Waste Oil in a Oil Fired Domestic Hot Water Heater

[Industrial Toys]

I have never worked with an oil burner,nor have burned waste oil in a burner. Just thown it on brush piles or sprayed it on the laneway.

Can one burn waste oil in a domestic hot water tank?

How much does it have to be filtered?

Does it require fuel oil to start, and then switch over? That couldn't work if the burner is going on and off, I guess.

Does the oil have to be heated?

I wish to heat my hot tub. I got this idea from another thread. I had been using wood and solar, but oil would be faster, and more reliable I am thinking.


Thanks

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Can't answer your direct question, but I would caution you before you take that step to check out your source of waste oil. Some, if not all waste oil is considered a hazardous waste by EPA. It (crankcase oil) contains a lot of heavy metals, and other nasty things. It was not uncommon in the past for generators to mix really nasty stuff, like chlorinated hydrocarbons; i.e. Carbon Tetrachloride, Methylene Chloride and other carcinogens in their waste oil to hide it and not have to pay the huge disposal fees and avoid Hazard waste regulations. It's certainly one aspect to consider. You might also think about your neighbors; if it smokes or has an odor.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I n Canada, I can't watch what I want on TV or listen to what I want on the radio, because the content Police regulate this. So far, they have not been able to tell me what to do with MY OWN waste oil.

I'm sure it's coming though.

People were talking about using a drip method in their wood stoves. I would just think that any oil fired water heater has to be way more efficient and then you have all those options of how to distribute the heat. I'm also guessing that with Insurance companies making oil heat almost beyond insuring, their must be a good supply of used oil fired hot water heaters.

I was going to use a cheap wood fired outdoor boiler, as there are many on Craigs list, but they are way too big and you can't put domestic water through them. You woud need a heat exchanger to heat the hot tub water!

 

[diesel lover]

I n Canada, I can't watch what I want on TV or listen to what I want on the radio, because the content Police regulate this. So far, they have not been able to tell me what to do with MY OWN waste oil. I'm sure it's coming though. People were talking about using a drip method in their wood stoves. I would just think that any oil fired water heater has to be way more efficient and then you have all those options of how to distribute the heat. I'm also guessing that with Insurance companies making oil heat almost beyond insuring, their must be a good supply of used oil fired hot water heaters. I was going to use a cheap wood fired outdoor boiler, as there are many on Craigs list, but they are way too big and you can't put domestic water through them. You woud need a heat exchanger to heat the hot tub water!

is there a possibility you could get lots of ideas on YouTube? I too want to find a series use for my used engine oil

 

[jaotguy]

down to 10 microns ... you will soot /carbon up the electrodes and have to clean them more often ... you will go through nozzles faster ... and if there is any synthetic oil, it doesn't burn as well ( higher ignition point ) any thicker oil will not atomize properly and if you get brake fluid thrown in there it will damage any rubber seals.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It is my oil, so at least I know what should be in there. It's not like I am going to be using it a lot. Would a little fuel oil go a long way toward thinning the used oil?

I guess the big question is. Is it really worth doing? Like I said, there are more fun things to do then play with used diesel motor oil!

 

[buickanddeere]

Filter the oil down to 1 or 2 microns. Ebay has oil filters for filtering waste oil .
Oil additives that leave ash can be a problem but filtering to 1 or 2 microns helps. Two stroke engine oil is low ash or no ash, it has to burn clean. That is how Bubba wrecks a stroke stroke engine mixing a dose of ordinary crankcase oil with gasoline and using it in small engines. The abrasive ash builds deposits up.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Will used DMO even ignite in a burner?

 

[techman]

Most waste burners have two filters in series. The other major difference is that the oil is heated before filtering and burning. An electric heater is used to heat the oil, and a loop of oil line is heated by the burner. The electric heater is for cold starts, and once running the oil is heated by the burner.

paul

 

[Loadstar]

Constant headache, soot filled, decrease lifespan, continuous tinkering- list goes on. If you don't produce much waste oil there really is not much of a point.