Heater Fuel

[George2615]

Check your Ready Heater for labels that say what fuel to use. Mine specifies to use kerosene. If you know the model number their web site could advise you if you could use home heating fuel or not.
It would probably run on diesel but not burn as clean and the nozzle might plug up more often. I don't use it that often anymore since I installed an 80,000 btu mobile home furnace in my garage and run it on kerosene.

 

[Steve C]

Check your Ready Heater for labels that say what fuel to use. Mine specifies to use kerosene. If you know the model number their web site could advise you if you could use home heating fuel or not.
It would probably run on diesel but not burn as clean and the nozzle might plug up more often. I don't use it that often anymore since I installed an 80,000 btu mobile home furnace in my garage and run it on kerosene.

2 of my heaters are rated as "multi fuel" my oldest one isn't. They are all made by the same company, Dessa and look identical.

My oldest heater seemed to be not burning quite as hot as it used to, the round plate on the end was not getting to the same bright red color that it used to and it seemed to give off a little more fumes than it did in the past, probably due to wear in the pump. It is 15 years old and has never required any service. To compensate for the pump wear and the possible increased viscosity of off road diesel, I just fired it up and adjusted the pressure regulater while it was running until I got a cleaner, hotter burn.

The round plate now glows a nice cherry red when the heater is being used and the fumes are almost undetectable. If it wasn't for the little puff you get when starting up cold you wouldn't ever smell it.

I have this heater in my unheated cement block pump room. I have an in line thermostat set to around 40 degrees. It has been running 24/7 for the last 4 winters burning off road diesel without a single problem of any kind.

I have never had to replace a nozzle or do any other kind of service to these heaters. I use off road diesel in all of them. Every once in a while I pull off the foam air filter and wash it out if it looks like it is almost totally plugged.

 

[Loren49]

LBrown59-It was standard practice in NNY for years to use a kerosene/diesel mix during the coldest part of winter. There are also additives which may be added to address this problem.

I believe the following is accuratefrom website)
What temperature does diesel start gelling up?
And what happens when you run a truck with gelled diesel in it?
3 years ago
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Larry C
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

It depends on the grade of diesel fuel, the additives in the fuel, and water contamination.

When the temperature drops, wax crystals can form in the fuel, plugging the fuel filter and/or fuel line. This will prevent the engine from running.

Diesel fuel #2 should resist gelling down to about -10 deg. F (-23 deg. C), while winter blends of diesel fuel #2 and fuel #1 (kerosene) can typically handle temperatures down to -4 degrees F to -20 deg. F. But some "winter" blends may gel at higher temperatures if it contains too much #2 diesel and not enough #1 (say around 18 to 20 degrees F).

The pour point of the fuel (the point at which it starts to gel) can be lowered by additives, and my using heaters in the fuel filter, fuel tank and around the fuel line.


The truck doesn't run. If the fuel gels in the fuel line it stops the flow of fuel to the engine and the engine won't start or run.


I have been in vehicles (a Town Snowplow) when this occurred -kept losing power - fortunately returned to warmed town garage before it quit.

Loren

 

[tawilson]

On the other hand tens of thousands of deiesels are not effected from running diesel .

They aren't running straight diesel around here now.

 

[JRobyn]

I've found that the diesel fuel has more fumes than K1.

We actually found exactly the opposite (to my complete surprise)- the fumes are less with diesel in ours.

- Jay

 

[WTA]

I run straight pump diesel in my heater and it's been working fine for several years like that.
Sometimes when the fuel has started to jell I have to turn up the fuel pressur eon it a little bit so it stays running but it's no big deal. I keep it adjusted so there are no flames shooting out but it sounds right and the end plate is glowing a nice red color.
Most of them have a fuel pressure adjustment screw and gauge on the back of them. Mine runs anywhere from 3-6 psi depending on how cold the fuel got.

 

[Steve C]

We actually found exactly the opposite (to my complete surprise)- the fumes are less with diesel in ours.

- Jay

That has been my experience also. All three of my heaters produce less odor when burning diesel.

 

[Lloyd_E]

Refueled with diesel. No problems and runs cleaner in terms of less odor.I am saving myself 50% on cost...

Good day today!!!!

Lloyd

PS: Tag says Kerosene or #1 fuel.

 

[Travelover]

We actually found exactly the opposite (to my complete surprise)- the fumes are less with diesel in ours.

- Jay

I haven't tried it since they tool the sulfur out of diesel - so maybe that's the difference.