Running machines off heating oil?

[XM16E1]

About to buy a new bobcat or CAT skidsteer and mini ex. Demoed the Bobcats this weekend and asked the sales rep about running them in heating oil. She said it would void their warranty but did not elaborate further.

I'm looking at a T770 and E50. Already have a 1000 gal tank I keep filled with heating oil for my boilers and Cummins 25kw generator. I live in Alaska and heating oil is different than red dyed offroad diesel. No dye in fuel here.

Anyone run their machines on heating oil?

 

[BrokenTrack]

About to buy a new bobcat or CAT skidsteer and mini ex. Demoed the Bobcats this weekend and asked the sales rep about running them in heating oil. She said it would void their warranty but did not elaborate further.

I'm looking at a T770 and E50. Already have a 1000 gal tank I keep filled with heating oil for my boilers and Cummins 25kw generator. I live in Alaska and heating oil is different than red dyed offroad diesel. No dye in fuel here.

Anyone run their machines on heating oil?

I have been doing so for years. My Kubota has over 3000 hours on it running off heating oil, and my last tractor before that as well.

I live in the Northeast and heating oil is easy to get delivered, so that is what we have for fuel here.

 

[RickB]

If your home heating oil is ULSD it is the same as diesel fuel except for additives. Some areas require HHO to be ULSD, some do not. Find out what sulphur levels Alaska requires HHO to meet and go from there.

Using high sulphur or LSD fuels for years in pre-Tier IV engines is far different than using it in todays engines.

 

[oosik]

I would be very careful. The local Kubota dealer says - NO - to home heating oil use in the newer Tier 4 units. Different formulation and lack of additives.

 

[aczlan]

I would be very careful. The local Kubota dealer says - NO - to home heating oil use in the newer Tier 4 units. Different formulation and lack of additives.

It has to be ulsd heating oil, our local Kubota dealer sells heating oil and they deliver it to the farm tank for us.

They say that it is exactly the same here in New York as they have required ulsd for heating oil for several years now, but not all states do that.

If you run non ulsd fuel in a tractor that requires ulsd fuel you will have to replace the DPF in short order and I suspect it will not be covered under warranty.

Aaron Z

 

[chevy]

I my area, off road diesel & heating oil are the same thing. I get mine from the local CO-OP. both are listed on the same line on their price board & come out of the same tank on their truck.
You just need to check with your local supplier that off road diesel & heating oil are the same thing.

 

[Alan W.]

Off Road fuel and Home Heating Oil comes out of the same tank here.
It always did, growing up our neighbor ran the local fuel oil supply.
The only difference is price due to taxing differences.

 

[Storm56]

A local fuel supplier that I have purchased from for 25 years, whom I trust, tells me as recently as last year, that the HHO here in PA, is not subject to the ULSD requirements of Off Road fuel. Sulfer content could be all over the board.

He does NOT recommend HHO for Off Road use.

 

[Storm56]

Just to clarify my previous post, my fuel supplier doen not recommend the HHO if you have any Tier 4 diesels using it, older units afe fine.

His trucks also have different compartments for the different fuels.

I am sure it may be diffrrent in other states.

 

[finn1]

You really have to ask your fuel distributor. All of the distributors I am familiar with sell ulsd as home heatoil as a matter of convenience and efficiency. Technically, HHO has a broader spec, including wider cetane range, lower cleanliness, and lower lubricity than ulsd, but practically speaking, including pipeline capacity and bulk plant storage and local distribution complexities fave lead oil companies to essentially rationalize their product lines and standardize on selling ulsd gor on road (undyed), off road, and heating oil all out of the same tank.

Remember, pretty much everyone uses the same pipelines, and there are big penalties for selling cross contaminated high sulfur fuel for on road engines.

Talk to your distributor.