Diesel newbie - is this safe?

BatteryCharger · Oct 10, 2005

I'm putting up a shop on a peice of property with no utilities. I have a spare 6.2L Chevy diesel engine and I think I want to use it for a generator and heat at the shop.

I don't know much about diesels or diesel fuel. It would be nice to fuel this generator with heating oil. I've done alot of reading here about using #2 heating oil in diesel engines, and it seems most people agree it's the same as #2 diesel.

So, is there ANY risk in running this engine on straight #2 heating oil? Anything about the sulfer content of the fuel?

What kind of filter/water seperator would I need between the storage tank and the engine?

RalphVa · Oct 10, 2005

That's a huge engine to drive a generator. You probably only need 15,000 watts, even with a welder and all. That's only about 20 hp. I'd think that longer term you'll want to put in some solar panels, batteries and inverters. They'd be a lot more efficient than powering a generator off even diesel fuel.

Yes, you can use #2 heating oil. Might want to mix it with #1 at 30 to 50% for the winter if it gets very cold there.

Think one of those screw-on filters off the supply line would be all you need for filtration. Even better would be one with a water settler bowl at the bottom of it. I've one that I've never used because I could never figure a place to easily put it on my 1983 Benz. The Benz has made it this far without a water settler; so guess I don't need it. Never have had a water problem with it. Could ship the filter/settler it to you. It's been sitting around since about 1984/1985.

Ralph

Soundguy · Oct 10, 2005

I would guess closer to 2hp per 1000w of power. My 12kw genny specifies 24 pto hp needed.. I doubt you would squeeze 15kw out of 20hp.. imho

As for the fuel source.. I'd say fuel filter and water seperator.. and add a winter mix.. or a power service / equivalent anti gell addative.. perhaps even a biocide too.

As for the genny ? I wonder what pole count (rpm) and how he is going to couple it??

Soundguy

dicker · Oct 10, 2005

Good morning

I run a 15KW genny with 25 PTO horsepower with no problems so far. The manufacturers requirements were for 27 HP at the PTO, a ratio of around 1.8HP to 1 KW. Also, looking at their chart, the requirements for 100 KW goes down to 155 HP, around 1.5/1, so the horsepower required goes down as the kw goes up.

I guess I will not be able to get the full 15KW from this setup, but so far, I have never gotten to that situation.

Richard

Highbeam · Oct 10, 2005

If you do it, we would love to see pictures. You could run one big momma generator with that. The diesels need to be worked to stay healthy and I think using it as a generator will be too easy on it and that's a bigger problem than using heating oil.

I bought a 500$ colemean generator. 11 HP and 6850 surge watts/5500 running. I would guess that my costs per hour/watt are cheaper than the 6.2 unit will be. Well maybe not but you get the idea, your setup won't be ideal.

Soundguy · Oct 10, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I run a 15KW genny with 25 PTO horsepower with no problems so far)</font>

I wouldn't expect you to run into any problems till you tried to use power in the 13-14kw range.. then i suspect you would start loading the engine down. As long as the gov could keep the rpms up you would be ok. when the load reaches the point that the rpms fall off even a few percent.. is when you have problems.

In any case.. having more genny that pto is still fine... I'd rather run a 12kw genny at 8kw then run an 8kw genny at 8kw... etc.

Soundguy

BatteryCharger · Oct 10, 2005

I will be using a 25kw generator head. I won't normally be using that much power, but it will be nice to have it. I know the engine is bigger than needed, but I already have it and a smaller engine would just cost more. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to couple it right now, but my brother owns a machine shop so it shouldn't be too difficult to make something work.

How cold can the heating oil get before gelling is a problem?

1962 · Oct 10, 2005

i have been using home heating oil in my diesel 8kw generator. i do treat the fuel with power service additive. i also put a racor 200fg fuel filter/water seperator as a primary filter. you might want to use a big coupler for your setup. i trashed a few big lovejoys before going with a chain coupler. good luck...

Charlie_in_TX · Oct 12, 2005

If I were doing what you are I would try to gear the genny so the motor is running at 1400-1600rpm. Any less and the frequency may droop too much when a sudden load is applied. Any faster and you will be waisting fuel. The heating oil will be fine and gel point should be little issue. If you live were it gets to -40 you may need to mix 10% K-1 in.