Oil & Fuel Home Heating Oil as Fuel

[TruChaos]

I think there is a potential problem here. Lets assume for a moment that #2 heating oil and diesel are basically the same (I believe there are slight differences).


Now, consider the coming ultra low sulphur diesel fuel rules. In the case of diesel fuel, a lubrication modifier will have to be added to compensate for the lost lubricating properties of the sulphur. I'm guessing there is no reason to add this lubricant to home heating oil. If #2 home heating oil is required to comply with the low sulphur regulations (which I'm guessing it will), then why would the manufacturers add lubricant packages at higher production cost?

Swapping one for another could potentially result in excessive wear and damage in diesel engines.

 

[MadReferee]

I think there is a potential problem here. Lets assume for a moment that #2 heating oil and diesel are basically the same (I believe there are slight differences).

Depends on your location and how your regional bulk distribution center operates. In most areas they are the same except for the dye.

Now, consider the coming ultra low sulphur diesel fuel rules. In the case of diesel fuel, a lubrication modifier will have to be added to compensate for the lost lubricating properties of the sulphur. I'm guessing there is no reason to add this lubricant to home heating oil. If #2 home heating oil is required to comply with the low sulphur regulations (which I'm guessing it will), then why would the manufacturers add lubricant packages at higher production cost?

Swapping one for another could potentially result in excessive wear and damage in diesel engines.

Since the two fuels are the same in most areas, they already meet the current lubricity standard (ASTM D975) that was effective in January 2005. ULSD also meets this standard.

Just based on the number of hours of normal use, I also highly doubt that excessive wear and damage could/would occur in tractor diesel engines because of using HHO. If you are that worried then use an additive.

 

[TruChaos]

If you are that worried then use an additive.

No, I don't use #2 heating oil as fuel but, I know there are people out there which do. I think it would be a precarious assumption to assume the #2 heating oil will provide adequate lubrication without getting verification from the manufacturer that it is safe to use in diesel engines.

The lubrication properties of diesel fuel are factored into the engine design and if they were to go away or were significantly reduced, excessive ring and piston wear could result. Not to mention higher thermal stresses on components.

I'll stick with diesel fuel, sold for diesel engines which should have the lubrication additive package added. Unfortunately adding an additive to the fuel, such as used motor oil, as I've heard some users suggest, is not a safe way to restore lost lubrication. Not only does it cause cancer (and you WILL breath it into your lungs) but in the combustion chamber, it's lubrication properties aren't a certainty.

My point here is that using cheaper home heating oil in place of diesel COULD soon become penny wise and pound foolish. I think it would make sense to err on the side of safety until the specifications for your particular brand of heating oil are known.

 

[tat2z1969]

No, I don't use #2 heating oil as fuel but, I know there are people out there which do. I think it would be a precarious assumption to assume the #2 heating oil will provide adequate lubrication without getting verification from the manufacturer that it is safe to use in diesel engines.

The lubrication properties of diesel fuel are factored into the engine design and if they were to go away or were significantly reduced, excessive ring and piston wear could result. Not to mention higher thermal stresses on components.

I'll stick with diesel fuel, sold for diesel engines which should have the lubrication additive package added. Unfortunately adding an additive to the fuel, such as used motor oil, as I've heard some users suggest, is not a safe way to restore lost lubrication. Not only does it cause cancer (and you WILL breath it into your lungs) but in the combustion chamber, it's lubrication properties aren't a certainty.

My point here is that using cheaper home heating oil in place of diesel COULD soon become penny wise and pound foolish. I think it would make sense to err on the side of safety until the specifications for your particular brand of heating oil are known.

Home heating oil meets the requirement for lubrication, a oil furnace has a pump also and requires the fuel to lubricate the pump. Diesel and home or off road diesel is the same here they just add the dye when they deliver it, comes out of the same truck same tank, the difference is taxable or not.

 

[tat2z1969]

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.

I get all the tax back on the red fuel since its for farm use and does not fall under Federal road use tax. Also I save on the extra trip charge because he dumps in one trip and does not have to come back with a load of red fuel.
Its not illegal to dump this way, if you don't file tax the gov gets to keep it ,more for them ,if you do file you get it back if you have a working farm with a tax number and EIN.

 

[MadReferee]

So why even put the dye in if you are claiming the farm/offroad use on your federal income tax? Makes no sense at all other than a warm and fuzzy feeling you might get.

You will never recover all of the 24.4 cents per gallon when claimed as a deduction on your taxes no matter what your tax bracket. I would prefer to purchase un-taxed fuel in the first place where I can actually see the savings upfront rather than a partial savings later.

 

[SkyPup]

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.

Blabbling about your violation of Federal law on a public discussion board like this is an invitation to major criminial fines and penalities for both you and the fool throwing the pills in your tank......

 

[ZionHill]

I'm not a diesel fuel expert but I believe those red dye tablets aren't just coloring, they contain additives to improve the fuel.

 

[MadReferee]

I'm not a diesel fuel expert but I believe those red dye tablets aren't just coloring, they contain additives to improve the fuel.

That's just a myth or an old wives tale, take your pick. Red dye indicates un-federal taxed diesel fuel. Period. I doubt that the pellets mentioned by the original poster have any additive.

However, a minute amount of tracer dye, that is color/brand specific, is added to branded gasoline when the additive package is added at the rack. This is used to distinguish Mobil from Citgo from Sunoco, etc.

 

[SkyPup]

I've never heard of any solid pill form of any kind of additives for liquid diesel fuels.

Perhaps they were just Alka-Seltzers to keep the engines from getting a headache?