Oil & Fuel Use of Home heating oil in a diesel engine

[Roger66]

This is probably a controversial topic. I'm absolutely not talking about saving money or avoiding taxes. I want to add a PTO powered emergency generator to my tractor. I'm thinking that if there were a long power outage, I could draw from my heating oil tank when the diesel supply drys up. I've asked two separate Mahindra dealers, one said it will absolutely destroy the engine and could not be used for any period of time emergency or not. The other said, no problem at all and that they use heating oil all of the time on the farm. Quite a different opinion from two different dealers. My engine does say use low sulfur diesel fuel only.

What do you guys think? will Home heating oil hurt my little 2017 Mitsubishi S3L2 diesel engine? Is it safe to use for emergency off road use?

Thanks

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Been discussed a lot on TBN. Offroad diesel = heating oil in my area.

 

[Fallon]

Been discussed a lot on TBN. Offroad diesel = heating oil in my area.

Same. Heating oil & off road diesel are just road diesel with red dye in it to indicate no road tax paid. Works fine, just don't get caught with it in a road going vehicle.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

This is probably a controversial topic. I'm absolutely not talking about saving money or avoiding taxes. I want to add a PTO powered emergency generator to my tractor. I'm thinking that if there were a long power outage, I could draw from my heating oil tank when the diesel supply drys up. I've asked two separate Mahindra dealers, one said it will absolutely destroy the engine and could not be used for any period of time emergency or not. The other said, no problem at all and that they use heating oil all of the time on the farm. Quite a different opinion from two different dealers. My engine does say use low sulfur diesel fuel only.

What do you guys think? will Home heating oil hurt my little 2017 Mitsubishi S3L2 diesel engine? Is it safe to use for emergency off road use?

Thanks

Same here. When I fill my home heating oil tank the invoice says "#2 diesel."

 

[bcp]

Call your fuel dealer and ask.

Bruce

 

[RjCorazza]

I would also check with your supplier. I used 250g of heating oil in my previous 2002 tractor for several years without issue. In my case the sulfer content of the fuel (possibly 500ppm sulfur) was a non issue in a pre 2007 engine. Home heating oil is now mandated by Maryland law to be 15ppm sulfur, which is the same as on or off road #2 diesel.
A 2017 diesel engine requires 15ppm sulfur content, so that will be the question to ask.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Should work fine. But check with you fuel oil supplier. And probably should check each time they refuel your heater oil. In case they change suppliers. Be sure you talk to someone that really knows. Not some one answering the phones so to speak. A email would be a really good way to ask i would think. That way you have it documented in case you need it later. Not just a “you said I said” deal

 

[Roger66]

Should work fine. But check with you fuel oil supplier. And probably should check each time they refuel your heater oil. In case they change suppliers. Be sure you talk to someone that really knows. Not some one answering the phones so to speak. A email would be a really good way to ask i would think. That way you have it documented in case you need it later. Not just a 土ou said I said deal

I'm not sure I'd trust what the oil supplier might say, but I did check the law. Section 16a-21a - Sulfur content of home heating oil and off-road diesel fuel. Suspension of requirements for emergency. :: 213 Connecticut General Statutes :: US Codes and Statutes :: US Law :: Justia

Today the heating oil could be as high as 500 PPM, but starting July 2018 the heating oil must be 15 PPM. So I should be fine in the future and I'm hoping to not have a power failure anytime soon.

What would the high surfer do to a low surfer engine anyway?

Thanks

 

[IXLR8]

Definitely maybe. Depends on what your tractor engine has for emission equipment. If you have no emission equipment, ie; particle filters, DEF additive, NOx controls, etc, then you can use any diesel fuel, from the pump or home heating oil. If you do have all the newer emission nonsense, then you need to make sure the fuel you are using is the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. High Sulfur fuels mess up the catalytic converter and generates more particles and you will overload the particle filter. You won't ruin the engine, but you could destroy the emission equipment and that can get very expensive to replace.

 

[Laderbuilt]

I have been running nothing but home heating oil in my tractor for two years. There has not been one ill effect from it.
Why?
Home heating oil is diesel fuel typically number 2 but sometimes can be a blend of number 1 with number 2 with a red dye in it to show road use tax was not applied and or paid for with the fuel. Now I will say you should at least use a racor funnel when transferring fuel from your home heating oil tank to your tractor just Incase there’s water in it and or other junk. That you’d want to keep out.
The only thing would be to ensure it is ultra low sulfur and or low sulfur. (Depending on emission requirement). My heating oil supplier showed it was ultra low sulfur he has.