Oil & Fuel Home Heating Oil as Fuel

ZionHill · Jul 5, 2006

I'm probably opening a can of worms here, but I saw the thread on Low Sulpher fuel and thought I'd ask.

I've been using Home Heating Oil as Fuel. Is that low or high sulpher?

I installed a fuel pump in the bung hole of my 275 gal tank. I put a high quality pump in that is fully sealed so when the Oil guy delivers it shouldn't squirt out anywhere. I fill a 5 gal container and carry it out to the tractor and pump it up to the tractor's filler with a hand pump.

Does anyone feel I need a checkup from the neck up for using heating oil?

greg_g · Jul 5, 2006

I can't help but wonder if http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=29 might not be a better place to ask.

//greg//

TruChaos · Jul 5, 2006

A couple years ago, while waiting for tires to be installed on my Jeep, I read a diesel mechanic's trade magazine (found on their magazine rack). There was an interesting article about how fuel companies have started selling #2 heating oil as diesel.

The article stated that in over the road trucks, the fuel performs fine but due to the variation in the combustion timing, the trucks have a higher long term engine repair rate.

There wasn't any discussion of the sulphur content but, I'm guessing if they are selling them as interchangeable, the sulphur content has a high probability of being the same.

rdbigfarmboy · Jul 5, 2006

I would get the spec sheet from the distributor and compare it to #2 Diesel. MSDS and spec sheets are different. MSDS has chemicals in ranges and is designed for safety. The spec sheet is the test results for the batch of fuel, every state uses the federal specs and may have their own. Depending on where you live the diesel and home heating oil may be the same for sulfur.

MadReferee · Jul 5, 2006

Depending on your location, and your distributor, home heating oil (HHO) and what was formally called #2 diesel (this designation is going away) may or may not be exactly the same. I believe that once ULSD is in general circulation (this fall) HHO and ULSD will be the same just about everywhere. In other words, HHO will be the same as off-road fuel in that it will be simply dyed ULSD.

Ranch_Hand_Supp · Jul 5, 2006

My local Oil Dist said that it is the same... they have just added the dye.

Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

Boltonpower · Jul 5, 2006

Heating oil is just off road Diesel. Even Marina's are selling #2 Red. I was filling
up my boat over the weekend and sure enough it was red. The good news is that being un-taxed marine Diesel is now about $.60 per gallon less than gasoline. And they still put gasoline engines in boats and cars why???

Graham

tat2z1969 · Jul 6, 2006

I have a 1000 gallon tank for farm use and 3000 gallon for trucks, when the fuel guy comes he fills my 3000 gallon tank then the 1000 gallon tank and throws big pills in the small tank to make the fuel red, same fuel just red dye added.

MadReferee · Jul 7, 2006

tat2z1969 said:
I have a 1000 gallon tank for farm use and 3000 gallon for trucks, when the fuel guy comes he fills my 3000 gallon tank then the 1000 gallon tank and throws big pills in the small tank to make the fuel red, same fuel just red dye added.

Your "guy" is a fool. Federal road tax (24.4 cents per gallon) was paid on that undyed fuel when it was loaded onto the truck at the distributor as part of the cost per gallon. That's the law. You are not saving anything by him adding dye to the fuel, unless of course you claim the deduction on your federal income tax return, and depending on yur tax situation, you may never get it "all" back. You may be getting a rebate from him on the state fuel tax but not the federal tax. In fact, I believe it is illegal to do what he did.

greg_g · Jul 7, 2006

MadReferee said:
Your "guy" is a fool. Federal road tax (24.4 cents per gallon) was paid on that undyed fuel when it was loaded onto the truck at the distributor as part of the cost per gallon. That's the law. You are not saving anything by him adding dye to the fuel, unless of course you claim the deduction on your federal income tax return, and depending on yur tax situation, you may never get it "all" back. You may be getting a rebate from him on the state fuel tax but not the federal tax. In fact, I believe it is illegal to do what he did.

Again I have to reinforce the MadReferee - but it's even worse than he states. When you factor in state and local taxes - like here in Kentucky - the state alone tacks on another 13.4 cents/gal to diesel, more for gasoline. Check out http://http://www.wisconsingasprices.com/tax_info.aspx

//greg//