be increased by adding a little lube oil. Some of the older (style) diesel engines could be operated on parrafin with a set ratio of lube oil(Gardner specified this in the handbook!) Heating oil is now tinted yellow,so it to can be detected by the customs man!

What is ratio?

How could yellow tint be mollified?

Answer 1

A farmer once told me that bread crumbs (seriously) will remove the dye from coloured fuel.

Also, due to recent changes in duty, you no longer have to pay duty on biofuel as long as you use less than 2,500 litres a year.

Answer 2

I am sure you have found out that the "lube" I refered to is lubricating oil(engine) The ratio of parrafin to lube oil would be in the old Gardner LW and L3(B) handbooks.(Possibly still available from Gardner,though I have seen them on Ebay-go to marine diesel engines.)  The colour is an other matter-perhaps best not discussed here! (incedentally,diesel in S.Ireland is coloured green)  There is currently,work in progress in Cornwall to test the performance of recovered oils in diesel engines.  Put Biodiesel into your search engine and you will get a host of information.(and people trying to sell you kits to make your own!)

Answer 3

The dyes stain the carb or injection system and if discovered by HM Customs you may end up with a big fine or staring through bars for Christmas!

It is possible to use ex Chip shop oil but it has to be cleaned and some additives and even then you must declare it to HM Customs and pay tax!

Answer 4

If you do a search on E-bay you will find a product that removes the dye from "red" diesel.

Answer 5

I think there is a little more testing by HM customs than looking at the colour. if you want a cheap fuel look to veg oil mixes.

Answer 6

I once ran my diesel on 50.50 heating oil. It creates hot spots and eventually the cylinder head blew a hole.

The removal of colour may prove impossible. Red diesel has the same agent. I believe Irish farmers filter the red diesel through charcole to remove the 'red'. However the colour agent can remain detectable if lab checked .... a quick dip at the roadside may get a 'pass'.

I will be interested if someone knows how to convert 'heating oil' into diesel ..... nice 600 gals sitting outside my door!

PS .. thats now 46p per litre .... time to turn to burning straw!

Answer 7

This can already be done- I have got a lorry to run on straight lamp paraffin before, it ran very rough and was probably most likely not good for the engine but it worked!

If you were going to do such a thing it would be better to add some lubrication oil to the mix but exactly what Ratio I dont know.