Run tractor on heating oil?

Question

I have a 1964 Massey-Ferguson 135 tractor with a 3-cylinder diesel engine. At the moment I'm running it (off road) on fully taxed white diesel but that's getting expensive. Also it's inconvenient as I have a 7 mile round trip to fill a jerry can with diesel. The tractor is only used on my property, not public roads, and only runs a few hours a week, mostly in summer.

My home heating system runs on burning oil which I believe is very similar if not identical to agricultural red diesel. According to the delivery note it's "Homeheat kerosene 060". It would be simple to drain off a few litres from time to time to use in the tractor.

1. Is it technically OK to run the tractor on heating fuel?

2. Is it legal in the UK?

Answer 1

It's perfectly legal if you don't venture onto the public highway, you have to use derv, or "white" diesel, on the road as it has been duty-paid as a road fuel, but off road you can legally burn red diesel, heating oil, whatever you like. Heating oil should be technically okay, too.

I have associations with an aircraft maintenance & repair company who run most of their older on-airfield machinery, aircraft tugs & the like, on jet fuel, a form of kerosene.  Not because of any particular money-saving reason but simply because they have access to thousands of gallons of the stuff.  Their engines made in the more recent few years have to burn proper diesel, though, as Avtur is a bit short on lubrication for the pump.

I'm confident that an old girl like yours will be perfectly fine on heating oil.

Answer 2

I can't speak to the legal aspects, but yes... your tractor should run OK on home heating oil.

Why not talk to the company who delivers your home heating oil about also setting up delivery of red diesel for your tractor.

Answer 3

There are 2 blends of diesel and heating fuel. Number 1 with the additive in it to keep it from freezing or turning to jell and Number 2 (no additive) which will jell in cold weather. The diesel and heating oil are basically the same outside of the dye or the dealer.

So technically, yes you could.  As to the legality, I wouldn't venture a guess.

See http://www.toad.net/~jsmeenen/fuel.html for more on the subject.

Answer 4

it isnt legal in the uk but alot of ppl do it my mom used to put half diesel half cooking oil in her car - it has to be mixed or it will just s***w ur vehicle up

Answer 5

1,yes

2,yes

ahem,so yes...my bro uses neat cooking oil in him with no aditivs....

or as u dont use it on a highway use red diesel...£2 per gall,u cant go wrong...