What about kerosene?

[Diamondpilot]

As far as cost go around here at the stations Diesel is about $3.10 per gallon and Kero is about $3.25

The main issue with running just strait Kero is that it has less lubricity. My fuel delivery guys will custom mix for you when they deliver. I just had 165 gallons delivered a few weeks ago and he did 15 gallons Kero and 150 gallons #2 Diesel since I would be using it in the winter months. I also put in Biocide and a full jug of Howse Diesel Fuel stuff. Probably overkill but I do not want any surprises when I need to plow my place and my customers.

Chris

 

[whistlepig]

I wouldn't run straight kerosene for an extended period. Maybe mixed with diesel would be OK. Diamondpilot mentions lubricity. This is important to consider. I'm sure he is talking about lubricity to the injection pump.

 

[crashz]

My father and I have run straight kerosene in the winter for many years, but make sure to add something for lubricity. I make a mix of 2 cycle oil (ashless, watercooled) and Power Service. Run it in my diesel truck in the winter as well as equipment. Keeps it all clean and happy...

 

[Duffster]

My father and I have run straight kerosene in the winter for many years, but make sure to add something for lubricity. I make a mix of 2 cycle oil (ashless, watercooled) and Power Service. Run it in my diesel truck in the winter as well as equipment. Keeps it all clean and happy...

Is it that cold that straight kero is necessary?

 

[Eagleview]

I would think that Kero would have a detrimental effect on anything made of rubber it contacted . Hoses , "O" rings and seals would be affected in time .

 

[snorulz]

Finally a topic I know something about. I am getting my masters in mechanical engineering and my research is looking at JP-8 fuel in a compression ignition engine. JP-8 is Jet-A with 3 or 4 additives in it, one being a lubricity additive. Jet-A is essentially kerosene. As I type this I am running straight JP-8 in a 2.5 L single cylinder cat engine.

What you need to be careful of is adding the lubricity additive that others have mentioned and the cetane number of the fuel. The first batch of Jet-A I bought had a cetane number of 47 and the second batch I bought was 40 which is the lower limit for Diesel. It can go lower, I have a barrel of JP-8 with a cetane of 25!

As far as combustion goes, if Diesel and Jet-A have the same cetane number, there is no difference between the fuels. The only thing is less soot in the exhaust from the Jet-A. It does not run hotter but it does have slightly more energy per mass than Diesel but the density of Jet-A is lower so you will burn slightly more on a volume basis. Most likely there will not be any difference.

So to make a long story short, you can run straight kerosene in a compression ignition engine but be careful of the cetane number and add a lubricity additive. I personally would not run straight kerosene or Jet-A because there is no telling what the cetane number will be. Kerosene fuel standards do not specify a cetane number.

 

[RalphVa]

Farmers in Vermont used to mix 30 to 50% kerosene in their diesel for the winter time. It keeps the fuel from gelling.

Not knowing what the cetane index of your kerosene is, I'd use it with an additive for cetane improvement. Its a way of getting rid of that kero.